The California Biomass Energy Alliance (CBEA) has praised new legislation passed in the state that will require the use of biomass by utilities. “California’s renewable energy policy is a model for other states and nations,” said CBEA Executive Director John Coequyt in a statement. The California Senate Bill 859 requires the state’s largest utilities to purchase 125MW of biomass power from hazardous forested zones, which would otherwise go to landfill, and the California Public Utilities Commission also stipulated that the three largest investor-owned utilities must procure an additional 50MW of biomass power.
The California Biomass Energy Alliance (CBEA) has praised new legislation passed in the state that will require the use of biomass by utilities. With six biomass plants shut down in the past 24 months, the biomass industry has lost momentum competing for utility business against cheaper, incentivised renewables such as solar and wind energy. The California Senate Bill 859 requires the state’s largest utilities to purchase 125MW of biomass power from hazardous forested zones, which would otherwise go to landfill, and the California Public Utilities Commission also stipulated that the three largest investor-owned utilities must procure an additional 50MW of biomass power.