EUGENE WATER  &  ELECTRIC  BOARD

EWEB Commissioners on May 5 approved the purchase of power from a biomass energy generation facility planned for construction at the Seneca wood-products facility in northwest Eugene. This facility will provide a steady source of locally produced electricity to meet Eugene's current and future energy needs.

Biomass is widely considered a renewable source of energy. It qualifies as renewable under Oregon's new Renewable Portfolio Standards, as well as the Green-e certification program.

EWEB contracted the Good Company to conduct a sustainability assessment of the project. The Good Company researched and analyzed the project and provided comparative data for other power resources.

EWEB is not constructing the power plant and will have no ownership of the facility. EWEB will simply be a buyer of electricity generated by the facility, which will be capable of producing nearly 18 megawatts of electricity. The plant will use wood waste from lumber mill and forestry operations to generate steam, which will then be used for two purposes: To provide steam for the mill's lumber-drying operations and to generate electricity.

• Guest Viewpoint: EWEB can't always show its cards
  (The Register-Guard, Dec. 16, 2010)
• Performance Summary of Boiler/Combustion and Emission Technology & Power Purchase Agreement with Seneca Sustainable Energy
  (Memo to the board, May 5, 2010)
• Performance Summary of Boiler/Combustion and Emission Technology & Power Purchase Agreement with Seneca Sustainable Energy
  (Memo to the board, May 5, 2010)
• Background Information Relating to Possible Power Purchase Agreement
  (Memo to the board, April 21, 2010)
• Seneca Sustainable Energy Biomass Cogeneration Project
  (Memo to the board including Good Company's sustainability assessment report, April 9)
• Follow-up Items Regarding Seneca Project and Additional Information Needs
  (Memo to the board, March 9, 2010)
• Seneca Sustainable Energy Cogeneration Project: Overview and Preliminary Sustainability Results
  (Power Point presentation to the board, March 5, 2010)
• Resource Acquisition Evaluation Process for the Seneca Cogeneration Project
  (Power Point presentation to the board, Feb. 17, 2010)
• Setting the Stage for the Preliminary Sustainability Analysis Results
  (Memo to the board, Feb. 6, 2010)