The financing for construction of the GREC facility is the
result of over eight years of study by the Gainesville Regional Utilities to
expand their generating capacity.  The
first studies exploring the wood supply were conducted in 2003, and since then
at least five independent studies have been conducted by national research,
engineering firms, the University of Florida and other state agencies. The
consensus of these studies is that there are sufficient long-term, sustainable
supplies of low-grade or non-merchantable material to adequately supply the
facility for its estimated thirty-year life and beyond. The principals of BRM
were in involved in some of these studies since 2005. In 2009 BRM was
contracted to confirm the available supplies, and develop the delivery
infrastructure required for successful financing of the project.  During the next two years, BRM identified potential suppliers and developed letters of intent or long-term binding
agreements for over 100% of the facility’s requirements. BRM provided information and confirmation to GREC’s owners, lenders, stakeholders such as regulatory authorities, and local officials that the facility would have no adverse effects on the forest environment and would even improve the forest health. In addition, by removing the forest understory the danger of wildfires are prevented and open burning of landclearing debris is reduced.