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Sept. 14, 2017
The Washington Department of Commerce adopted a rule this
week enabling owners of biomass-fired generating units to get credit under the
state’s renewable energy law when they expand production.
Commerce acted to implement a law that took effect in July, Engrossed
Senate Bill 5128. Before the new law, biomass-fired units that were built
before 1999 did not have full eligibility under the Energy Independence Act
(EIA). The EIA requires that electric companies use energy from renewable
sources for part of their supply.
The legislation expands the list of eligible renewable
energy to include electricity from pre-1999 biomass units if they make capital
investments to increase output. Only the additional generation is eligible.
Biomass energy is defined to include a wide variety of wood
residue and fuels, animal waste, food waste, yard waste, dedicated crops, and
pulping byproducts. In 2017, biomass is providing 8.8 percent of the electricity
used by utilities to meet their renewable energy targets.
The rules adopted this week specify how biomass units must
document their baseline level of generation and capital investments. Industry
and environmental representatives participated in the rulemaking process and
supported the adoption of the rule.
The new rule is available on our EIA rulemaking web
page.
Questions? Please contact Glenn Blackmon, (360) 725-3115
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