California County Advances Biomass CHP Project At Placerville Jail

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors gave conceptual approval October 27 to move forward with planning and a feasibility study for a woody biomass combined heat and power (CHP) system at the Placerville Jail in California. The proposed project would convert locally sourced forest residues into electricity, heat and biochar while reducing the facility’s reliance on propane and stabilizing long-term energy costs. The proposed system, developed by FLOYD BioEnergy, would feature two modular biomass gasification units capable of generating approximately 70 kilowatts of peak electricity each. Each module would consume roughly 475 bone-dry tons of wood chips annually, bringing total feedstock requirements to approximately 950 tons per year. The technology converts woody biomass into syngas, which fuels engines to generate electricity and recoverable heat. The system would operate behind the meter, producing energy for on-site consumption rather than exporting electricity to the grid. Biochar produced during conversion would provide an additional potential revenue stream through carbon credits while supporting long-term carbon storage. FLOYD BioEnergy’s integrated approach incorporates material handling equipment from BE&E, ceramic filtration technology from Precision Partners and the company’s patent-pending emissions management and CHP controls. Precision Partners’ filtration system is designed to clean syngas to engine-grade standards while helping the project meet local air quality requirements. County officials also highlighted the availability of local biomass resources. A county feedstock study identified approximately 106,000 bone-dry tons of reliable forest residuals within El Dorado County, with additional urban wood waste available within a 75-mile radius. Mountain Enterprises and other local suppliers have expressed interest in providing wood chips for the project. CLERE, Inc. will assist with feedstock agreements and air quality permitting. The project could also provide a productive outlet for forest residues that might otherwise be burned or remain as wildfire fuel, supporting California’s forest management and clean energy objectives. Preliminary equipment costs for the two-module installation are estimated at $1.8 million. According to project representatives, anticipated federal clean energy incentives could reduce that figure to approximately $1.2 million. With an additional $400,000 estimated for permitting and project planning, the preliminary net project estimate stands at approximately $1.6 million, subject to further engineering and financing review. The Board’s conceptual approval allows county staff and project partners to advance site design, engineering estimates, permitting and wood chip supply agreements. The Supervisors also emphasized the need to preserve space for proposed transitional housing at the jail site and requested more detailed financing and procurement information before any final project commitment. If implemented, the Placerville Jail installation could serve as a demonstration of decentralized biomass energy production, combining local forest residue utilization, on-site power generation, heat recovery and biochar production in a single system.