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Building Oroville’s Clean-Energy Future, One Phase at a Time

A phased approach combining solar, battery storage and modern biomass to deliver reliable, local power — designed with advanced emissions controls, community oversight, and local economic benefit.

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At‑a‑Glance

48 MW Solar (Phase 1)

initial capacity of ground-mounted solar in multiple Oroville sites

12 MW Biomass (10 MW net)

modern biomass facility converting local wood residues

Battery Energy Storage

supports evening and overnight power, improves grid stability

Microgrid Resilience

integrated platform for critical services and local industry

Project Phases

BREI’s development is staged to manage environmental review, resource use, community input and job creation.

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Phase 1 — Solar + Battery (Years 1–3)

Clean, distributed solar paired with battery storage to stabilize local power and reduce peak costs.

  • Solar: ~48 MW PV across multiple parcels in Oroville. 

  • Battery: Utility-grade storage assets to smooth evening/overnight power.

  • Benefits: Early production, local jobs, reduced peak costs.

  • Status: Permitting in progress; community briefings scheduled.

Phase 2 — Biomass Facility (Year 4+)

Modern biomass converts local forest residues into dependable baseload power—while reducing wildfire fuel loads. Our biomass facility pairs proven combustion with best‑available emissions controls—a generational leap from older 1970s‑era plants

  • Capacity: ~12 MW gross (~10 MW net) modern biomass plant. Butte Renewable Energy Inc.+1

  • Feedstock: Local forest residues, orchard waste — supporting wildfire fuel reduction.

  • Emissions Controls: SCR + ceramic filtration systems, continuous monitoring.

  • Community outcome: Reliable baseload power, and new local jobs.

Phase 3 — Microgrid Expansion (Years 4–6)

A local microgrid ties everything together so Oroville can ride through outages and maintain essential services. Smart controls integrate solar, storage, and biomass to deliver resilient, local power.

  • Integrated control for solar, battery, biomass + prioritized customer service.

  • Goal: Support critical services + local industry resilience during outages.

Phase 4 — CO₂‑to‑e‑Methanol (Years 6–8)

We plan to capture CO₂ and combine it with green hydrogen to make e‑methanol—a lower‑carbon fuel for shipping—followed by ag‑waste‑to‑fuel to reduce open burning. Captured CO₂ + green hydrogen → e‑methanol to help decarbonize maritime fuels used in California ports.

  • Why here: Local feedstock, skilled workforce, logistics to California ports

  • Impact: Displaces diesel; lowers lifecycle emissions

  • Local Benefits: New skilled jobs; export opportunity

  • Result: Local value creation + global decarbonization impact

Phase 5 — Agricultural Waste‑to‑Fuel (Years 8+)

Turn orchard trimmings and other ag wastes into renewable liquid fuels—reducing open burning and methane from rotting vegetation.

  • Feedstock: Nut and fruit tree residues

  • Outcome: Cleaner air, regional farm partnerships

Local Benefits, Trusted Technology

  • Jobs & training: Early construction employment, ongoing operations roles, partnerships with Butte College.

  • Wildfire fuel reduction: Phase 2 feedstock derived from thinning/restoration; helps local forest health.

  • Community resilience: By investing locally and managing feedstock/logistics nearby, BREI keeps economic impact in Oroville.

  • Modern controls: Unlike older facilities, this project uses advanced filtration, real-time monitoring and third-party audits.

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BREI Solar at the Koppers Superfund Area — Compliance & Environmental Safeguards

BREI is building low-profile, ground-mount solar in South Oroville on industrial parcels that overlap with the Koppers Superfund Site. The design is specifically engineered to protect the cleanup remedy, comply with the Land Use Covenant (LUC), and follow EPA/DTSC oversight.

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Project Protections

  • Stay clear of capped zones: No PV tables, trenching, or roads on clay caps, TI Waiver Zone, disposal cells, or restricted footprints.

  • No deep excavation: Ballasted, no-pile racking; only shallow grading.

  • Preserve drainage: No infiltration basins; maintain existing surface water patterns.

  • No irrigation or dewatering: Dryland vegetation control; no pumping or groundwater disturbance.

  • Agency oversight: Submit LUC Compliance Plan to EPA/DTSC before earthwork; ongoing coordination during construction and operation.

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Construction & Operations Commitments

  • SWPPP and dust controls; stop-work triggers if suspect soils encountered.

  • Weekly environmental QC reports shared with the City and EPA/DTSC.

  • Annual compliance check-ins and remedy access preserved for monitoring wells and treatment systems.

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Why This Matters to the Public

This project uses existing industrial land, not greenfields. It adds clean solar power while:

  • Keeping capped soils undisturbed

  • Maintaining drainage to protect groundwater

  • Avoiding irrigation and dewatering that could mobilize contaminants

  • Keeping EPA and DTSC directly involved in oversight

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Key References

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Project Integration & Sustainability

Each phase builds on previous developments, creating a fully integrated renewable energy ecosystem designed to achieve:

  • Long-term sustainability and carbon neutrality.

  • Economic resilience and community growth.

  • Leadership in advanced renewable energy technologies.

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Powering Oroville—Clean, Reliable, Local

Cleaner air by design (best‑available controls, continuous monitoring)

Wildfire risk reduction (responsible biomass sourcing)

Stable local energy (hybrid mix for 24/7 coverage)

Jobs & training (with regional partners)

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