Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board create an Ad Hoc committee consisting of two members of the Board of Supervisors to engage with relevant County staff and stakeholders to consider options for a biomass cogeneration facility.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On August 31, 2021 (Legistar 21-1373), the Board approved the appointment of former Director of Environmental Management Greg Stanton on an extra-help basis to lead a feasibility study for both small-scale (i.e., one megawatt or less) and large-scale biomass cogeneration facilities.
Over the past several months, Mr. Stanton has engaged with numerous stakeholders and attended multiple meetings including the South Fork American River Collaborative (SOFAR), SOFAR Biomass Working Group and sub-group, CA ad hoc Biomass Working Group, Amador El Dorado Forest Forum, Alpine Biomass Collaborative, and the Biomass-Bioenergy Funding Group.
Through these efforts, potential small-scale projects and a large-scale project have been identified.
SMALL-SCALE PROJECTS
The potential small-scale opportunities identified thus far include a Material Recovery Facility, a ski resort, and a School District. Efforts are underway to further explore the feasibility of these potential projects.
LARGE-SCALE PROJECT
The last SOFAR Biomass Working Group meeting, held on February 24, 2022, was attended by representatives of PG&E, SMUD and SPI. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to these large-scale project stakeholders sharing their respective thoughts and interests in the development of a local biomass plant. SMUD appears to be better positioned than PG&E or SPI to move more quickly to advance a biomass project due to the inclusion of biomass in SMUD’s 2030 Zero Carbon Plan.
In Mr. Stanton’s opinion, more effort will be required to engage these stakeholders and others (USFS, BLM, EID, Mountain Enterprises, Pioneer Energy, etc.), to collaborate on a larger scale project. He suggests that the Biomass Working Group is not the appropriate forum for this collaboration and recommends elevating the importance of this effort by involving elected representatives of El Dorado County.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to create the Ad Hoc Committee.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
USFS, BLM, EID, Pioneer Energy, SMUD, PG&E, SPI, AQMD, and the Planning and Building Department, including County Economic Development.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Economic Development, Infrastructure
CONTACT
Don Ashton, Chief Administrative Officer