Today marks the 35th anniversary of Earth Day, but energy provider Arizona Public Service Co. will celebrate this Saturday, April 24, by dedicating the first biomass power plant in Arizona.
Trees cleared from the state's combustible forests will provide fuel for the Eager Biomass Project, which will produce enough electricity to power as many as 1,500 homes.
By using the wood chips that are produced from the forested trees, APS expects to reduce greenhouse emissions by up to 15,000 tons per year.
"APS is committed to developing clean, renewable energy sources that will fuel tomorrow's economy," said Ed Fox, vice president of communications, environment and safety at APS. "Biomass is one of those future energy sources and, in Arizona, where we've already seen the season's first forest fires, it also can be part of a solution to our forest health issues."
The $4 million Eager biomass plant will provide APS with "green credits" to apply toward the Arizona Environmental Portfolio Standard. That requires APS to generate 1.1 percent of its power through renewable sources by 2007.
APS provides electricity to more than 931,000 customers in 11 of the state's 15 counties. It is the largest subsidiary of Phoenix-based Pinnacle West Capital Corp.
For more: www.aps.com.