October 13, 2009 - Partnering with Simply Green

Clean Power Development is partnering with Simply Green! Simply Green will expand into Northern New Hampshire by opening a distribution center adjacent to the Clean Power Development, LLC facility to be built in Berlin. The synergistic relationship will allow both companies to play major roles in building a strong, local economy while reducing the carbon footprint of the region. Download the complete Simply Green Press Release to learn more!

October 6, 2009 - Heating Up Berlin

Clean Power Development will be taking the lead this week to bring together key parties interested in the potential of developing a district heating system for the City of Berlin. Often discussed and over a year on the drawing boards, this concept has garnered significant support because of its potential considerable economic impact.

City officials, district heating experts, engineering expertise and economic strategists will gather with representatives of Clean Power in an effort to begin to coordinate activities and synthesize efforts as all work toward the goal of improving the quality of life in Berlin. With the impending start of construction of the Clean Power combined heat and power plant, combined with the potential for economic assistance for the project, this is an opportune time to consider the possibilities of a city wide district heating system.

A detailed study completed over a year ago for the Town of Groveton showed that there was significant potential for a district heating system, but that savings would be greatly impacted by the operating cost of the central boiler. With Clean Power, that cost will be significantly lower that with any other potential source of heat, making the project very competitive with other heat sources.

September 30, 2009

Discover why "Synergy" is such an important word at Clean Power Development. Download our new Clean Power Development Synergies pamphlet exploring the ways innovative relationships can transform power generation and economic development in the Berlin area.

September 28, 2009

Clean Power Development has been issued the air permit for construction and operation of its 29 MW biomass combined heat and power plant in Berlin, NH. This comes following several stages of analysis by the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) and a 30 day public comment period.

In making the decision to allow a new source of emissions and award the permit, the DES determined that the innovative technologies incorporated into the proposed plant would allow it to attain the lowest possible emissions rate. The final DES report also noted that not a single comment was received from the public, or the EPA during the 30 day comment period.

The permit allows only the combustion of clean virgin wood chips and non-contaminated wood products such as pallet chips or untreated wood product chips at the facility, and Clean Power has pledged not to burn anything else in the plant.

Additionally, application was made today for a wetlands impact permit from the DES. Following the previous granting of all local permits, the state alteration of terrain permit and now the air permit, the filing of the wetlands application is the final step in preparations to begin construction.

September 10, 2009

Clean Power Development has received the alteration of terrain permit from the NH Department of Environmental Services for construction of its combined heat and power biomass project in Berlin. Permit number AoT-0030 was issued by the state on September 4 and provides authorization for all site work necessary to construct the 29 MW biomass CHP facility. This milestone in the development of the Berlin project culminates months of exhaustive work on the part of Clean Power Development and its planning and design team and is the next step in making this exciting project a reality.

Site work and construction will impact approximately 10 acres of land, with extensive efforts being made to minimize impact to the area. Of particular note are the plans to develop a number of bio retention ponds to contain all run off from the site, which will ensure that the project will not negatively impact Androscoggin River water quality.

Clean Power Development is engaged in the development of appropriately sized and located highly efficient combined heat and power plants that are fueled by clean, renewable forest biomass. Clean Power’s Berlin project will not only produce electrical power for distribution, but will have the ability to provide steam to the Fraser Paper Mill in Gorham, as well as steam and hot water to other commercial and industrial facilities in the area.

August 18, 2009

Clean Power Development, LLC the developer of a biomass energy facility in Berlin, New Hampshire and Fraser N.H. LLC, the owner operator of the Gorham, New Hampshire paper mill, have executed a Memorandum of Understanding related to potentially providing steam from the Clean Power Berlin project to the Gorham paper mill for papermaking process use. The Clean Power facility will be an efficient combined heat and power design that markets both electrical and thermal energy. Steam may be provided to the Gorham mill via a new steam line that crosses the Androscoggin River. It is the goal of Clean Power Development to provide renewable energy within New Hampshire in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible.

