$4.9 Million Grant from California Energy Commission awarded for Forest Biomass Gasification Plant in North Fork, CA

California, USA — The award will be used to construct one of the first forest-sourced biomass gasification plants, as well as research into the emerging field of forest biomass utilization. The plant will utilize local forest biomass sustainably sourced from restoration and fuel reduction activities on local forest lands, including the Sierra National Forest. The biomass will be used to make electricity, heat and biochar - a solid carbon byproduct that is used as a soil conditioner and filter media. The project will also be one of the first projects to use forest-based fuel under California's new SB 1122 bioenergy law.

"This project is a fantastic community story and an example of what can be accomplished with a robust a public/private partnership," said Phoenix Energy CEO, Gregory Stangl. "In the North Fork community, a sawmill was the main employer for years, and local jobs evaporated when it closed down in the 1990's. This facility will not only make an impact on reducing fire danger and stopping wasteful 'pile and burn' disposal of excess forest material, but will bring back permanent jobs to a town where the forest economy used to provide them. California is littered with communities up and down the Sierra foothills with a similar story," continued Stangl.

Representing the North Fork community in the joint venture is the North Fork Community Development Council (North Fork CDC), a non-profit established to encourage economic development after the closure of the mill. "We are delighted to be able to combine environmental stewardship together with job creation and sustainable energy production for our community," said Dan Rosenberg, North Fork CDC President. "We are hoping that our plant will serve as a model for other forested communities while having a positive environmental impact and improving the fire safety of our community."

The plant will be built in phases with an initial 1 MW financed mainly by the California Energy Commission grant and private and community investors.

Phoenix Energy is an independent power producer that operates a network of small, distributed generation biomass gasification plants in partnership with businesses and communities. By focusing on small plants in the 1-3 MW range, the company strives to keep electricity, heat and fuel local to the plant, where the value of energy is highest and transportation costs are lower. The gasification technology utilized also produces biochar, which serves to permanently sequester carbon in solid form and is valued as a soil conditioner and filter media.

North Fork Community Power, LLC is a joint venture between Phoenix Energy and the North Fork CDC that will own and operate a biomass gasification facility in North Fork, CA. The facility will primarily use sustainably harvested forest biomass that is frequently piled and burned for disposal. Additional fuel will come from local fire safe councils and the community. The facility will sell power to PG&E under California's landmark SB1122 bioenergy law.

About Phoenix Energy

Phoenix Energy is a private label power company that builds, owns and operates on-site biomass gasification plants in partnership with businesses in the Agricultural, Waste, and Forestry industries.Phoenix Energy helps its partners become their own energy provider, selling energy at retail rates. Where possible we co-locate with available fuel. This allows partners to choose our systems for their high returns on investment, not mere green washing.Phoenix Energy is first and foremost a distributed generation (“DG”) power company that sells KW over iron. We combine proven technologies to provide ourselves, our partners, and our customers with profitable on-site power.We are technology agnostic but believe that strong, long term partnerships with key suppliers will create the most value.We take our plants to the fuel and the load, not the other way around. We make more money selling energy (heat and electrity) on-site than by selling electricity to a utility at wholesale rates. Biochar, a biproduct of the gassification process, increases returns to our partners and clients.

For further information about Phoenix Energy, please visit the website here