by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The JEA has begun chipping away at fuel costs. Literally.
The utility is experimenting with a fuel source that it believes will save energy costs as well as reduce input to area landfills, including the proposed Otis Road Disaster Recovery Debris Management and Recycling Facility.
JEA monitors the volatility of fuel markets, especially prices on oil and natural gas.
As a result, the utility has turned to cheaper fuels such as coal and petroleum coke for both price and reduced emissions, but they, too, are beginning to rise in cost.
“Fuel cost and environmental regulations have caused us to experiment with alternative fuels,” said Randy Stroupe, director of electric production-steam generation in the electric services group.
“We’re looking for a cheaper fuel cost,” Stroupe told the JEA board at its meeting Tuesday.
The alternative fuel is a mix of coal, petroleum coke and tree trimmings. The JEA Northside Generating Station along Hecksher Drive completed a successful test of the fuel July 1.
“It’s taken a lot of experimentation to get the proper mixture,” said Jim Dickenson, managing director and CEO for JEA. “We just have to make sure we don’t gunk up the system.”
JEA obtained a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in April to co-fire the JEA tree trimmings in its circulating fluidized bed boilers.
JEA began burning 12 tons of biomass per day in June. The 12 tons burned each day equal 0.6 megawatts, which translate into electricity for 300 households.
The plant produces 40 percent of the electricity used by Jacksonville and less than 1 percent of that will come from the alternative fuel source, but during tight budget times, even a small savings is still savings, said Stroupe.
The experiment also was economical in that it used equipment and resources already on hand.
City Council President Stephen Joost, the Council liaison to JEA, voiced approval Tuesday of the potential savings that the energy source could generate for the City, especially as hurricane season unfolds.
Joost referred to a proposed ordinance (2011-370) to allow Otis Road Landfill LLC to operate the Otis Road Disaster Recovery Debris Management and Recycling Facility at 1700 Otis Road in West Jacksonville.
The ordinance grants the application of Otis Road Landfill LLC for an initial certificate of public conveyance and necessity to operate the facility.
“I will offer an amendment to the current bill that states as long as there is capacity at the JEA for biomass that the city should bring it here instead of paying the tipping fee that we have to pay when we go to the dump,” he said.
“And give you all the biomass fuel you want for free and save our tipping fee,” said Joost.
“When there is a tropical storm or a hurricane, we should fill your capacity first,” he said.
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