July 9, 2009

The Berlin Daily Sun's cover story announced the Berlin Planning Board has granted conditional approval for a minor subdivision for the land Clean Power plans to purchase and develop for the Berlin Biomass Energy Facility. Click here to read the full story.

June 19, 2009

Project Manager Bill Gabler recently participated in a northern New Hampshire regional symposium on "Biomass Energy: The Benefits for Business and the Environment". Members of the panel presented a variety of views and perspectives on the issues relating to the availability of biomass resources and the need for efficient utilization of what is increasingly viewed as a limited resource in the state.

In that light, Bill explained the basis for downsizing the Clean Power Berlin project to 29 MW and how the use of both electrical and thermal output pushed plant efficiency above 50%, with a goal of exceeding 60% when final design is complete.

With all relevant local permits complete and applications submitted for state permits, Clean Power is anticipating breaking ground this fall for their project with an anticipated operational date in 2012-13.

May 11, 2009

Clean Power Development has announced The Dupont Group has been retained to act as the company's government affairs representatives. Click Here to read the full release describing the benefits of this new relationship.

April 28, 2009

The 19th Annual Coos Foresters Mud Breakfast brought together approximately 140 foresters and loggers to hear the latest on forest management issues. As a part of the days agenda, Clean Power Development Project Manager Bill Gabler was able to update the attendees with the latest news of Clean Power's Berlin project. This year's topic was "The Changing Face of Forest Industry", and provided an opportunity for Bill to explain the various synergies and opportunities that could be derived for the region from Berlin's sustainably sized distributed generation facility.

March 23, 2009

Clean Power Development has joined a coalition of companies and organizations urging Congress to pass a national renewable electricity standard. Click here to read the letter submitted to Congress.

March 18, 2009

The cover page of March 17th's Berlin Daily Sun includes two articles describing the political and social debate surrounding biomass power in the region. Amidst these issues, Clean Power Development continues to advocate strongly for environmentally sustainable and socially response energy.

March 17, 2009

Clean Power Development spoke out against recent events that threaten the environmental and economic viability of biomass power in New Hampshire. Clean Power Development submitted this letter to media outlets throughout New Hampshire to help educate communities about recent developments involving Laidlaw Energy Group and Public Service of New Hampshire. Clean Power Development is proud to continue offering environmentally sustainable and socially responsible energy for New Hampshire and beyond.

February 18, 2009

Clean Power Development co-sponsored an energy trade show in Farmington, New Hampshire at the Energy Resources Group facilities on Route 11. Approximately 60 vendors participated with over 500 people in attendance. There was a full-day agenda of speakers and demonstrations for those with significant interest or involvement in the energy production business, with considerable emphasis on alternative technologies.

Besides all the industry personnel and some folks from the general public, the event did attract politicians with a particular interest in this venue. Both State Senator Jackie Cilley and United States Representative Carol Shea-Porter were in attendance showing considerable interest in many of the vendor companies and technologies. Congresswoman Shea-Porter is shown here with Peter Bloomfield and Mel Liston of Clean Power Development expressing her concern related to energy & climate issues and a commitment of support for the renewable energy industries that will define a new era for America.

November 10, 2008

The Berlin Daily Sun reports Clean Power Development hopes to begin construction on the Berlin Clean Power Facility in the spring of 2009, with a fully operational facility online by December 2010. Clean Power Development is working with the Berlin planning board, addressing the final challenges before construction can begin. Click here to read the full article from the Berlin Daily Sun.

September 8, 2008

The Berlin Daily Sun reports the city of Berlin supports Clean Power Development's request for federal tax credits. Click here to see the Berlin Project's latest news and read the full article.

August 11, 2008

Clean Power Development, LLC has released a study conducted by Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC exploring biomass fuel availability in the Berlin, New Hampshire area. The study considers fuel availability based on historical data and current and prospective biomass use throughout the Berlin area. We believe the information included in this study is critical to a complete understanding of the biomass energy potential of the region.

