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This Month:
> Virginia Business Leaders to Advocate for Comprehensive Climate and Clean Energy
Legislation
> Former Governor Kaine Announces $10 Million in Funds for the Biomass Energy Grant
Program
> An Environmental Update from the General Assembly
> Upcoming Events
> Virginia Business Leaders to Advocate for Comprehensive Climate and Clean Energy Legislation
February 2nd and 3rd, ten business leaders will head to Washington to meet with their members of Congress on the urgent need for comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation. In particular, they are descending on Capitol Hill to illustrate the importance a strong limit on carbon emissions has on future investments and job growth.
Entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors who support strong climate and clean energy legislation are convinced that a limit on emissions is the only market-based tool that will create the kind of demand needed to create new business opportunities and jobs for America. They see it as vital to long-term economic competitiveness, as clean energy will unleash a flurry of new investments leading to the creation of new jobs and the restoration our country's technological edge.
The participants say limits on carbon emissions are fundamental to create the kind of long-term market signal for widespread investment in clean energy technologies and the jobs that will follow as a result.
Check out our March newsletter for an update about the Advocacy Day.
> Former Governor Kaine Announces $10 Million in Funds for the Biomass Energy Grant Program
Former Governor Kaine announced on January 14th that $10 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) State Energy Program is being awarded to 15 biomass and waste-to-energy programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy administers the ARRA funds for energy related projects. These grants will support $110 million in private-sector investments across the state.
The grants will provide a much needed boost to communities throughout Southside and Southwest Virginia while helping them to develop the foundation for a clean energy future. The areas of the Commonwealth receiving these grants are rich with the resources necessary to develop biomass energy- the waste materials from logging, manufacturing, agricultural and municipal operations, along with energy crops such as corn and soybean.
Virginia will not only benefit from immediate job growth generated by the Recovery Act funds, but will experience a stabilization of its agricultural industry and the expansion of its "green jobs" sector in the long-run. By making a small investment in clean energy now, Virginia is paving the way for a greener, more energy independent future.
The Biomass Energy Grant Program awardees are:
- Cephas Industries, Inc., of Richmond, will receive $500,000 (of a $2.3 million project) to develop an operation for converting construction and demolition wastes-to-fuel, supporting 35 staff persons.
- Christiansburg Water Treatment Facility, will receive $336,550, (of a $486,550 project) to process methane gas from water treatment operations, to generate heat and power and will save the Town $32,000 per year in electricity costs.
- Community Energy Independence, will receive $827,102 (of a $50 million project) to complete the engineering, permitting, and project development for a landfill gasification project at the Corral Farm Landfill, near Warrenton, in Fauquier County.
- Dairy Energy, Inc., the state's 3rd largest dairy farm milking 1,000 dairy cows, will receive $1million to install the state's first commercially-sized dairy anaerobic digester project, in Chatham.
- Environmental Solutions, Inc., of the Chesterfield County Sustainability Park, will receive $500,000 (of a $2.4 million project), to expand a biomass fuel production and fiber utilization operation, creating 25 jobs.
- Wood Fuel Developers, will receive $1 million (of a $15.9 million project) to create the Greensville Wood Pellets production facility, in Greensville County, creating 39 jobs.
- Martinsville Sanitary Landfill, will receive $1 million (of a $3.4 million project) to utilize landfill gas to generate 1.5 MW of electricity, to meet approximately 3.5% of the City's annual need, and create 3 jobs.
- Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, in Burkesville, Nottoway County, will receive $700,000, (of a $1.7 million project) to support the fuel handling system, boiler controls, and fuel storage facility for biomass boiler project at the hospital.
- Red Birch Energy, Inc., of Bassett, Virginia, will receive $750,000 (of a $1.2 million project), to utilize glycerin, a waste-product of their biodiesel production process, to power a microturbine to generate electricity.
