BREI
Butte Renewable Energy Inc.
Community & Local Benefits
BREI’s development work and potential community benefits.
Investing in Oroville’s Energy Future
BREI is developing renewable energy opportunities to support Oroville’s industrial businesses and contribute to the region’s economic future. Our approach brings together solar, battery storage, and biomass planning with a focus on responsible development and long-term local value.
Supporting Local Industry
Reliable energy is essential to industrial businesses. BREI’s development efforts focus on serving industrial energy needs and supporting opportunities for business investment in Oroville.
Putting Existing Industrial Land to Work
The proposed redevelopment of the former biomass facility offers an opportunity to return an established industrial property to productive use.
Connecting Energy and Forest Health
The planned biomass facility would use forest residues from forest management and wildfire-risk-reduction activities, providing a productive use for material generated by that work.
Responsible Development and Community Dialogue
Air quality, traffic, noise, and other local impacts matter. BREI’s approach includes evaluating these issues through project design and applicable review processes, sharing project updates, and listening to community questions as development progresses.
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.
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
Resources on local government, energy planning, forest health, and environmental review.
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.
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