Veolia Energy Operating Services, LLC, a division of Veolia North America, announced it was selected by Georgia Renewable Power to operate and maintain three biomass-to-energy facilities.

As a result of this expanded relationship with GRP, Veolia will support the startup and commissioning of the biomass projects located in Lumberton, N.C., Carnesville, Ga., and Colbert, Ga. Veolia has been operating the Lumberton plant for the past year under a short term contract. The Lumberton plant uses both biomass and poultry litter for fuel and has a long term power purchase agreement with Duke Energy.

The Georgia projects are both under construction and are expected to be online and operating by mid-2019. Each is expected to have a generating capacity of 66 Megawatts powered by converting biomass feedstock into energy. Electricity produced by the plants will be purchased by Georgia Power under long term power purchase agreements.

When complete, each facility will use approximately 500,000 tons of biomass each year and employ 25 to 30 people.

“We’re excited to collaborate with GRP to operate and oversee the startup and long term operations of these important renewable energy facilities,” said John Gibson, president and COO of Veolia North America’s Municipal & Commercial business. “These plants are excellent examples of how renewable energy projects can deliver significant economic and environmental benefits and demonstrate Veolia’s strength in operating these plants efficiently and cost-effectively.”

“We’re excited to move forward with these biomass facilities and help deliver cost-efficient sustainable energy to our customers,” said David Shaffer, President and Chief Operating Officer of GRP. “We are pleased to partner with Veolia to make these two new projects, as well as the poultry litter facility in North Carolina, among the best in the industry.”