Secrets of the City

The developer for the proposed combined heat and power biomass facility in south Minneapolis has publicly stated that they will NOT burn garbage. Whether or not there is enough “clean” waste wood to sustain their operation is the big question. Since new housing construction has slowed down, the amount of clean waste wood that is available (from clearing out trees, not the construction itself) has shrunk.

This is cause for concern given the fact that St. Paul’s District Energy has recently had problems sourcing enough clean waste wood to power their facility (they’ve recently had to go outside of a 100 mile radius for their feedstock).

The Green Institute (www.greeninstitute.org), a local non-profit, was the first organization to look into converting the former “south side destructor” into a combined heat and power facility. Preliminary research found that there isn’t enough clean waste wood to support the size of operation necessary to make the project worth it. They’ve also recently released a list of concerns to the MPCA which can be viewed here

More uninformed NIMBY people that make this world a crappy place.

Max – feel free to strikeout the “from garbage” part of the post. My mistake.

On-site gasification/co-generation could address a number of the concerns raised, but it a complex process that few are willing to tackle. In short, it is machinery/process to do commercially what a termite does naturally in its gut — convert waste wood (or other cellulosic matter) into a flameable gas, then burn the gas.

It’s not easy to be as smart as a termite,but they are working on this uo at the UofM-Morris and at an ethanol plant in Little Falls.

Just Bob is right, this is the wrong technology to use. I am considering forming a group for Minnesotans who want clean municipal energy solutions for waste management. This project is all wrong.

Wonder what plasma gasification would cost compared to their burner?

More uninformed NIMBY people that make this world a crappy place.
Opposition to which burner?

South Mpls might be feeling a little suspicious of any industry in the neighborhood after the fun they’ve been having with arsenic. Their concern/mistrust might be a little justifiable.

It is a shame that District Energy has to source from so far away, and as a localvore I guess I’ll have to boycott. But in all seriousness, I don’t know whether to find alarm or relief in the fact there isn’t enough waste to go around.

More uninformed NIMBY people that make this world a crappy place

Of course people don’t want things in their back yard. They paid for their homes at a set market rate, why should they be penalized because someone else thinks this is a great idea. I am the biggest NIMBY person you will find. The people that complain that others are NIMBY’S are typically the ones that don’t pay for the costs associated with a given project. My world is not crappy and I will protect it from becoming crappy, You have to pay to play and if you can’t pay to bad.

I had 4 burritos 2 days ago, chili last night, and cabbage today. I’m creating some serious air quality issues right now, if you know what I mean.

I can sympathize with swandog. I’m a bit of a NIMBY as well. Usually, NIMBY’s fight against things that are bad for any neighborhood, it’s those uncommon issues like Cape Wind that give NIMBY’s a bad name.

Lisa Goodman is also a financial partner in this whole thing… She of North Loop, and Kenwood; would she put this burner in Lake of the Isles… Probably not, but Phillips–of course!

What’s wrong with being a NIMBY? Sounds good to me. You don’t want shit in your neighborhood, you protest against it.

I urge all of you that are favoring this project to recommend putting it next to your house.

I just heard of a Minnesota location using biomass burning that makes sense — Anderson Windows, in Bayport. The use the wood scraps from making the windows and doors, grind it into a flour-like powder, then burns it to make steam for the window plant.

I thought NIMBY referred to someone who wanted something, just not in their back yard? Is this not the case? If I don’t want people raped and shot in my backyard, does that make me a NIMBY even though in general I’m against raping and shooting?

I think NIMBY is more complex than not wanting something. It’s wanting something but not wanting to deal with the problems that something causes.

I think papermills also have a similar process.

More green energy news, from Florida. Basically, Pawlenty is telling people that the states, not the feds, are setting the new energy agenda.

Sounds like the Senate just might pass a weaker version (gives the oil companies back the federal subsidies the House took away) of the Energy Bill today. Will Bush sign? Stay tuned…

“Sounds like the Senate just might pass a weaker version (gives the oil companies back the federal subsidies the House took away) of the Energy Bill today. Will Bush sign? Stay tuned…“

Christ on a sidecar, the morally bankrupt leading the painfully stupid…or is that the other way around? I can’t even keep track anymore. ‘Bout enough to drive a teetotaler to drink heavily.

“Christ on a sidecar, the morally bankrupt leading the painfully stupid…or is that the other way around?”

Your guess is as good as mine, yoder. And thanks to you, I can’t get the image of Christ in a motorcycle sidecar out of my mind. Imagine the conversation:

Driver: So, what are you doing for the holidays?

Jesus: You mean my birthday? I thought I might visit the old neighborhood, drop in on my folks.

Driver: That’s nice. I’m thinking about visiting my parents.

Jesus: That’s nice. Tell them I said ‘hi.” Oooh! The 331! Do we have time for a quick drink?

Oh, by the way, don’t choose a shot from bag #3 in there. Trust me. Even I couldn’t turn that into wine, if you catch my drift.

The Senate Energy Bill passed. (BTW, those were NOT “new taxes” on oil companies — they were removing a subsidy the oil company had been getting for years)

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate has passed an energy bill that would promote higher gas mileage for cars and SUVs and boost the use of ethanol.

The measure was approved 86 to 8 after Democrats abandoned efforts to impose billions of dollars in new taxes on the biggest oil companies.

The bill calls for car companies to achieve an industrywide average of 35 miles per gallon for cars, small trucks and SUVs over the next 13 years. And in a boon for Minnesota’s ethanol industry, it would boost the use of ethanol to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022.

Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman calls the bill a major step toward ending the country’s dependence on foreign energy. The Republican also says it would be good for the environment.

The bill now goes to the House for a vote.

“(BTW, those were NOT “new taxes” on oil companies — they were removing a subsidy the oil company had been getting for years)“

Big government and welfare are a-ok as long as it is helping the right people.

I probably should have used sarcasm tags on that last post.