China bio-energy plants yield 2.6 billion kwh of green power

China’s National Bio Energy Co., Ltd. (NBE), a joint venture between the Dragon Power Co., Ltd. and the State Grid, has generated more than 2.6 billion kilowatt hours of “green electricity” since its first biomass power plant was established in Dec. 2006, the company said. It said 15 biomass power plants consumed more than 3 million tons of straw and generated power equivalent to the use of 1.2 million tons of standard coal, avoiding 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The 15 plants created 15,000 rural jobs and brought more than 1 billion yuan (US$143 million) to local farmers. (January 8, 2009)