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Developers pitch biomass-to-fuel project at Oroville’s former plant site; council expresses support and requests follow-up
Summary
A joint venture led by Butte Renewable Energy presented plans to redevelop the old Popeye biomass site in Oroville into a modern facility producing energy, capturing CO2 and potentially making e‑methanol; developers estimated hundreds of construction and permanent jobs and sought city collaboration on zoning and permitting.
Developers from Butte Renewable Energy and partners introduced an early-stage proposal on Jan. 30 to redevelop Oroville’s decommissioned Popeye biomass site into a state-of-the-art biomass processing facility and a subsequent power-to-X (e‑methanol) production complex.
The pitch: Patrick (meeting presenter) introduced a team led on the podium by Michael Spencer and Ben Talbot, who described a two-phase project: a modern biomass plant that processes forestry and agricultural residues to reduce fire risk and generate energy, and a later phase that would capture carbon and combine hydrogen from electrolysis with captured CO2 to produce e‑methanol, a fuel being considered by global shipping regulators.
Developers said the modern plant would emphasize low emissions and advanced combustion controls; Talbot cited…
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