Minnesota utility harvests cobs for test burn

BioMass Magazine December 2008
By Ryan C. Christiansen
Web exclusive posted Nov. 21, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. CST

Willmar Municipal Utilities, the electric utility for the city of Willmar, Minn., harvested 450 tons of corn cobs from a local farmer this fall and will test burn cobs with coal at its power plant this winter.

According to Jon Folkedahl, a consultant for the renewable energy venture, the Willmar utility submitted a request to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on Nov. 18 for a temporary permit to burn the cobs.

If the test burn is successful, the utility plans to apply for a permit to permanently burn 20 to 30 percent cobs with 70 to 80 percent coal at its 16-megawatt power plant, said Bruce Gomm, general manager for Willmar Municipal Utilities.

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