Yuba Water Agency Funds Forest Waste to Energy Project
The Yuba Water Agency just announced that it would provide both a large grant and a low-interest loan to Camptonville Community Partnership to build a 5 megawatt power plant that will use forest waste to generate power. The project, located near Dobbins in Yuba County, will use waste biomass that is removed for forest restoration and wildfire mitigation projects, helping to improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The project will also provide clean firm power – available 24/7 and year round – that will increase energy reliability in this wildfire prone region.
“As we watch the destruction of the Park Fire in neighboring Butte County, we’re reminded of the very real threat of wildfire in our backyard and the importance of projects like this one to make our forests more resilient,” said Yuba Water General Manager Willie Whittlesey.
Currently, projects within Yuba County and the greater North Yuba River watershed require contractors to truck removed woody material from the forest to existing biomass plants that are several hours away or secure permits to burn the material on site. Having a biomass plant in Dobbins will not only reduce the cost of implementation for regional projects but will also bolster the local community with new jobs and business opportunities.
Camptonville Community Partnership and Yuba Water are both part of the nine-member North Yuba Forest Partnership, which identified biomass processing and the lack of a local biomass facility as a key barrier to completing needed forest health treatments in the Yuba River watershed. The partnership is working on an unprecedented scale to restore 275,000 acres of Sierra Nevada forests to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
As the owner and operator of New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir and other critical facilities in the Yuba River watershed, Yuba Water leadership is keenly aware of the wildfire risks and has been a longtime supporter of the project, previously providing funding to help with planning and land acquisition. This latest round of funding will cover construction of the biomass plant, with a 20-year loan at a three percent interest rate.