A cogeneration plant near Burney was visited Wednesday by U.S.D.A. Rural Development State Director Bryan Anguiano. The “West Bio-Hat Creek Bioenergy” Facility generates electricity from fuels harvested through forest thinning projects. Anguiano praised the clearing of understory to help reduce wildfire risk and the use of the resultant materials for energy production. The plant also turns the finished waste into a valuable material called “Biochar” that’s used to enrich soil for agriculture. The 3 Megawatt Burney plant started operating in June of last year, and employs 15 skilled workers. It was the recipient of a $571,000 Federal “Rural Energy for America Program” grant through the Biden Administration.
-Steve Gibson