PG&E has increased rates for all customers to support their poles and wires (T&D). This affects Pioneer and non-Pioneer customers equally – everyone’s rates will go up the exact same dollar amount.
Don’t be misled. We guarantee that Pioneer’s savings over PG&E have not changed. Calculate your savings in El Dorado and Placer County.
Biomass is organic residue waste that is burned to produce electricity, traditionally through the direct combustion of organic residue to create heat. This action creates high-pressure steam that turns a turbine to drive a generator that produces electricity.
Agricultural – includes pruning scraps, fruit pits, nut shells, and rice hulls.
Urban – includes wood from construction and demolition, yard trimmings and nonrecyclable organics.
Forest – includes sawmill residues, commercial harvesting operations, and small trees and undergrowth cleared from forests for fire suppression, watershed cleanup, and growth enhancement.
Using biomass to create energy reduces greenhouse-gas emissions as compared to traditional alternatives such as open pile burning, disposing in landfills or simply being left in the field.
Biomass produces baseload electricity. It is not reliant on the sun, wind or water movement.
Biomass is a renewable carbon neutral resource.
Biomass can help the state meet its renewable energy (required by SB 100 legislation) and greenhouse-gas emissions reduction (set by SB 32 legislation) goals.
Biomass can be a part of compliance with landfill-disposal reduction goals (required by SB 1383 legislation) for cities and counties.
Biomass energy can provide grid resiliency due to its reliable, baseload nature.
Biomass fulfills the California Public Utilities Commission’s specific clean Firm Resource Requirements for Mid-Term Reliability.
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| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
|
Biomass is “dirty energy.” |
Biomass reduces pollutant emissions by up to 98% when compared with open burning. |
|
Biomass is old and outdated technology. |
New biomass facilities must meet Best Available Control Technology (BACT). Local air pollution control districts or the US EPA oversee plant emissions. |
|
Biomass leads to clearcutting and deforestation. |
The economics of biomass dictate that trees are never harvested solely for fuel.
Biomass assists with the removal of overstocked, drought-impacted trees fighting for limited water. |
|
Biomass is harmful to the environment. |
Tree removal requires a plan approved by various agencies – including CAL FIRE. The Forest Practice Act ensures that timber harvesting is done in a sustainable manner. |
|
Biomass is less reliable, worse for the environment and more expensive than other renewables. |
It is not about which renewable is best. All options have to be on the table with a balanced portfolio and multiple strengths to overcome any single challenge. |
|
Biomass will not reduce our carbon footprint. |
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Pioneer issued checks to solar customers with a cumulative net surplus of energy (known as Net Surplus Generators) during May for the March/April billing period if their credit balance (calculated at the Net Surplus Compensation Rate) for the past 12 months exceeded $25.00. Credit balances of less than $25.00 were rolled forward and applied to the next bill.
A few of our clients have contacted us to confirm the check’s authenticity. Rest assured, it is indeed real! If you receive a Blue or Orange check from Bill.com with a reference to Pioneer, it is safe to deposit.
We take pride in helping our solar customers save; Pioneer pays $.005 (1/2 cent) per kWh more than PG&E for any over-production sold back to the grid (Net Surplus Compensation Rate or NSC).