Click here to view the full report detailing biomass availability throughout the Berlin, New Hampshire area. Please be patient while it transfers (2.2MB PDF).

May 28, 2008

Clean Power Development, LLC President, Mel Liston, speaks out on climate change and encourages Senators Gregg and Sununu to support the Climate Security Act.

Click here to read the full article covering the event, a gathering of New Hampshire business professionals supporting the Climate Security Act.

Click here to download a copy of the letter Mel Liston and the team at Clean Power Development, LLC sent to Senators Gregg and Sununu.

May 3, 2008

Clean Power Development President, Mel Liston, speaks at the Annual Meeting of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association held at the Gunstock Ski Resort. Roger Amsden, an independent reporter, captured the story that appeared in a number of newspapers around the state and is shown here by permission.

Next Generation of Biomass Plants Will Have New Look, New Synergies

By ROGER AMSDEN - Union Leader Correspondent

GILFORD - A new generation of biomass cogeneration plants which are in the development stage across the state will look like farm buildings and will be sited so that they will be able to develop synergies with the existing energy infrastructure.

That's the scenario Mel Liston of Clean Power Development Corporation LLC of Concord shared with members of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association at the organization's annual meeting held over the weekend at Gunstock Ski Area.

"Not only will the forest industry and loggers be able to find a market for wood chips, which is a low end product, but we'll be working to keep the kind of look the tourist industry likes. The new plants won't look like an industrial park building at all. They'll look like big barns with silos nearby where the biomass will be stored. A person flying over one of these sites will look down and think they're above a very productive farm instead of an energy plant," says Liston.

April 30, 2008

Clean Power Development, LLC attended an important meeting of the regional electric transmission system, Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE) in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Clean Power Development was present to ascertain our support of our New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission position calling for a study related to the need for transmission line upgrades in Northern New Hampshire.

April 17, 2008

Representatives of Clean Power Development attended the Annual Meeting of the North Country Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, held at the Cannon Mountain Ski Resort Base Lodge. Of particular interest to the CPD personnel in attendance was the presentation of Professor Morris A. Pierce from Rochester University on the subject of District Heating.

January 12, 2008

Mel Liston, the President of Clean Power Development, spoke of his company and proposed projects during the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation (NHWF) Annual Meeting held in Concord. The NHWF Executive Director, Joe Norton, had the following comments that appeared on the organizations website and within its news letter;

"I want to extend a special thanks to Mel Liston, our former board director and president of Clean Power Development (CPD), for sponsoring our annual meeting. Mel and I have been discussing ideas and talking back and forth for a few months about partnering on various wildlife projects that can benefit our federation, our wildlife, and their habitat. I really hope and believe that we will be working together for many years to come and it feels good to have the support from all the folks at CPD. The biomass industry (wood chips to power) benefits our state economically through jobs, the environment through clean renewable energy, and our wildlife through healthier forests."

The Berlin, New Hampshire Project Synergies

The Berlin Project provides a number of unique opportunities to work together with other businesses and municiple agencies to create a more efficient, more environmentally responsible power generation facility. To learn more:

1. Download our new Clean Power Development Synergies pamphlet exploring the ways innovative relationships can transform power generation and economic development in the Berlin area!
2. Click the image below for a diagram of possible Berlin facility synergies...

Latest Project News

October 13, 2009 - Clean Power Development is partnering with Simply Green! Simply Green will expand into Northern New Hampshire by opening a distribution center adjacent to the Clean Power Development, LLC facility to be built in Berlin. The synergistic relationship will allow both companies to play major roles in building a strong, local economy while reducing the carbon footprint of the region. Download the complete Simply Green Press Release to learn more!

October 6, 2009 - Clean Power Development will be taking the lead this week to bring together key parties interested in the potential of developing a district heating system for the City of Berlin. Often discussed and over a year on the drawing boards, this concept has garnered significant support because of its potential considerable economic impact.

