KINGS BEACH, Calif. — A group of locals are restless — with some perhaps bordering on furious — about the possibility of a biomass plant being erected in their backyard.

For Dawn Baffone, the thought of possible threats to area children are enough to be skeptical.

“I have two little girls and I am concerned that the emissions coming from the plant and the trucks could negatively affect their health,” said Baffone, who lives about 100 feet from a parcel in Kings Beach Placer County officials have proposed as a possible site for the energy-producing facility.

Baffone is one of the more outspoken people who live near the Speckled Avenue/Deer Street intersection — in proximity to the NV Energy property under consideration — who is not in favor of erecting a biomass plant close to residential homes.

Besides fears of potential respiratory impacts to her family, Baffone further noted the parcel is roughly two blocks away from Kings Beach Elementary School and the local Boys and Girls Club.

“It's just too close to residences,” she said. “Biomass plants don't belong in people's neighborhoods.”

Baffone's neighbor, Ian Smith, agreed.

“My biggest concern is the noise,” Smith said. “When you have five or six trucks coming by the house a day, combined with the different lifting equipment, that should exceed the neighborhood noise ordinances of 45 decibels.”

Plenty of residents were on hand Tuesday at the North Tahoe Events Center in Kings Beach to hear more discussion on the plan, which also offers a Tahoe City location alternative and would require various permitting approval, including through the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

While many locals are speaking loudly against the project, not everyone is quick to dismiss. Christine Wright said she will wait until a environmental impact study is released before casting judgment.

“I'm not one of these NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) people,” she said. “If there is a possibility of putting in Cabin Creek I would favor that, but if they have to put it here, I am not totally opposed to that as of right now."

The proposal Placer County, in cooperation with NV Energy, is requesting approval of a minor-use permit and a TRPA application to construct a 1- to 3-megawatt biomass energy facility at one of two locations: • On a 1.3-acre site in Kings Beach, which would require the installation of either an underground or aboveground connection to NV Energy's Kings Beach Substation on the adjacent 21.8-acre parcel; or • On a 9.6-acre site in Tahoe City adjacent to the Placer County Administrative Offices, which would require switching equipment and a connection to NV Energy's distribution line on the lake side of Highway 28. Both parcels in Kings Beach are owned by NV Energy. The Tahoe City parcel is owned by Placer County. Both sites are located within the unincorporated portion of Placer County. The Kings Beach site is located one block north of the Speckled Avenue/Bear Street intersection, approximately 800 feet east of California State Route 267. The alternative site in Tahoe City is located off of Burton Creek Drive at 2501 North Lake Blvd. Biomass materials (fuel for the facility) would be processed (ground and screened) at off-site locations, including primarily the Cabin Creek Processing Facility and Transfer Station (formerly Eastern Regional Landfill). The project could require additional processing equipment (i.e., loaders and grinders) be added at the Cabin Creek station. Some biomass processing may also occur at in-forest fuels reduction sites. — Source: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

The county's perspective

Brett Storey, Placer County project manager, said the idea is still in its infancy and the environmental review process will address many of the concerns expressed by residents.

“It may very well be true that the parcel is too close to homes and a school,” Storey said. “We don't know those details yet, and we won't know until the review process is complete. However, if it is true, we won't build the facility.”

Storey said the environmental study will analyze, among other things, the number of homes in proximity to the proposed building, the amount of emissions from the plant and trucks and the direction of prevailing winds.

The review is under way and is scheduled for release in early 2011, Storey said.

What is biomass? Biomass consists of organic material, typically derived from plant matter, living or dead. Biomass is carbon based and is composed of a mixture of organic molecules containing hydrogen, usually including atoms of oxygen, often nitrogen and also small quantities of other atoms, including alkali, alkaline earth and heavy metals. A biomass plant is a factory with the capability of transforming biomass material into electricity and/or heat. — Source: Biomass Energy Center