New heating plant will utilise waste wood originating from the last year hurricane which impact the Piska Forest. In that time, the existence of the forest which was cultivated by several generations, had been interrupted within a quarter of an hour. Wind impact fell about 4 million trees in an area 130 kilometres long and 10 kilometres wide, and 32 thousand hectare acreage was completely devastated. It is estimated that the remnants remaining after that apocalyptic disaster will however be providing fuel during the next five years. In the further perspective, the municipal authorities are intended to utilise the crops of energetic willow which is to be planted in the area of 700 hectares. 

Construction of environmentally friendly heating plant is the major component of the strategy pursued by the Pisz municipal authorities who are intended to transform the entire region into an enclave of unpolluted nature. Subsequent pro-ecological investments are planned there in the future, i.e., construction of new sewage collectors at the Śniardwy Lake and development of waste management system.

It is noteworthy that the Pisz Municipality with their 30 million annual budget would be never able to finance such construction if no support was granted by the EcoFund and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

At the high noon, in Pisz, celebration of embedding of the charter of foundation for the biomass-fired heating plant began. Mr. Andrzej Szymborski, Mayor of the City of Pisz conveyed his welcome to the guest invited and some other brief commemorative addresses were also delivered:

• Mr. Andrzej Szymborski, Mayor of the City of Pisz emphasised that the new investment presents a chance to many positive changes for the region. That includes primarily cheaper heat, new jobs, cleaner environment, thus an increase in tourism attractiveness of the region.
• Mr. Śleziak, Minister of the Environment stressed that renewable energy is one of the priorities in the State Ecological Policy. However, what is mostly important that in Pisz nobody talks about sustainable development, but just makes it work. The Minister appreciated determination the Pisz self-governmental officials who, despite serious social and economic problems, are able to think in a perspective-like way and invest in environmentally sound technologies.
• Mr. Jerzy Bzowski, Vice-President of the EcoFund stated that the EcoFund agreed to grant this huge non-refundable donation amounting to 60 percent of the investment value, because this Pisz investment can be considered a model for other wood abundant regions. 
• Mr. Jerzy Swatoń, President of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, congratulated the Pisz administrative authorities and promised further financial assistance in the case when other such investments will be undertaken.

Mr. Śleziak, Minister of the Environment:

Construction of the heating plant which is the largest such type municipal investment in Poland, builds on the strategy which implies that in 2010 Poland will have to use 7.5 percent of energy from renewable sources, and as much as 14 percent in 2020. This investment is not of economic importance only, since it will produce the cheapest energy, but also of social importance, since it will generate new jobs in the region the unemployment rate of which is very high. Environmental importance of this investment is also very high because it will replace 11 old coal-fired boiler plants, thus reducing in this way emission of harmful substances (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, dust) into the atmosphere. It should be emphasised that tourism attractiveness of the region will also grow as the state of the environment improves.

Mr. Andrzej Szymborski, Mayor of the City of Pisz

We do believe that once this investment is completed, the energy prices will drop twofold. Besides, having left the old boiler plants still in operation would involve the cost of environmental pollution to be covered. The municipality would have to pay about a million PLN for two-year pollution, and yet more further. The investment is of enormous importance - it will create new jobs in the region where the unemployment rate amounts to 38 percent. People will find their jobs in managing of the waste material and in the basketry which will develop in relation to growing of energy willow. 
As assumed in the project, the investment is to be completed in next June. In next October, or in the beginning of the next December heat will be provided. I believe, the cities which will not follow pour pattern will encounter a lot of trouble.
 

The rated heating power of the boiler plant will amount to 21 MW. The boiler set includes two biomass-fired water heaters, rating power 6 MW and 3 MW. Manufacturer of the boilers is Swiss company Polytechnik. 

The study and design works were begun yet when the former Mayor of the City of Pisz performed this duty, whereas the acquisition of funding for implementation of the investment and development of the subsequent phases of its technical documentation and its setting out fell in the beginning of the term of the present Mayor - Mr. Andrzej Szymborski. The official responsible for investments in the Municipal Office is Mr. Dariusz Zacharzewski who is the Head of Municipal Management Department. Technical part of the investment is supervised by the Heating Utility which is to take over all of the structures erected.