The Manitowoc Public Utilities Commission on April 14 passed a resolution approving the formation of a subsidiary Limited Liability Company called Horizon Blends Pellets LLC.
This is the next step in the Manitowoc Refuel Renewable Project, which entails refueling power plant boilers from burning primarily fossil fuels to 100% Wisconsin-recognized renewable fuel pellets.
“The creation of this company will propel us towards fuel certainty; securing the necessary amount of fuel pellets long-term for both power plant boilers to run at maximum output,” the Wisconsin public power utility said. “With fuel certainty comes price stability and agility, benefiting our community for years to come.”
Manitowoc Public Utilities initiated the Manitowoc Refuel Renewable Project in 2021.
This project entails refueling two existing circulating fluidized bed boilers – Boilers 8 & 9 – from burning primarily fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum coke, to burning 100% Wisconsin-recognized renewable fuel pellets.
MPU has been burning this fuel since 1996, but only at a small percentage. Refueling to renewable fuel pellets is beneficial to the City of Manitowoc, and MPU customers, for several reasons, including cost control, maintaining grid resiliency, providing local control, and increasing sustainability.
Troy Adams, General Manager for Manitowoc Public Utilities, discussed the project during a July 2024 episode of APPA’s Public Power Now podcast.
