©The Ripatti Group 2006

Biofuel Power Generation

There is a variety of materials that may be used as renewable fuels for a biofuel power plant. Stover (the remaining corn stalk residue) is a good source and becomes a second cash crop for farmers. Wood chips from forestry operations, thinnings, sawmill residue, and construction debris are others.

By adjusting fuel mix, a state of the art plant will produce electricity that is generally cleaner than that which it replaces and this energy is not imported from countries that are hostile to America.

Gasification processes have been developed and proven that are even more forgiving as to fuel source and have operational efficiencies that exceed those of traditional stoker grate or fluidized bed energy plants.

A "green tithe" by mega-church members would be enough to operate a small gasification plant that would provide all the heat and electricity the large church would need on peak days and then the church would be able to sell the excess power to the local utility company during off-peak times, helping the church fund important programs.