BREI
Butte Renewable Energy Inc.
Community
What BREI and Oro Verde mean for Oroville.
Benefits for Oroville Ratepayers
Oroville's decision to form Oro Verde PUD—and explore local generation through BREI—is about putting the community’s interests first and strengthening local energy independence. Here's what that means in practice:
Rate Stability
Owning local generation assets can help reduce exposure to wholesale electricity market volatility. When market prices spike, utilities that rely entirely on purchased power pass those costs to ratepayers. Local generation is intended to provide a hedge against that volatility.
Local Economic Impact
Construction and operation of the proposed BREI facility are expected to create jobs and economic activity in Butte County. Property tax revenues would remain local, and energy dollars that would otherwise flow to distant generators could stay within the community.
Reliability
Local generation can reduce dependence on transmission from distant power plants. When the grid is stressed—during extreme heat, wildfires, or other emergencies—local resources can provide greater resilience for the community.
Clean Air
The proposed biomass facility is designed to use advanced emissions-control technology intended to meet California’s strict air quality standards. By converting forest residues into renewable energy rather than allowing them to be openly burned or left to decay, the project aims to help reduce uncontrolled smoke and particulate emissions in a region already impacted by wildfire smoke.
Community Focus
Because the project is being developed in Oroville, local relationships matter. BREI’s approach is intended to emphasize ongoing engagement with community stakeholders, local agencies, and regional partners as the project moves through planning, permitting, and financing.
Community Transparency
As the project moves through planning, permitting, and financing, BREI is intended to advance through continued coordination with local agencies, stakeholders, and community partners. Clear communication and local engagement are important to the project’s long-term success.
Wildfire Risk Reduction
Forest management and wildfire mitigation projects generate large volumes of woody biomass. Facilities like the one proposed by BREI are intended to provide a productive use for that material, helping support forest fuel reduction efforts and reduce the need for open burning.
Sustainable Forest Management
Responsible forest thinning and fuel reduction projects produce woody residues that often have limited disposal options. Energy recovery from these materials can help support long-term forest management and restoration efforts across Northern California.
Climate Strategy
Converting biomass residues into energy can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with open burning or uncontrolled decomposition, supporting California’s broader climate goals.
Benefits for Oroville Ratepayers
Public Meetings & Events
Community input matters. The City of Oroville and BREI hold periodic public meetings to share project updates and hear from residents.
Upcoming Meetings
There are no scheduled meetings at this time. New sessions will be announced as the project progresses. Sign up for updates to be notified.
Additional meetings will be scheduled as the project progresses. Sign up for updates to be notified of future community sessions.
Past Meetings
Monday, December 8, 2025 • 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Community Conversation — Air Quality & Biomass Energy
Monday, November 10, 2025 • 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
City of Oroville – Special Meeting Public Hearing
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 • 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
City of Oroville - City Council Regular Meeting
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 • 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
BREI: Oroville Biomass Presentation – Community Info Workshop
Tuesday, July 1, 2025 • 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
City of Oroville - City Council Regular Meeting
Resources
Additional information about Oro Verde PUD, municipal utilities, and California energy policy.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
DTSC is the California state agency responsible for regulating hazardous waste, contaminated site cleanup, and environmental protection related to toxic substances. The agency establishes risk-based cleanup standards and oversees remediation of contaminated properties.
Stay Informed
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