Aug 21 2010
The Midland manufacturing site of Dow Corning is planning to install an energy facility powered by biomass for providing a cost-effective, reliable, renewable supply of electricity and steam necessary for the operations of the site.
Cirque Energy, LLC would be building, owning and operating the plant on behalf of Dow Corning. Recently, Cirque Energy had filed for the necessary environmental permits for appropriate approvals from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, as the initial step towards installation.
The plant will be producing biomass energy by the gasification process of organic matter that is derived from plants, thus releasing the energy of the sun contained in these materials. Thus, biomass functions like a natural battery for the purpose of storing solar energy. As long as sustainable methods are used for producing biomass, the energy source will remain completely renewable. Initially, this facility would be using waste wood chips that are obtained from the existing mills, forest harvesting along with dead trees, as a part of the sustainable forestry initiatives.