October 28, 2008 DEP to permit biomass plant in Tallahassee Planned facility would sell power to city By Bruce Ritchie DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER The state is planning to issue an air-pollution permit for a proposed biomass gas plant near Innovation Park in Tallahassee. Biomass Gas & Electric proposes building the 40-megawatt power plant on 22 acres of Florida State University land off Roberts Avenue. Wood waste and pulp mill byproducts will be heated and converted into gas that will be burned to produce electricity, the company says. BG&E would sell the electricity to the city of Tallahassee to distribute. Some environmentalists and Gov. Charlie Crist have supported such projects as renewable energy. But some opponents have criticized the project as an "incinerator in disguise." The Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Monday said it intends to grant the permit. Opponents have 14 days to file a petition disputing the proposed action. "We are very pleased," BG&E President and CEO Glenn Farris said. "We are appreciative of all the hard work the DEP has done." The Capital Medical Society in September asked DEP to require the plant to use the most advanced technology to lower health risks. Company officials have said some emissions fare well against limits allowed under regulations. Officials with the company and DEP also said the plant isn't an incinerator. Farris said he doesn't expect construction to begin before next spring. Bob Fulford, a critic of the proposed plant, said he expects opponents to file a permit challenge. Source:  Tallahassee Democrat