City officials, district heating experts, engineering expertise and economic strategists will gather with representatives of Clean Power in an effort to begin to coordinate activities and synthesize efforts as all work toward the goal of improving the quality of life in Berlin. With the impending start of construction of the Clean Power combined heat and power plant, combined with the potential for economic assistance for the project, this is an opportune time to consider the possibilities of a city wide district heating system.

A detailed study completed over a year ago for the Town of Groveton showed that there was significant potential for a district heating system, but that savings would be greatly impacted by the operating cost of the central boiler. With Clean Power, that cost will be significantly lower that with any other potential source of heat, making the project very competitive with other heat sources.

September 28, 2009 - Clean Power Development has been issued the air permit for construction and operation of its 29 MW biomass combined heat and power plant in Berlin, NH. This comes following several stages of analysis by the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) and a 30 day public comment period.

In making the decision to allow a new source of emissions and award the permit, the DES determined that the innovative technologies incorporated into the proposed plant would allow it to attain the lowest possible emissions rate. The final DES report also noted that not a single comment was received from the public, or the EPA during the 30 day comment period.

The permit allows only the combustion of clean virgin wood chips and non-contaminated wood products such as pallet chips or untreated wood product chips at the facility, and Clean Power has pledged not to burn anything else in the plant.

Additionally, application was made today for a wetlands impact permit from the DES. Following the previous granting of all local permits, the state alteration of terrain permit and now the air permit, the filing of the wetlands application is the final step in preparations to begin construction.

September 10, 2009 - Clean Power Development has received the alteration of terrain permit from the NH Department of Environmental Services for construction of its combined heat and power biomass project in Berlin. Permit number AoT-0030 was issued by the state on September 4 and provides authorization for all site work necessary to construct the 29 MW biomass CHP facility. This milestone in the development of the Berlin project culminates months of exhaustive work on the part of Clean Power Development and its planning and design team and is the next step in making this exciting project a reality.

Site work and construction will impact approximately 10 acres of land, with extensive efforts being made to minimize impact to the area. Of particular note are the plans to develop a number of bio retention ponds to contain all run off from the site, which will ensure that the project will not negatively impact Androscoggin River water quality.

Clean Power Development is engaged in the development of appropriately sized and located highly efficient combined heat and power plants that are fueled by clean, renewable forest biomass. Clean Power’s Berlin project will not only produce electrical power for distribution, but will have the ability to provide steam to the Fraser Paper Mill in Gorham, as well as steam and hot water to other commercial and industrial facilities in the area.

August 18, 2009 - Clean Power Development, LLC the developer of a biomass energy facility in Berlin, New Hampshire and Fraser N.H. LLC, the owner operator of the Gorham, New Hampshire paper mill, have executed a Memorandum of Understanding related to potentially providing steam from the Clean Power Berlin project to the Gorham paper mill for papermaking process use. The Clean Power facility will be an efficient combined heat and power design that markets both electrical and thermal energy. Steam may be provided to the Gorham mill via a new steam line that crosses the Androscoggin River. It is the goal of Clean Power Development to provide renewable energy within New Hampshire in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible.

July 9, 2009 - The Berlin Daily Sun's cover story announced the Berlin Planning Board has granted conditional approval for a minor subdivision for the land Clean Power plans to purchase and develop for the Berlin Biomass Energy Facility. Click here to read the full story.

June 19, 2009 - Project Manager Bill Gabler recently participated in a northern New Hampshire regional symposium on "Biomass Energy: The Benefits for Business and the Environment". Members of the panel presented a variety of views and perspectives on the issues relating to the availability of biomass resources and the need for efficient utilization of what is increasingly viewed as a limited resource in the state.

In that light, Bill explained the basis for downsizing the Clean Power Berlin project to 29 MW and how the use of both electrical and thermal output pushed plant efficiency above 50%, with a goal of exceeding 60% when final design is complete.

