About Dinuba Energy

The Dinuba Energy facility is located on nearly 20 acres of industrial-zoned property used as a lumber sawmill since 1949. Dinuba Energy’s power plant utilizes biopower technology to convert renewable biomass fuels into energy.

Biomass to energy technology has been used in the lumber and sawmill industry since the 1970s to provide electricity and heat for sawing and drying wood. Initially built in 1985, the Dinuba Energy facility provided power and steam to the adjacent sawmill. In 2001, the facility was recommissioned, and Community Renewable Energy Services, Inc. (CRES) purchased the assets in June 2003.

Community and Environmental Impact

Since its inception, the Dinuba Energy facility has been a vital part of the Tulare County community. With 23 full-time, good-paying positions, the local community will continue to reap economic benefits from the plant’s operation for years to come. Additionally, most of the replacement parts and maintenance equipment used at the facility is purchased from the San Joaquin Valley area, further stimulating the local economy.

CRES has made numerous improvements to the Dinuba Energy facility. These improvements have resulted in permitting changes that allow the use of organic biomass, including soiled biomass and wood waste, from construction sites. As a result, at CRES, we believe that biomass availability will remain stable for the foreseeable future.

According to data from CalRecycle, nearly 9% of landfill material is wood waste, and another 14% is composed of soiled biomass or paper. These sources will provide the Dinuba Energy facility with enough qualified biomass to produce from 50% to 60% SB-1383 qualifying electricity.

SB 1383 establishes statewide targets to reduce organic waste disposed of in landfills. The bill prohibits landfills from accepting any biomass or organic materials. The bill effectively increases the availability of biomass fuel for the Dinuba Energy facility. In addition, recent forest fires have increased the number of logs and biomass available from forests.

The 11.5 MW Dinuba Energy biomass facility originally burned sawmill residue and some urban and agricultural waste. Today, the facility’s permit enables it to burn up to 50% soiled biomass, allowing the Dinuba Energy facility to provide SB-1383 qualifying electricity. The facility can consume approximately 300 tons of biomass fuel daily when operating at total capacity.