From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Wed Feb 4 09:32:00 2009 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:32:00 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] FW: The Working Forest Biomass Monthly E-letter In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B6480B6CCD@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Forest Biomass News members: Forwarding at the request of OFRI Note: original message contains some HTML content which may not convert to plain text display. FYI Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 ________________________________________ From: Mike Cloughesy [Cloughesy at ofri.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 8:13 AM Kevin - perhaps you could send this out to the Forest Biomass List Serve as a one-time-only opportunity for folks to find out about this newsletter and subscribe if they want. Mike ________________________________ From: Phil Hearn [mailto:default at the-working-forest-newspaper.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of Phil Hearn Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 7:21 AM To: Mike Cloughesy Subject: The Working Forest Biomass Monthly E-letter [http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs093/1101291727651/img/28.jpg?a=1102440549300] [http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs093/1101291727651/img/36.jpg?a=1102440549300] Also In This Issue Nortrax Manager's Favourite: the John Deere February 4, 2009 We are pleased to provide The Working Forest WOOD BIOMASS monthly e-letter. Submissions are welcome. www.workingforest.com Ontario MNR hosting biomass conference call The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is hosting a conference call on February 10 at 1 p.m. for companies interested in submitting an Expression of Interest to use available Crown wood resources across Ontario. Full story OPG calls for interest in supplying biomass fuel for coal-fired power stations Company exploring fuel availability and cost as part of test program Full story A Great Lakes Bioenergy Corridor University of Calgary Professor David Layzell, on why the time is right for bioenergy. Full story Life Cycle Assessment of Wood Pellet Use A presentation of the U of T study on wood pellet use at two power generation stations Full story RFEI Solid Biomass Fuel OPG provides detailed information regarding the motivation and principles behind their request for expressions of interest Full story Forestry and Forest Biofibre Opportunities in Ontario MNR industry relations director Mark Speers explains Ontario's managed forests and the opportunities therein. Full story OPG GHG Management Plan Ontario Power Generation summarizes it's plans for green house gas management. Full story Biomass Program at OPG OPG's biomass test program is underway at a handful of generation stations. Full story [http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs093/1101291727651/img/35.jpg?a=1102440549300] Forward email [http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/safe_unsubscribe_logo.gif] This email was sent to cloughesy at ofri.com by newsfeed at workingforest.com. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe? | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by [http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/cc-logo-color-sm.gif] The Working Forest Newspaper | Box 578 | Callander | ON | P0H 1H0 | Canada From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Wed Feb 4 09:32:34 2009 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:32:34 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forest Biomass Work Group meets February 17 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B6480B6CCC@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Department of Forestry NEWS BRIEF Forest Biomass Work Group meets February 17 in Salem February 4, 2009 Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427 A panel of representatives from state government, forest industries, renewable energy development and the environmental community will meet to talk about the role of Oregon?s forests in providing energy production from wood. The Forest Biomass Work Group will meet on Tuesday February 17 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administration Building (Tillamook meeting room) of the Oregon Department of Forestry complex, 2600 State Street in Salem. Timber that may not have a market saw-log value -- either from being too small, damaged, waste from mill production or being too far from a potential milling market ? holds great potential for producing energy. Forest biomass is a renewable source of energy, as wood biomass is generated as a by-product of active forest management. The proposed agenda for the meeting includes update reports from Work Group subcommittees assigned to topics including policy development, outreach, research, economic development and fuel supply. The public is invited to participate in the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at (503) 945-7427. Additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry is available on ODF?s web site, www.oregon.gov/ODF. ### Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer ODF Agency Affairs / Private Forests Division (503) 945-7427 From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Thu Feb 5 10:08:46 2009 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 10:08:46 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Register-Guard guest editorial: biomass Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B64809A108@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Seneca's plan a model for federal forests Guest viewpoint by Darrel Kenops, the Eugene Register-Guard -- Feb 4, 2009 The Register-Guard's Jan. 28 editorial, "More from every log," rightly praises the plans of Seneca Sustainable Energy to build a $45 million, 18.8-megawatt biomass power plant on its northwest Eugene industrial site. The plant will generate renewable energy from sawmill byproducts and slash from the company's timberlands. The project will not only benefit the company by cutting its energy costs, but it will serve the greater community by reducing dependence on fossil fuels, complementing intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, and putting more people to work. Seneca's commendable effort uses biomass from its own private forests. Now just imagine what we can do if we apply Seneca's example to our federal forests in Oregon. Public and private forests cover nearly half the state. Of those forest lands, six of every 10 acres are federally managed. However, unlike private and state forests, many of these forests are unhealthy, insect infested and fire prone, presenting what might rightly be termed an opportunity disguised as a problem. Converting wood from overstocked forests to energy offers a unique opportunity to simultaneously address three challenges: the need to restore