Support the Biomass Plant

It's a win-win for everyone. Go to MariposaBiomassProject.org to learn how. The proposed Biomass operation would not affect the test wells required by the State for which Mariposa County purchased the property. The biomass unit is small, as such, the planned four truckloads of timber a day would not pose a transportation hazard or a bother to near-by residents.

Mariposa Biomass Project (MBP) has already been awarded a U.S Forest Service Wood Innovation Grant to cover first steps – valued at over $250,000. There WAS an excellent chance of receiving a second, $5 million grant to prepare the site for building BUT the deadline is August 28, probably too late now. How sad that those funds will not be spent hiring people in our community. They might be ready to apply next year if our Supervisors move forward. Public Private partnerships are common, especially when the benefit to the public is as immense as this. The land the Biomass Project identified and the Board will not sell or lease is the best location. How curious that these Supervisors all of a sudden were so interested in the ethics of how the county purchased the property when three of them were on the Board, involved in and approved the deal. How convenient to not even allow staff to explore the possibilities of a public private partnership. There would be no expense to the County for the Biomass plant and it could be paid off in an estimated three to five years from the electric power it would generate. Highly qualified people are volunteering their time to get jobs for this county and promote public safety by having a place to take highly flamable dead trees and slash.

Most important, a Biomass facility on the site would reduce the chance of a firestorm like the one that just burned the town of Lower Lakes north of San Francisco and 11 other major fires in California burning many homes. It would use trees and underbrush in our area killed by drought and bark beetles and generate energy to be sold to PG&E for an estimated $3 million. It would produce bio-char for additional income. And it would provide 5 to 8 full time living wage jobs for Mariposans requiring no long commute and additional jobs for workers cutting and hauling.

We have all seen semi after semi load of salvage logs heading down Highway 140 to be shipped to China and made into coffins when they should be providing power, revenue and employment for Mariposa people.

Let your Supervisors know you support this project and urge them to take advantage of the opportunity when it comes back before the Board so we can get started. 

Caroline Wenger Korn
Mariposa County Resident