From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 8 07:55:34 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 07:55:34 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] USDA report on biomass goals Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B645349BDF@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> The national interagency Biomass Research and Development Board released a report Thursday on the economic feasibility of developing both farm- and forest-derived biofuel supply sources to meet national targets for biofuels to reduce gasoline consumption. Among the report's overall conclusions is that new technologies resulting from research and development are crucial to developing a sustainable biofuel industry that meets national targets. Last year's energy bill set out a Renewable Fuels Standard that calls for production of 36 billion gallons of biofuels annually by 2022. "Our national security, our economy and the future of the planet require that we explore the development of biofuels in a cost-effective, environmentally sound manner and that we move beyond food crops to include a diverse base of feedstocks," said Dr. Gale Buchanan, USDA chief scientist and undersecretary for research, education and economics, who co-chairs the Biomass Research and Development Board. "This report addresses the constraints and implications of meeting our biofuel production goals and provides invaluable guidance for further research." Additional information: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/12/0304.xml Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office / Private Forests Division (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 15 10:52:08 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:52:08 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] SB 1072 report on the web Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B6452ADD87@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> 2005's Senate Bill 1072 directed the State Forester to report to the Legislature and Governor on the effects of removing forest biomass and impacts on plant, wildlife, soil, water and air resources in Oregon. The 2008 report also summarizes the resource protection requirements in place, reflects on the amount of biomass currently being utilized, and provides State Forester recommendations for the future. That report is available on the Oregon Department of Forestry web site at: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/PUBS/docs/ODF_Biomass_Removal_Effects_Report.pdf Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry ODF Agency Affairs / Private Forests Division (503) 945-7427 From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 15 15:35:59 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:35:59 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Roseburg News Review biomass story Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B6452ADD8A@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Roseburg News Review Biomass test project scheduled John Sowell, the News-Review, 12-14-08 Douglas County plans to set up a test project next summer to convert forest slash and other wood waste into a No. 3 grade heating oil, Douglas County Commissioner Joe Laurance told members of the Douglas Timber Operators on Thursday. Speaking at a breakfast meeting, Laurance said the project would involve the superheating of 5 to 7 tons of woody material per day at a site near Lemolo Lake in eastern Douglas County. The project would utilize a process described to Laurance and other members of the Douglas County Forest Council during a meeting in September. At that time, Philip Badger, president of Renewable Oil International, explained how a small modular plant could be loaded onto a flatbed truck and taken out into the forest. The wood waste would be chipped into small, thumbnail-sized pieces and mixed with heated steel shot placed into a heated chamber. The biomass then is heated to 1,000 degrees within a second and the resulting gases are then used to further heat the chamber, which is initially heated by propane. Each ton of slash produces 157 gallons of bio-oil, the equivalent of nearly four barrels of oil. It could then be used as heating oil or refined slightly to a No. 2 diesel fuel. The conversion process also produces 500 pounds of char per ton of slash. That material can be used in applications calling for activated charcoal, charcoal briquettes or as home heating pellets with twice the energy of traditional wood pellets. One-third of the biomass material available in Oregon is located in Douglas County, according to state foresters. ?This is ground zero for that,? Laurance said. One of the biggest hindrances for large-scale biomass projects has been the high cost of transporting slash materials to a processing plant. In most cases, it?s not feasible because of the long distance between the source of the material and the processing plant. The portable system was tested in a two-year pilot program at a chicken farm outside Huntsville, Ala. Badger?s company converted the waste of 264,000 chickens into bio-oil that was used to warm the poultry houses on the farm. ?If this shows us what we think it will, we think it will be justifiable, perhaps, to invest in the process,? Laurance said. Members of Oregon?s congressional delegation, including Sen. Ron Wyden and Reps. Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden, have expressed interest in the project, Laurance said. ? You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell at nrtoday.com. ### From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 15 15:42:34 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:42:34 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] fixed link for SB 1072 report Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B6452ADD8B@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Forest Biomass News members: The email sent Monday morning with the link leading you to the State Forester's SB 1072 Report had a web link that was clipped at the end... Here's a better version: http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/PUBS/docs/ODF_Biomass_Removal_Effects_Report.pdf Kevin Weeks ODF Agency Affairs Office / Private Forests Division From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Tue Dec 30 07:25:46 2008 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:25:46 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Roseburg biomass editorial Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B645429B8F@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> This editorial appeared in the Roseburg News Review -- Biomass project: A chance to road test an interesting idea The News-Review, 12-28-08 It's one thing to come up with a concept and toss it around on the front porch, but it's even better when you get to scrutinize the real thing up close, take it around the block a few times, see if the wheels fall off before you spend any money on it. That's what county officials plan to do next summer, when a biomass project designed to convert forest slash and other wood waste into a No. 3 grade heating oil comes to Douglas County. The idea of creating biomass projects locally has been largely championed by Douglas County Commissioner Joe Laurance. We commend him for exploring the possibilities and coming up with some interesting ideas. It is noted that one-third of the wood waste material that can be used for biomass projects in Oregon is found on the forest floors of Douglas County. That creates an opportunity locally that is found in few other places. "This is ground zero for that," Laurance said in a story last Sunday by reporter John Sowell. Laurance said the project will involve the superheating of 5 to 7 tons of woody material per day at a site near Lemolo Lake in eastern Douglas County. Renewable Oil International told the Douglas County Forest Council recently that a small modular biomass operation can be loaded on a flatbed truck and driven into the forest. Once there, wood slash is chipped into small pieces and superheated, with each ton of slash capable of producing 157 gallons of bio-oil. It can be used as a heating oil or slightly refined and turned into No. 2 diesel fuel. A byproduct of the burning process is char, which can be used in applications calling for activated charcoal, briquettes and as home heating pellets, according to the company. The local test project is going to take place next summer, and it should provide concrete evidence on whether a large-scale facility could provide an economic boon to Douglas County. That includes jobs, which are in increasingly short supply these days, as well as opportunities for a new revenue stream in Douglas County, with tons and tons of growth potential. We have the raw material. Renewable Oil International says it has the technology. And this project should provide interesting answers to some good questions. "If this shows us what we think it will, we think it will be justifiable, perhaps, to invest in the process," Laurance said. And first we get to kick the tires. We like this idea, and we're appreciative of the chance to give it a road test. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: