Oct 27 2010
The E.J. Stoneman Station owned by DTE Energy Services has started generating and delivering electric power utilizing biomass energy. Dairyland Power Cooperative, a neighborhood utility company located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, is buying the total output of 40 MW to meet the energy requirements of its members.
The Stoneman Station which came in to existence in 1951 was owned by Dairyland and was producing power from coal. The DTE Energy Services bought it in 1990 and continued with the power production.
DTE Energy Services has revived the power production capabilities of Stoneman Station and fitted it with biomass power production facilities. Currently Stoneman Station generates electrical energy through combusting different types of wood wastes which include waste green wood from the forests, tree trimming wastes, sawdust and wood waste products from demolition sites.
David Ruud, DTE Energy Services company’s President, said that his company is happy to give a new lease of life to the Stoneman Station power plant in order to generate clean renewable energy. He added that the revival of the plant has extended employment opportunities to 32 local community members and will further sustain the local economy through the dealings of the company with the fuel providers and other businesses. Dale Pohlman, Vice President, Strategic Planning of Dairyland, expressed his happiness about the availability of renewable power for its members. He added that the energy produced from the biomass plant will power around 28,000 houses.