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A proposed biomass plant downtown falls in a “sweet spot” as an environmentally and economically friendly and risk-averse project, an in-depth study by consultants found. And after delving into the study’s details Wednesday, Clark County Commissioners said they want to continue the process of seeing it built.
Up next, the county will look for a private partner to build and operate the biomass plant, and also work with the city of Vancouver for a zoning change to allow the plant to be built on the corner of West 13th and Harney streets, west of the Clark County Jail, currently home to a parking lot.
The biomass plant, fueled by tree tops, limbs and other logging by-products, would provide heating and cooling for five county buildings. The study shows that some 14 to 16 times the amount of woody biomass needed to power the proposed 4 to 4.9 megawatt plant is available within an hour’s drive. Above all, consultants said, the biomass plant would be a carbon neutral.
“We think this project meets our sustainability policy objectives to a T,” Clark County General Services Director Mark McCauley said.
Commissioners called for “baby steps” in proceeding, particularly when it comes to dealing with the Vancouver City Council, which must approve a zoning change or a conditional use permit for the plant to be built. Several city councilors have expressed strong reservations about the project, citing potential conflicts with downtown revitalization and the waterfront development, traffic and pollution. Following a joint meeting this month, the city council sent the county a two-page list of questions.
Commissioner Tom Mielke had a pointed comment for the city council, as no members turned out for the county workshop, which was not televised on CVTV: “I was hoping to see more people here from Vancouver, as this is a partnership.”
The 90-minute workshop Wednesday addressed numerous issues, including potential odor, emissions and traffic.
Odor and emissions would have to be controlled by the best available technology and have to meet air quality standards, said Candice Hatch, environmental consultant with the Bridgewater Group of Lake Oswego, Ore. “I don’t think you’ll be able to smell it,” she said.
Traffic would include seven to eight daily trips down Mill Plain Boulevard — already a truck arterial — by smaller dump truck-like trucks, not large semi-trailers, staff explained.
Commissioners also asked about problems they’ve heard with several other biomass facilities across the country. Despite recent assertions by the Vancouver City Council that one biomass plant at the University of South Carolina has been inoperable for three years, that’s not the case, said Jason Joner, vice president of LD Jellison Consulting & Design, the Vancouver company hired to conduct the county’s feasibility study. He called the plant himself, he said.
Joner also assured the commissioners that the direct flame boiler that would be used in the county’s biomass plant is proven technology.
Emissions from the biomass plant will be higher — including twice as much carbon dioxide and three times as much carbon monoxide — than the county’s current natural gas system, he said.
The plant will also have a cooling tower that will release water vapor.
But biomass is a sustainable resource, and much of the material Clark County will use would be burned in slash piles in the woods anyway, Joner said.
Its expected cost would be $23 million to $28 million, with the private partner paying for that construction. The county would pay for the power at about the same price as it currently pays for its natural gas system, plus lease the land to the company for $75,000 a year. The feasibility study found there are numerous companies that would likely be interested in working with the county on the project, said McCauley, the county’s general services director.
“It’s a very attractive project for companies that are trying to get a toehold in the market,” he said.
Clark County could put out a request for proposals from companies as soon as Friday, McCauley said. The county is trying to get the project financed before the expiration of several federal grant programs, including one that could cover up to $8 million of the construction of the plant.
A few citizens, all downtown residents, testified to commissioners that they were less than thrilled by the biomass plans.
With natural gas, the output is water and carbon monoxide, said Lee Coulthard, who is on the board of directors of the Vancouver Downtown Association.
“What you’re proposing …puts out a whole lot of different things,” he said. “Citizens that live in this area are going to be exposed. I don’t really care if it meets best available technology. It’s not going to be better air. I’m skeptical.”
Commissioner Steve Stuart said he doesn’t see how the biomass facility conflicts with making downtown Vancouver a better place.
“I would certainly rather have this facility than a parking garage or used car lot, which is permitted now,” Stuart said. “I would rather have this than empty warehouses, which is what’s currently there.”
