Mt. Poso Bioenergy Day event touts clean energy job opportunities

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Oct 22, 2014, 03:00 ET

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mt. Poso Cogeneration Company and its partners DTE Energy Services (NYSE:DTE) and Macpherson Energy Corporation hosted an open house and media tour Wednesday for Kern County workforce development organizations and students to showcase skilled job opportunities in the energy field.

The event was in recognition of the second annual National Bioenergy Day, an effort by renewable energy producers across the nation to educate the public about the environmental, economic and community benefits that biomass provides as an energy source. In honor of the event, the County of Kern and the City of Bakersfield both issued proclamations declaring October 22, 2014 as Bioenergy Day in their respective jurisdictions.

"Biomass is an important renewable energy source for our local community. It keeps wood waste out of landfills and has created new markets for local agriculture byproducts," said Stuart Welch, the manager of Environmental Health and Safety at Mt. Poso. "The Mt. Poso plant also is responsible for creating about 150 good-paying jobs, including plant employees, local contractors, fuel truck drivers and processors."

The Mt. Poso plant was completely converted to run 100 percent biomass fuel instead of coal, and is delivering 44 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to the California grid. It produces clean, low-emissions power exclusively from renewable biomass fuel. The wood used to fuel the power plant comes from construction waste, tree trimmings, and agricultural resources.

"Mt. Poso is a great example of renewable energy and the oil industry working hand in hand. There are real benefits to operating the power plant and oil field together as a single unit, including the additional skilled jobs that it has created in our community," said Don Macpherson, president and CEO of Macpherson Energy Corporation.

"Bioenergy plants like Mt. Poso are an important part of the Kern County economy," added Maynard Adams, Mt. Poso Cogeneration plant manager. "Our facility requires very skilled and highly trained employees. By promoting biomass to our workforce development partners and their students, we hope to ensure that our local workforce will be able to meet Mt. Poso's current and future employment needs."

About DTE Energy Services and Macpherson Energy Corporation:

DTE Energy Services acquires, develops, builds, owns and operates projects for large, energy-intensive industrial customers. The company is a subsidiary of DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE), a diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. The Macpherson companies develop and produce oil, gas and renewable energy at their projects. Macpherson Energy Corporation holds the majority of ownership in Macpherson Oil Company and Macpherson Power Company.

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SOURCE DTE Energy