Biomass plants to generate more energy for SC

South Carolina will get more of its energy from natural sources  like wood chips and by-products. Santee Cooper approved two contracts this week with Domtar Paper Company in Bennettsville and Southeast Renewable Energy to produce a total of four new plants around the state that would generate biomass-fueled energy. Santee Cooper is the state-owned electric utility.

Spokeswoman Mollie Gore says, “If you’re talking about 95 megawatts of electricity, using the standard rule of thumb we use, one megawatt of energy fuels 500 homes in South Carolina, that’s enough power to fuel 47,500 homes in South Carolina, so it’s pretty big stuff.”Each company would produce about 45 megawatts of biomass energy, energy that Gore says stands out from other forms:

The great thing about biomass energy is that it can be generated pretty much 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Unlike some other forms of energy, such as solar, it is not limited by just those period of times when resources are available. It is available as often as you feed it into the generator.

Gore says the Domtar Paper contract is not yet a “done deal.”  Santee Cooper has given its approval, but they have to have Domtar’s approval to finalize. Gore says if they are given final approval,  it will be a milestone for Santee Cooper as the utility continues efforts to bring renewable energy generation to its customers.  Santee Cooper also offers methane gas generated power through its Green Power program with the state’s electric cooperatives.