ROME - An unconventional power source that could save companies at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park millions is in the works!

The project is really about two E's - economics and the environment.

Businesses at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park already have their own utility provider. Now that corporation - Griffiss Utility Services - wants to offer its customers a greener and more cost effective power alternative!

The project will generate heat and power for all of the tenants at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park using bio-mass based fuels.

Here's how it works:

Wood chips are heated - not actually burned - to produce a gas that is then converted into steam.

The steam spins turbines to generate power, and also delivers steam heat.

Dan Maneen, the President and CEO of Griffiss Utility Services says this "green" power source will not only leave a much smaller carbon footprint, but it will save park tenants big bucks!

"Gas today is selling for $13 a decotherm, plus transportation gets it to about $15 a decotherm," Maneen said. "We're talking wood chips at about $2.50 a decotherm. So it's a relationship of one to five, as gas prices continue to rise, that relationship will widen."

The project is expected to cost about $30 million, and be ready to go in 2010.

Griffiss Utility Services will use locally harvested wood chips to fuel the project.

And all of those wood chips will be made out of the throw-away remnants of trees that have already been forested for other purposes.