- Western Virginia Water Authority, will receive $500,000 to install a combined heat and power generation system at the Roanoke Regional Water Pollution Control Plant, in the City of Roanoke, beneficially utilizing excess biogas produced in the anaerobic sludge digestion process. This project will use the heat from the CHP process to heat and cool the buildings at the facility and generate 8 million kilowatt hours per year, offsetting 40% of the facility's power needs, and resulting in 8 construction jobs and 2 permanent full-time staff positions.
- Rockingham Regional Hospital, in Harrisonburg, will receive $583,848 (of a $876,168 project) to install or retrofit 3 boilers to heat and provide hot water at the main hospital and Women's Health Center, all to be fueled by methane gas generated by the nearby landfill. This project should result in $250,000 per year in energy savings.
- Toigo's King George Greenhouse, will receive $1 million (of $19.1 million project), to install a heat recovery steam generator at the King George Landfill and pipe the steam to heat the greenhouse. This project will avoid use of 430,000 gallons of heating oil and create over 100 full-time jobs.
- Wise Correctional Unit 18, in Coeburn, Virginia, will receive $60,000 (of an $83,000 project) for the installation of an 800,000 btu biomass boiler which will provide heat for 2 greenhouses, and VDOT offices and garage. The wood chips to fuel the boiler will come from VDOT right-of-way clearings and from prunings of an on-site orchard at the Correctional Unit. Offender labor will be used to build and operate this facility.
- Women's Correctional Center, in Goochland County, in Goochland County, will receive $942,500 (of a $1.1 million project), to install biomass boilers and upgrades, converting 2 boilers to be co-fueled with biomass and coal and 1 boiler to burn biodiesel. Use of biomass in these boilers will stimulate the wood fuels market in Virginia, and is projected to save $495,000, annually, over use of traditional fuels.
- Ag-Renewable Resources, LLC, in Cumberland County, will receive $300,000 (of a $7.8 million project), to construct a first of its kind in Virginia anaerobic digester to use poultry waste to generate methane and generate 1.1 megawatt of electricity. The project will also produce 14 metric tons per day of treated solids that can be used for agricultural fertilizer. The project will result in new construction jobs and two permanent, full-time jobs to run the facility.
> An Environmental Update from the General Assembly
The General Assembly's 2010 legislative session kicked off on January 13th. Shortly thereafter, Virginia Conservation Network's Lobby Day was held at the Centenary Methodist Church in Richmond to educate attendees about pending environmental bills.
The theme was "Bright Ideas for a Bright Future". Speakers included Delegate Albert Pollard from the 99th District, Delegate Harvey Morgan from the 98th District, and Delegate Adam Ebbin from the 49th District. Several legislative updates were provided throughout the day on clean energy and efficiency, clean water, waste reduction and open space conservation, and historic preservation and smart growth.
Even if you were unable to attend the Lobby Day, there is still time to learn about and weigh in on the following bills:
- SB 71 (McEachin) Energy Efficiency Creates Jobs and Protects the Environment
- SB 112/HB 533 (Peterson/Nixon) Accelerating the Replacement of Aging Gas Utility Infrastructure Through a More Stable and Predictable Rate recovery Process for Virginia Ratepayers
- SB 109 (Peterson) Green Public Buildings Act
- SB 185/HB 295 (Northam/Cosgrove) Marine Resources Commission to adopt regulations on menhaden fishery
For more information on these bills and more, including descriptions and status updates, visit the Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System website.
> Upcoming Events
EPA Hearing on Ozone
February 2nd, Arlington, Virginia: Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Exploring the Small Farm Dream
February 8th, 15th, 22nd, and March 6th, Charlottesville: Piedmont Community College
Virginia Dept. of Forestry GIS Workshop
February 11th, Charlottesville: Virginia Department of Forestry
NOVA Green Drinks
February 16th, Vienna: Vienna Inn
Energy Rate Analysis, Monitoring and Demand Response Programs for Utilities
February 19th, Fairfax: Fairfax County Government Center
James River Green Building Council Green Building Tour
February 23rd, Richmond, Virginia: Moseley Architects
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