the health of Oregon's federal forests, the need to find renewable energy alternatives and the need to revitalize Oregon's rural communities. First, fire suppression policies, coupled with the effects of climate change without active forest fuels management on a corresponding scale, have led to conditions that now put our forests at risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire. An estimated 9 million to 13 million acres of federally owned forests are in need of restoration thinning and prescribed burning, especially in southern, central and eastern Oregon. Thinning and prescribed burning will improve forest health and fire resilience. Second, thinning can provide a long-term source of renewable energy from woody biomass. Energy generated from woody biomass can help Oregon achieve its goal of supplying 25 percent of the state's energy needs from renewable resources by 2025. Converting forest biomass to energy can reduce Oregon's carbon output, not only because of its carbon neutrality, but also because removing biomass from overcrowded forests allows the remaining trees to do a better job of storing carbon. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil additionally supports national security and trade goals. Third, creating a new industry based on restoring federal forests and using woody biomass to generate electricity would create hundreds of well-paying jobs in rural Oregon communities suffering from double-digit unemployment. The timing of this issue is both critical and apt. It's critical because many of our federal forests are extremely unhealthy. Our citizens need jobs. Our environment needs mending. It's apt because awareness of the problem and the will to seize the opportunities have perhaps never been greater. Fortunately, there is broad support for taking action now. Cooperation is developing among stakeholders at the federal, state and local levels. There is the potential addition of federal economic stimulus funding to the state directed at hazardous fuels reduction. This could give us a rare opportunity to create a level of investment in our federal forests that will reverse the trends of severe wildfire, declining jobs and eroding timber-sector infrastructure, with the added benefits of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. It can be an investment in sound forest management that bolsters Oregon's natural capital to ensure long-term ecological, economic and societal health. Seneca is showing what one company can do. Now it's up to the rest of us. Darrel Kenops served as forest supervisor for the Willamette National Forest from 1991 through 2001. He is a member of the Oregon Society of American Foresters, served on the SAF national council from 2002 through 2004 and was a SAF fellow in 1996. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Wed Feb 11 10:45:51 2009 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:45:51 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Oregon BPC tax credit form available Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B64809A8E8@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Forest Biomass News members: The Oregon Department of Revenue has posted on-line the Biomass producers/collectors form for Tax Year 2008. This form is used by biomass producers/collectors to document credits they received for transferring biomass to a biofuel or bioenergy producer. Form BPC is available at http:// www.oregon.gov/DOR/PERTAX/docs/2008Forms/101-181-08.pdf or http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/Biomass/TaxCdt_2210.shtml Thanks to the Oregon Department of Energy and Oregon Department of Agriculture for the information. Kevin Weeks Oregon Department of Forestry Public Information Officer / Private Forests Division (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us Fri Feb 27 10:05:34 2009 From: Kevin.Weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:05:34 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Rep. Walden: Biofuels bill news story Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B64AECBCB5@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Bill aims for new biofuels source By Paul Fattig For the Ashland Daily Tidings February 26, 2009 3:40 PM Woody biomass from federal forestlands could be used to develop cellulosic ethanol under legislation reintroduced Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, and a Democratic colleague. The Renewable Biofuels Facilitation Act, also reintroduced by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., would broaden the definition of cellulosic ethanol within the renewable fuels standard to include biomass gathered from federal lands as well as private forests. The bill would allow brush, small trees and other forest thinnings from federal hazardous fuels reduction projects to be used for biomass energy production. Such projects from southwestern Oregon alone could produce huge amounts of biomass while reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires to rural communities, analysts say. Any biomass projects on federal land have to comply with all federal environmental laws. The two representatives, who originally introduced the bill last year, say it addresses a flaw in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. That legislation included a historic 36 billion gallon renewable fuels standard, of which 21 billion gallons are required to be derived from advanced biofuels by 2022. However, the law's definition of renewable biomass prevents almost all federal land biomass from counting toward the mandate if it is used to manufacture biofuels. "Our bipartisan legislation would give the country a better chance of reaching its goal of producing 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels a year by 2022 - enough to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 20 coal-fired electricity plants," Walden said in a prepared statement. "There's technology out there to turn woody biomass from forest health treatments in our choked forests into clean fuel, a process that would create good paying jobs and a healthier environment at the same time," he added. The legislation will help diversify the nation's energy portfolio, according to Herseth Sandlin. "While the energy bill took tremendous strides to decrease our dependence on foreign sources of energy, not allowing biofuels made from certain types of biomass to count toward the RFS hinders the potential benefits of the landmark legislation," she said. The bill, reintroduced Wednesday, also would help forest health efforts as well as boost economic development in the surrounding communities, she said. In addition to Walden and Herseth Sandlin, other cosponsors include Democrats U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, Bart Stupak of Michigan and Mike Ross of Arkansas, and Republicans Jo Ann Emerson of Virginia and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: