GasBuddy Blog

GasBuddy News Article

votes

Wood-waste plant, meant to provide Austin with renewable energy, sits idle

Austin TX American Statesman -- For most of the 7 months since it rumbled to life, a wood-burning power plant in East Texas hasn’t been producing electricity for Austin Energy customers despite a $2.3 billion contract.

Simply put, the plant’s electricity is now too expensive to use. But, even as the plant sits mostly idle, Austin Energy pays a fee to cover its operating costs.

“It concerns me that customers are on the hook, paying for this plant to sit idle,” state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin.

The city-owned utility agreed to purchase power from the “biomass” plant in 2008 as part of a plan to aggressively invest in renewable energy and curb the city’s contribution to global climate change. But the deal was based partly on the expectation that federal taxes would raise the price of carbon-based fuels, making wood waste

Read the Full Article

Submitted Feb 14, 2013 By: DellDude2

Back To News

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Wood-waste plant, meant to provide Austin with renewable energy, sits idle	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

First

Next Last

rjhenn Champion Author Des Moines Posts:22,605 Points:2,256,100 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2013 4:14:54 PM Ignore rjhenn Report Abuse Actually, since all this started before the glut of NG, all it proves is that it's difficult to predict the future.
E-Squirrel Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,021 Points:823,240 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2013 3:40:53 PM Ignore E-Squirrel Report Abuse tomok advises: "Be careful, very carful, how you write the contract when trying to get cheaper electricity for sale by using locally 'produced' fuel. The local city bus company contracted for plant bio-diesel years ago and now pays a high cost for a supply of local bio-diesel. Alternate sources of local energy or fuel is not always a good deal but can cost much more in the long run." Well, that is pretty much why they are called "alternate" fuels. If they were cheaper, they would just be "fuel". The fuels that we use now, are in use exactly because they are cheaper. This plant was built to "prove" that you could generate electricity from "biomass". What it has proven, is that the scheme is uneconomic, and, that building the plant was a waste of money and resources.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,579 Points:2,372,235 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 19, 2013 2:37:37 PM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Wood-waste plant, meant to provide Austin with renewable energy, sits idle? Is there really that much waste wood in Texas to be able to produce that much electricity at a good price? The price of natural gas is so much cheaper then coal, wood or many other fuels for producing electricity. Also, be very mindful of what fuels are not very friendly to the environment and produce more greenhouse gases than necessary. Be careful, very carful, how you write the contract when trying to get cheaper electricity for sale by using locally 'produced' fuel. The local city bus company contracted for plant bio-diesel years ago and now pays a high cost for a supply of local bio-diesel. Alternate sources of local energy or fuel is not always a good deal but can cost much more in the long run. Drive vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high!
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,690 Points:774,770 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 15, 2013 5:16:13 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse Austin, the oddball liberal pocket in Texas.
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,850 Points:758,660 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 10:20:44 PM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse repeat
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:5,081 Points:1,210,460 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 10:03:38 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse thanks for the article
Godozo All-Star Author Gary Posts:723 Points:581,590 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 9:26:02 PM Ignore Godozo Report Abuse Biomass? Wouldn't waste wood be better used as chipboard for cheap housing? Heck, when both environmentalists and hard-core carbonists complain about a source of energy, then maybe it's time to put it aside.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,667 Points:1,229,075 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 9:13:11 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Interesting article, thanks for posing!
bhuggsy69 Rookie Author Houston Posts:23 Points:6,110 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 9:02:28 PM Ignore bhuggsy69 Report Abuse I bet the city still charges one of those miscellaneous charges for those folks that are in Austin, even though it does not produce electricity..
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,301 Points:1,956,230 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:57:27 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Not exactly a good portend for alternate fuel technologies.
Prodaddy Champion Author Houston Posts:8,516 Points:1,921,910 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:56:35 PM Ignore Prodaddy Report Abuse I wonder how much money was wasted on this project
JCClark2012 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:1,542 Points:422,720 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:53:56 PM Ignore JCClark2012 Report Abuse Ok
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,440 Points:545,250 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:53:05 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Who is making these decisions?
jorod55 Champion Author California Posts:1,612 Points:458,450 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:49:26 PM Ignore jorod55 Report Abuse Use it or lose it. Make it produce or tear it down. Why pay for a dead horse.
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,222 Points:1,417,740 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:49:14 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse Based on incorrect assumptions says it all.
heydano67 Champion Author California Posts:1,806 Points:385,235 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:48:20 PM Ignore heydano67 Report Abuse didn't quite pan out
floridakeys All-Star Author Columbus Posts:809 Points:297,860 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:47:17 PM Ignore floridakeys Report Abuse So ,this is what we get from the smartest folks in the room. Green energy is not the answer now ,the technology just isn't there. What a sad waste in so many ways, a conventional power plant should have been built.
grt197 All-Star Author Illinois Posts:707 Points:152,290 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:45:54 PM Ignore grt197 Report Abuse yes yes
Nshmidt Rookie Author New York Posts:78 Points:140,085 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:43:51 PM Ignore Nshmidt Report Abuse ?
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,618 Points:1,738,435 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:43:05 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse not helping Austin one bit
BREW9 Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,020 Points:2,939,660 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:40:01 PM Ignore BREW9 Report Abuse waste
OKRifle Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:10,582 Points:1,837,985 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:37:31 PM Ignore OKRifle Report Abuse I guess they will qualify for one of King Emperor Hussein Obama's stimulus handouts!
drz614 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:2,439 Points:625,320 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:35:56 PM Ignore drz614 Report Abuse this is the problem w/ green technology. the hype is there, with no business plan that follow thru w/o subsidies
TBRR Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,716 Points:605,975 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:32:55 PM Ignore TBRR Report Abuse willing to bet the energy department under obummer provided a interest free loan or part of one of the ill gotten stimulus programs that fleeced the taxpayers.
animal63 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:950 Points:1,050,425 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:30:27 PM Ignore animal63 Report Abuse that is too bad.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,174 Points:1,755,920 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:27:54 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse sad
Dragnet Champion Author Arizona Posts:15,548 Points:2,934,510 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:26:35 PM Ignore Dragnet Report Abuse There is the problem. A senator just shooting off his mouth and not doing a dran thing
Lizzylou Champion Author Stockton Posts:8,818 Points:2,357,285 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:25:20 PM Ignore Lizzylou Report Abuse YES electricity extremely high!
NO_SWEAT Champion Author Toronto Posts:4,474 Points:1,104,940 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:23:13 PM Ignore NO_SWEAT Report Abuse Another way to maintain high gas prices.
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,600 Points:773,790 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:21:39 PM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse Subsidies skew the market. If it can't pay for itself, dump it!
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,434 Points:1,986,845 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:21:36 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse Big time waste.
msf1527 All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:686 Points:160,095 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:20:12 PM Ignore msf1527 Report Abuse Ok
The_DR Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,920 Points:612,565 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:19:32 PM Ignore The_DR Report Abuse What a waste
Brucevanf Champion Author New Brunswick Posts:1,497 Points:271,985 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:17:34 PM Ignore Brucevanf Report Abuse Someone made a really bad judgment call.
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,656 Points:1,941,820 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:15:49 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse This was bad planning, "green" or not!
snagged Veteran Author Akron Posts:416 Points:120,530 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:13:29 PM Ignore snagged Report Abuse Was Obama in on this?
smoketown Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:6,368 Points:1,408,600 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:11:09 PM Ignore smoketown Report Abuse What a rip off.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,557 Points:1,498,670 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:07:24 PM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse Only $2.3 billion to build an oversized fireplace? Wow!
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,038 Points:1,717,725 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:07:05 PM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse Sad story.
Minutefan Champion Author Springfield Posts:3,409 Points:1,271,370 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:07:00 PM Ignore Minutefan Report Abuse nice and gas prices remain inflated
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:8,052 Points:1,600,730 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:05:34 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse How much taxpayer money was wasted here
Carol7777 All-Star Author Houston Posts:864 Points:174,935 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:05:19 PM Ignore Carol7777 Report Abuse Sometimes you win; sometimes you don't.
nimpy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:8,270 Points:1,727,830 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:05:14 PM Ignore nimpy Report Abuse Good idea but it needs to work
lippoe_sokan All-Star Author Provo Posts:743 Points:208,450 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:03:32 PM Ignore lippoe_sokan Report Abuse Oh so many things wrong in this story! (Wrong, but not at all surprising.)
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:8,419 Points:1,701,255 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:02:47 PM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse ok
John747 Champion Author Chicago Posts:474,605 Points:3,652,610 Joined:Aug 2001	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 8:00:55 PM Ignore John747 Report Abuse Yet one more 'Green Energy' success story!
bearzz Champion Author California Posts:1,568 Points:445,645 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 7:59:07 PM Ignore bearzz Report Abuse Gee . . . this sounds so familiar . . . another failing green energy project.
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,265 Points:1,514,580 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 7:58:03 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Not plagued with too many forests in that area, are they?
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,223 Points:896,185 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 7:58:01 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse That sounds about right, typical renewable energy project, not cost effective.
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,920 Points:845,010 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 7:55:56 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Hmmm...