Rodeo-Chediski Fire Damaged Wood To Fuel Biomass Plant

The fire damaged wood of the Rodeo-Chediski fire will fuel Arizona's newest renewable energy project, a 24 mega-watt electrical biomass plant in Navajo Co., just West of Snowflake.

The project is reported to be the largest biomass plant to be constructed in the U.S. in over a decade. Snowflake White Mountain Power (SWMP) will build the plant adjacent to the Abitibi Paper Mill on State Highway 277. The ADOC awarded allocation of a $39.25 Million Private Activity Bond to facilitate the project.

In addition to damaged wood, the plant will provide a market for small diameter timber & will act as a disposal site for sawmill waste, slash material from thinning projects, & will incorporate recycled waste paper fibers reducing landfill waste. SWMP is certified under the Healthy Forest Enterprise Incentives Program because of this activity.

The project will add 12-15 full time permanent jobs on top of the 65 new jobs already filled by men & women working in the woods to collect the fuel. Plant construction employment will be sizeable.

Power output from the facility will be sold to SRP & APS, assisting the energy providers in meeting Arizona Corporation Commission requirements for energy from renewable sources.