With all relevant local permits complete and applications submitted for state permits, Clean Power is anticipating breaking ground this fall for their project with an anticipated operational date in 2012-13.

April 28, 2009 - the 19th Annual Coos Foresters Mud Breakfast brought together approximately 140 foresters and loggers to hear the latest on forest management issues. As a part of the days agenda, Clean Power Development Project Manager Bill Gabler was able to update the attendees with the latest news of Clean Power's Berlin project. This year's topic was "The Changing Face of Forest Industry", and provided an opportunity for Bill to explain the various synergies and opportunities that could be derived for the region from Berlin's sustainably sized distributed generation facility.

March 18, 2009 - the cover page of March 17th's Berlin Daily Sun includes two articles describing the political and social debate surrounding biomass power in the region. Amidst these issues, Clean Power Development continues to advocate strongly for environmentally sustainable and socially response energy.

March 17, 2009 - Clean Power Development spoke out against recent events that threaten the environmental and economic viability of biomass power in New Hampshire. Clean Power Development submitted this letter to media outlets throughout New Hampshire to help educate communities about recent developments involving Laidlaw Energy Group and Public Service of New Hampshire. Clean Power Development is proud to continue offering environmentally sustainable and socially responsible energy for New Hampshire and beyond.

November 10, 2008 - The Berlin Daily Sun reports Clean Power Development hopes to begin construction on the Berlin Clean Power Facility in the spring of 2009, with a fully operational facility online by December 2010. Clean Power Development is working with the Berlin planning board, addressing the final challenges before construction can begin. Click here to read the full article from the Berlin Daily Sun.

September 8, 2008 - The Berlin Daily Sun reports the city of Berlin supports Clean Power's request for federal tax credits. The article is included below in its entirety.

Barbara Tetreault
BERLIN- The city council has written a letter supporting Clean Power Development's efforts to obtain federal tax credits to help finance its proposed biomass plant.

Clean Power asked the city to support its request for an allocation of New Markets Tax Credits which the company said would be instrumental in the development of the plant.

New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) allow investors to receive a credit against their federal income taxes for investing in designated Community Development Entities which, in turn, invest in projects in low income communities. Berlin has been designated as low income community.

In a letter to the city requesting its support for an allocation of the tax credits, Clean Power head Mel Liston said competition for the credits is highly competitive.

Liston noted Clean Power downsized the proposed plant from 45 megawatts to 25 megawatts because of the results of the study it contracted on biomass fuel availability. He said reducing the amount of power generated, however, also reduces the revenue the facility will generate. He said that loss of revenue makes the tax credits important part of bringing the plant to fruition.

Liston wrote that Clean Power is in the design and planning stages of the project. Once operating, he said the plant would directly employ about 24 people and create up to 150 jobs in the forest products and trucking industries.

Furthermore, Liston said in addition to supplying renewable power to the region's electric grid, the biomass plant would be able to provide heat, steam, and electricity to adjacent properties at lower cost. He said that should help the city attract other economic growth.

In its letter of support, the city noted the impact of the decline of the paper industry and the closing of the pulp mill on the local economy. Berlin has among the lowest median family income and property value per capita in the state coupled with the highest unemployment and poverty rates in the state. The council said the Clean Power project would create badly needed new jobs and economic diversity to the city.

Clean Power has also told city officials it will be seeking to make a payment in lieu of taxes on the biomass plant. Last month, Councilor Ron Goudreau and Tom McCue, Jonathan Edwards of the Berlin Board of Assessors, City Manager Patrick MacQueen, and Economic Development Director Norm Charest met in nonpublic session with appraising consultant George Sansoucy to discuss Clean Power's valuation.

August 11, 2008 - Clean Power Development, LLC has released a study conducted by Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC exploring biomass fuel availability in the Berlin, New Hampshire area. The study considers fuel availability based on historical data and current and prospective biomass use throughout the Berlin area. We believe the information included in this study is critical to a complete understanding of the biomass energy potential of the region.

