From Economic View, San Joaquin Partnership

DTE Energy to Build Power Plant at Port of Stockton

  DTE Energy Systems will convert an existing coal-fired co-generation facility at the Port of Stockton to a 45-megawatt wood burning unit that would begin in 2013 to provide consumers with 360,000 megawatt hours per year of renewable energy.

   The biomass plant would burn waste wood from urban and agricultural sources. DTE officials said the Stockton project would be "one of the cleanest solid-fuel-burning power plants in North America".  They added that when the plant becomes operational it will have 50 initial full time employees as well as the 100 construction jobs during the 18-24 month conversion.

   The San Joaquin Partnership worked with  DTE, the Port and the City of Stockton on incentives under the San Joaquin County Enterprise Zone. Partnership President & CEO Mike Locke says this project is a win for the environment and local agricultural interests.

   "The local air district has eliminated 90 percent  of agricultural burning activities. This biomass power plant would offer another option to growers who need to find a way to dispose of orchard and vineyard pruning waste."

   Port of Stockton Commissioners gave final approval to the DTE for the lease of the old Port of Stockton District Energy Facility (POSDEF) at its  September 7th meeting.  The San Joaquin Valley air Pollution Control District is reviewing the project.

   DTE Energy is based in Detroit. Its largest subsidiaries are Detroit Edison and Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. It has more than 10,000 employees and its 2009 earnings were reported as $532 million on revenues of $8 billion.