Lagrange planning biomass power station

In western Georgia, Lagrange and Troup County officials are planning a biomass power station to generate electricity.

The $170 million dollar plant would burn wood pellets, brush and similar woody waste materials.

25 people would work at the facility, which would bring in some $2 million dollars in local taxes annually. Officials say the 50 megawatt plant would supply enough power for 25,000 homes.

The plant's builders, Rollcast, want to sell the electricity to Georgia Power and Oglethorpe Power. The plant is one of several at various stages of operation, construction or planning statewide.

The Georgia Forestry Commission estimates the state can produce some 19 million tons of forestry-related biomass annually.

Officials hope to have the facility up and running by 2012.

Click here for more GPB News about biomass plants.

'Biomass' electricity plant coming to Lamar County

Lamar County officials say a 160-million dollar plant that produces electricity from biomass is on the way to Barnesville. Rollcast Energy plans to build the plant on a 60-thousand square foot tract in the middle Georgia county. Wood waste from logging and land-clearing operations would be burned in the process leading to producing enough electricity for 40-thousand homes. Officials say up to 25 jobs would be created with a 1.5 million dollar payroll.