Progress Energy Carolinas has signed a contract with Poultry Power USA to purchase the output of a poultry waste-to-biogas energy plant, to be located in Montgomery County, N.C. Poultry Power USA will build, own and operate the 36-megawatt (MW) power plant and sell the electricity to the utility for use with its customers, reports the Asheville Citizen-Times.

“Turning poultry litter into power is an important milestone in the development of bio-waste energy resources in our state,” said Lloyd Yates, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Carolinas. “Innovative renewable energy technologies, aggressive energy efficiency programs and a state-of-the-art power system are important parts of a balanced approach to meeting our region’s future energy demands.”

The plant will be built in Biscoe and is scheduled to begin operation in early 2013. Poultry Power USA estimates the project will be an investment of $125 million and bring about 100 direct and indirect jobs to the area. The plant will use 350,000 tons of poultry litter per year. Terms of the contract were not announced.

“We are pleased to bring jobs and commerce to North Carolina,” said George Erickson Sr., the chief executive officer of Poultry Power USA. “Our clean technology will provide renewable energy to consumers in the state, and we are excited about being a solution to the litter disposal challenges facing the poultry industry. Our commitment is to be a clean and solid corporate citizen with a small carbon footprint.”

Source: Asheville Citizen-Times