Helsinki Energy plans biofuel future

HELSINKI, Finland, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- Helsinki Energy director Peter Manninen said the company is considering a switch from coal to wood chips at one of the company's power plants.

Converting the Hanasaari power plant would cost $453.5 million, Helsingen Sonomat reported Friday.

The switch to wood would help Helsinki in achieving its goal of using renewable energy supplies for 20 percent of its needs by 2020, the report said.

The city set new environmental standards in January.

Helsinki's consumption of coal and natural gas has drawn criticism from environmental groups and even the country's Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, the report said.

Although plans are in the preliminary stages, "we have been going in this direction all the time," said Manninen. "The goals that came in January mean that we will have to plan bigger and stronger measures."