Arizona coal-fired power plant begins biomass testing

The Coronado Generating Station coal-fired power plant in St. Johns, Arizona, will be experimenting with biomass from forest debris, a report by The Courier Express says.

Salt River Project, a public power utility company headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, told The Courier Express that the tests will help evaluate the viability of using biomass as feedstock in the plant. The feedstock consisted of left over debris from cutting and thinning forests in northern Arizona. The use of the debris will reduce the risk of wildfire, the report says.

A one-day test of burning biomass along with its normal fuel took place on Oct. 26 and was successful, a report by The Washington Times says. This allows the facility to begin a 10-day burn beginning Nov. 10, followed by another 10-day burn using a higher percentage of biomass burned along with coal.

According to The Courier Express, the study will also examine any impacts the feedstock may have to the plant’s equipment and systems, which are currently not designed to burn biomass.