The Yuba Water Agency on Aug. 6 approved a $7 million grant and $8.3 million low-interest loan to support the construction of a 5-megawatt (MW) biomass power plant near Dobbins, California. The proposed plant is currently expected to be operational by 2026.

Once operational, the facility will process woody material sourced from forest restoration projects in the Yuba River watershed, helping to improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic forest fire. Biomass currently gathered as part of forest restoration projects in the area is either trucked to facilities located several hours away or burned on site. The Yuba Water Agency said the new plant will reduce the cost of implementation for regional projects while bolstering the local economy via the creation of new jobs and business opportunities.

“As we watch the destruction of the Park Fire in neighboring Butte County, we’re reminded of the very real threat of wildfire in our backyard and the importance of projects like this one to make our forests more resilient,” said Yuba Water General Manager Willie Whittlesey.

The Camptonville Community Partnership owns the land where the facility will be built and is close to finalizing an interconnection and power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas & Electric. Camptonville Community Partnership is partnering with Engeman Energy on construction and operations, with a goal of bringing the plant online by 2026.

Development of the facility has been underway for several years and has previously received support from the Yuba Water Agency.

According to information published by the Camptonville Community Partnership’s Forest Biomass Business Center, the proposed combined-heat-and power (CHP) plant will feature a direct combustion boiler steam turbine generator that produces electricity for onsite operations and exports power to the grid under the California BioMAT program. The facility is also expected to offer steam, heating and cooling to co-located businesses, including a sawmill. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to consume 38,000 bone dry tons of wood biomass annually.

A full copy of Yuba Water’s Aug. 6 announcement is available on the