Aberdeenshire Council planners have welcomed proposals for an £8million biomass heat-and-power plant.
The proposed development at Boyndie, near Banff, would supply enough electricity to the national grid to power 2,500 houses.
The plant would also power the existing Puffin Pellets business on the site. It produces wood pellets for fuel.
Puffin Pellets and Insch-based waste-wood recycling firm Harpers have joined forces as Boyndie Biomass Power for the new development.
The proposed plant includes an industrial building and a stack to release air emissions
Banff and Buchan councillors will consider the scheme next week with a recommendation for approval of planning permission subject to conditions.
Planner Andrew Grey said the main issues about the proposed plant centred on the principle of the scheme and any noise or air emissions.
The community council at Whitehills has asked the council to address the question of noise.
A local resident has also raised concerns about noise and particles being released into the air from the plant.
Mr Grey said the Scottish Environment Protection Agency would regulate the site and noise and air quality would be assessed to meet agency standards.
“Information provided for the planning application about air emissions and noise is acceptable,” he said.
“Both will be regulated by Sepa under the Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations.”
The proposed plant would use waste wood as fuel and produce combustion gas.
The gas would produce heat and electricity for the national grid and also provide power for Puffin Pellets to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
Mr Grey said both the principle of the development and the location could be supported by planners.
“It has been demonstrated that the development will have a minimal impact on the neighbouring area,” he said.
Councillors are due to discuss the scheme on Tuesday at a meeting at Fraserburgh.
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