Biomass from Trees

With its abundance of pine and other trees, Georgia is well positioned to become a leader in developing biomass — an exciting new source of renewable power. In fact, Georgia has been called “the Saudi Arabia of biomass,” with more wood available for power generation than almost any other state.
     Because it taps into renewable wood products from trees and forests in the state, biomass generation can help reduce greenhouse emissions and lower dependence on fossil fuels. Trees naturally absorb and sequester carbon dioxide (C0₂) as they grow.  Therefore, C0₂ from the woody biomass used for fuel is merely being returned to the atmosphere, with no net increase as long as the trees are replanted. 
     Oglethorpe Power supports biomass and has purchased sites in Warren and Appling Counties in Georgia to build up to two, 100-megawatt biomass power production facilities. These would be the largest projects to date to tap into Georgia’s abundant forest resources to produce renewable power.  Construction of the Warren County project is set to begin in 2011, with completion in 2014.  The Appling County project is currently on-hold pending further evaluation.