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By Barbara Coyner As Congress debates renewable energy, carbon credits, and climate change, the nation's woody biomass advocates often stand on the sidelines, begging to get in the game. But thanks to some innovative strategies and good old-fashioned teamwork, woody biomass took another giant step forward recently. Not surprisingly, it happened in Montana. Template for Tomorrow Rawlings said the first step is a feasibility study to analyze supply, facilities potential, and long-term impacts on communities and the environment. From there, construction and improved power grid configurations would start delivering woody biomass power to customers in three states. Here are the players in the new partnership:
Slow Process Forest health issues commanded attention too. Mills were looking for a reason to exist as pulp and lumber markets did the dance of death. Given the innovative thinking in the industry, no one was ready to give up on jobs, communities, or the forests.
Also, green power had some big impediments for the energy companies. For example, wind power is fickle and can't be stored -- it remains a bit unreliable. And solar entities, although popping up like toadstools, tend to be small enterprises, forcing energy providers to deal with several fledgling companies at once. As for woody biomass, energy companies have seen some challenges there as well, usually involving consistent supply and economical transportation. Winning Scenario Usually, a local sawmill is one of the energy provider's bigger customers. If the sawmill goes out of business, or goes off the grid to create its own power, the energy company loses a major customer. Why not work with the separate mills, tie the energy from each mill into the grid, and give the mills a new mission? Talk about win-win, also promising loggers and truckers a new direction. Thanks to MCDC's creative contacts and persistence, the whole scenario is coming to pass. Best of all, the forests benefit as the woods are thinned, and beetle-killed trees are turned into energy. Team in Action For those in the timber industry, this is more proof that things really are happening. But outfits like MCDC and similar community development specialists elsewhere won't stop there. They'll keep investigating equipment breakthroughs, new marketing avenues, and sound practices to keep the industry viable. Tip for Loggers Nobody in forest-related business needs to be reminded that the game is constantly changing, but woody biomass might be breathing new life into a stagnant industry. With a Boise equipment manufacturer rolling out three new stinger-steer trailers for biomass hauling, and another Texas company pioneering a trailer for drying biomass, transportation strategies are being investigated on college campuses and in the woods. Other creative loggers are setting up chipping sites and collecting the biomass within a given radius. Although the politicians sometimes waffle on which way to go, it seems the creative forest industry thinkers aren't wasting any time. It's now or never for woody biomass and forest health. |
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