The Haines Biomass Advisory Committee will hold its first meeting next week to decide how to move forward with the Haines Borough’s large pellet boiler project.
The committee, formed by borough consultant Darsie Culbeck, will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Culbeck has been handling the borough’s $1.2 million biomass grant from the Alaska Energy Authority to install wood pellet boilers in public buildings. He recently secured an extension on the grant, as well as several amendments to the document, such as the possibility of using one large boiler to pipe energy to several public buildings at once.
Another amendment specified that the project could involve wood chips, not just wood pellets, Culbeck said.
The committee consists of Culbeck, AEA energy infrastructure project manager James Vail, AEA biomass project manager Devany Plentovich, Southeast Conference energy coordinator Robert Venables, U.S. Forest Service biomass coordinator Robert Deering and borough public facilities director Brad Ryan.
Culbeck said the group will take a two-day “field trip” around town next week to look at the Haines Senior Center pellet boiler and other public facilities slated for the switch to pellet heat. The group will also inspect the three biomass boilers the borough recently purchased from Sitka.
“It’s a big undertaking and we’re trying to do it as efficiently as possible. These guys are giving us their time without us having to pay them, which is great, and hopefully they can help move us in the right direction,” Culbeck said.