Click here to view the full report detailing biomass availability throughout the Berlin, New Hampshire area. Please be patient while it transfers (2.2MB PDF).

Project History

Clean Power Development traces its interest in the Berlin community as a Biomass Energy facility host back to September of 2006. The New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development sent a package of information related to the assets at the shut down mill facilities. Trips ensued to assess the potential value for retrofitting component parts of the existing mill infrastructure as a biomass energy facility. During these trips there were many meetings with local government officials as well as regional politicians, private citizens, and North American Dismantling, the owners of the shut down mill property.

We rather quickly determined that none of the buildings or equipment on site was appropriate for a Clean Power Development project. The main asset of consideration being the so-called black liquor boiler was far too large for the available biomass fuel supply and known transmission line constraints, and it could not be adequately downsized to match these parameters. Additionally, the only logical retrofit involved utilization of a fluidized bed combustion process that would result in a noise problem in the middle of the city.

Clean Power Development, LLC proposes facilities that match the preferred ecology of New Hampshire and for this have developed the "Successful Farm" look in our project developments. Looking down through the beautiful Androscoggin Valley we could envision no redesign of the existing facility that would be more than a sow's ear. We informed North American Dismantling (NAD) that we had no interest in the existing boiler but would like to establish an option on about 50 acres at the north east corner of the property for an all new low-profile energy facility. NAD declined to entertain any such proposal that did not utilize the existing mill boiler and provide them with the higher return they anticipated for that asset.

November 29, 2007 - City Manager Patrick MacQueen holds the check from Clean Power Development president Mel Liston for an option on an 11-acre site near the wastewater treatment facility. Administrative assistant Susan Tremblay witnessed the signing of the option. (Gail Scott Photo)

The principals of Clean Power Development were now emotionally invested in being part of the economic revitalization for this North Country community. Rather than walk away, Clean Power Development began the search for an alternate site. Finding a site with the right attributes was not easy but a higher power eventually brought us to a location of maximum potential at the southern extreme of Berlin surrounding the Berlin Waste Water Treatment facility.

From this location there are more possibilities for project synergies than at any other location in Berlin. We have optioned the required land from the City of Berlin, certified the facility with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, filed an interconnection request with the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE), are established in their queue process and are proceeding with the feasibility study. We are regularly on the site with various subcontractors to complete all the studies required subsequent to applications for the various permits and gathering the site-specific details that go into project design.

The Winchester, New Hampshire Project

Clean Power Development began the search for an appropriate site for a Biomass Energy Facility in the Cheshire County region of New Hampshire in early April of 2007. By mid-May we had narrowed our focus to available locations all within the Town of Winchester. We first met with a town official of Winchester on May 25, 2007 to gain more detailed information about the various potential sites.

Always looking for a site that maximizes potential synergies, we settled on land near the town waste water treatment facility on Route 119. We intend to further clean and utilize the WWT (waste water treatment) water normally discharged to the Ashuelot River as a makeup supply for our circulating cooling water system. This will significantly improve the downstream quality of this beautiful river, while at the same time maximizing the utilization of the available water resources.

Clean Power Development optioned the first of several parcels of land upon which the facility will be built in December of 2007, and immediately contacted the regional transmission system operator with an interconnection request establishing this project in the ISO-NE queue for a Feasibility Study that is now underway. Additional land options have since been added to the project to provide adequate space at the facility site as well as at the interconnection point adjacent to the nearest 115kv transmission line.

Clean Power Development formally introduced the town to this project at the March 26, 2008 Selectman's Meeting and also addressed the Planning Board on March 31, 2008 in relation to a zoning clarification. Presently, the site is undergoing a number of surveys and subcontracted studies in preparation for the multiple permits required and in preparation to go before the State of New Hampshire Energy Facility Site Evaluation Committee.