Butte Renewable Energy Inc.
Independent Air Monitoring
— live data and independent reports.
Third-Party Audits
— annual independent environmental audits.
Community Meetings
— public notices & meeting minutes posted here.
Local Jobs & Training
— working with Butte Community College and local contractors.
Who We Are
Mission
BREI advances clean energy and local resilience by converting local biomass and solar resources into reliable, low-carbon energy and fuels — while protecting public health and supporting our community’s economic future.
Values
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Transparency — open data, public meetings, clear reporting.
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Protection — public health and environment first.
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Local Benefit — jobs, training, and procurement.
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Continuous Improvement — adopting proven technology and independent oversight.
Project History & Site Context
The site at 3050 S. 5th Ave began operations as Pacific Oroville Power (POPI) in 1984 and was decommissioned in 2012. The city and county have a documented history of environmental concerns connected to that earlier operation; we acknowledge that history openly. BREI’s redevelopment follows modern cleanup, permitting, and monitoring practices and will meet or exceed current regulatory standards.
Why we tell the history: acknowledging past contamination and remediation is a best practice for rebuilding public trust and must be front and center in project communications.
History & Milestones of the 3050 S 5th Ave
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1984 — POPI begins operation. Pacific Oroville Power Inc. starts up as a biomass cogeneration plant designed to generate electricity using wood waste.
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1997 — Acquired by Covanta Energy, Inc. Under new ownership, the plant increasingly utilizes agricultural and forest residues as feedstock.
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2000s — Local economic contributor. POPI spends roughly $11 million per year in Butte County and provides a critical outlet for agricultural and forest waste.
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2012 — Decommissioned. Economic pressures and evolving regulations make electricity production unprofitable. The 20‑MW facility is retired. At peak, the site handled ~40 chip‑truck loads/day (≈320,000 tons/year of biomass).
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2021 — New ownership. MRJD, LLC purchases all shares of POPI, securing the legacy site for future redevelopment.
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2024 — New name, same site. POPI is renamed Butte Renewable Energy Inc. (BREI). MRJD owns the land and BREI owns the former POPI biomass plant.
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Late 2024 — Joint Venture formed. BREI enters a JV with Albion Energy US LLC to evaluate an integrated clean‑energy campus: modern biomass, large‑scale solar + battery storage, and future clean fuels (green hydrogen and e‑methanol).
The Site Today
BREI owns the decommissioned biomass facility. Mountain F. Enterprises, Inc. (MFE) leases most of the site for crew and equipment staging and operates a wood grinding yard supporting regional vegetation management and wildfire‑mitigation work.
What’s different now
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Modern emissions controls — continuous emission monitors (CEMS) and advanced particulate filtration systems required by air districts and best practice guidance. California Biomass Energy Alliance+1
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Independent monitoring & public reporting — monitoring data and third-party audit reports published online.
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Phased approach — solar + BESS first, then biomass with staged commissioning and strict permitting checkpoints.
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Local benefits — procurement, workforce training, and wildfire-fuel reduction partnerships.
Who We Are
Mission
BREI plans on advancing clean energy and local resilience by converting local biomass and solar resources into reliable, low-carbon energy and fuels — while protecting public health and supporting Oroville's community economic future.
Values
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Transparency — open data, open meetings, clear reporting.
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Protection — public health and environment first.
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Local Benefit — jobs, training, and procurement.
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Continuous Improvement — adopting proven technology and independent oversight.
Governance & Ownership
BREI is organized to combine international technical experience with local operational partners. Albion Energy US Inc. is the project’s primary developer partner; a Northern California, family-owned business holds a minority stake and provides local governance and community guidance.
About/ Meet Our Team
Butte Renewable Energy, Inc. (BREI) is a locally focused renewable energy developer redeveloping the former Pacific Oroville Power site into a phased clean-energy hub combining solar, battery storage, and responsibly managed biomass. BREI’s ownership structure includes Albion Energy US (majority developer partner) and a Northern California family-owned business (minority partner). Albion Energy US is a Delaware-incorporated developer bringing international technical partners; our local leadership includes Doug Lindgren (Burney, CA) working closely with Albion’s technical team (Ben and Michael). BREI is committed to independent environmental oversight, and ongoing community engagement as the project progresses.
Benjamin Churchill Talbott
Technical Director – Albion Energy LLC
Ben is a veteran engineer specializing in biomass gasification and emissions control technologies. He leads the technical design and system integration for BREI’s biomass power facility. Ben has overseen similar installations across Europe and the U.S. and ensures the project meets California’s highest air quality and performance standards.
Doug Lindgren
Local Partner – Owner, Tubit Enterprises Inc.
Logging & Strategic Advisor with Albion
Doug is the owner of Tubit Logging, a respected local forestry firm, and a strategic advisor to Albion. With decades of experience in sustainable timber operations and biomass logistics, Doug ensures the project’s forest management practices are safe, sustainable, and beneficial to Butte County. His long-standing ties to the Oroville community inform BREI’s local engagement approach.
Michael Spencer
Strategic Lead – Albion Energy LLC
Michael is the Managing Partner of Albion Energy LLC and leads commercial strategy for the BREI joint venture. He brings over 25 years of global experience in renewable energy infrastructure, energy finance, and public-private partnerships. Michael is responsible for guiding BREI’s long-term investment and development roadmap.
Hollis (Les) W. Day
Site Development & Community Strategy Lead – BREI
Les has been a foundational leader in the BREI project from day one. He has played a critical role in shaping the project vision, guiding early site development, and building trust with local agencies, landowners, and the Oroville community. Les leads site management, coordinates with regulatory stakeholders, and brings valuable forestry and land use insight to the project’s biomass and solar components. His hands-on leadership has been key to securing project momentum, facilitating inter-agency collaboration, and ensuring the BREI site reflects both local values and long-term environmental goals.
Our Promise to Oroville
Cleaner by design: best‑available emissions controls and transparent monitoring.
Wildfire risk reduction: turning hazardous fuels into useful energy.
Diversified renewables: biomass + solar + storage, with future clean fuels.
Local benefits: jobs, training, reliable power for Oroville’s industry and services.