From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 13 11:39:59 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:39:59 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forest Biomass in NW news Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E10D905B@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Forest Biomass News list members: These stories concerning forest biomass in the Pacific Northwest appeared recently: Wyden hits Obama administration on biomass rules http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/12/wyden_hits_obama_administratio.html Lakeview biomass plant: Right place, right time (Klamath Falls - Herald and News (c) 12/12/2010) [cid:image001.gif at 01CB9AAB.931C1F50]Save Indexed Dec 12 2010 3:02AM (Article ID 493673864) oth construction and operation of the Lakeview plan. Lakeview is a great project that enjoys local support, state support and support from the environmental community. It generates jobs and improves forest health. The Lakeview Biomass Cogeneration Plant is the right project in the right place at the right time. About the author Steve Jolley has lived and worked as a forester in southern Oregon John Day spared new EPA rules The Bulletin, December 11. 2010 Surely the community of John Day is breathing a sigh of relief this week. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has decided to delay by a year implementation of clean air rules that threatened to close Grant County's newest business before it ever opened. The business, a wood-pellet and brick manufacturing plant, is being built by Malheur Lumber Co., which is owned by Prineville's Ochoco Lumber Co. It's being financed in large part by a $4.8 million federal stimulus grant and will directly supply a dozen or so permanent jobs in a community that sorely needs them. It also will provide a means of dealing with waste from badly needed Malheur National Forest thinning projects, officials say. The plant currently is undergoing its final quality control testing before operations begin. Until EPA's change of heart, it faced the possibility of being built only to have much of the market for its products yanked out from under it. The agency's proposed rules dramatically cut allowable emissions from solid fuel boilers, which would use the plant's products. According to an article published in The Bulletin earlier this year, the new standards were aimed at such things as the PGE's coal- fired energy facility in Boardman and not the small boiler at the Burns hospital, which burns pellets in a highly efficient boiler designed in Germany. In announcing the delay, Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, noted that had the new rules gone into effect, only about 12 percent of American solid-fuel boilers would have been able to meet them. Loss of a market for forest waste could have cost the forest products industry alone as much as $7 billion nationwide, his office said. Over the course of the coming year, EPA will have a chance to revise its rules, and it should take advantage of the time to do just that. ### Boardman bio-refinery a test run for big business http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/12/08/boardman-bio-refinery-a-test-run-for-big-business/ ZeaChem Inc. will annually produce 250,000 gallons of fuel-grade ethanol from woody biomass at the new bio-refinery. Lakeview OR biomass proponents make case: www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/12/biomass_project_holds_promise.html Boise State explores potential for biomass briquettes: www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/5148/biomass-briquettes-turning-waste-into-energy Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 kweeks at odf.state.or.us -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.gif Type: image/gif Size: 358 bytes Desc: image001.gif URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 13 12:39:54 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 13 Dec 2010 12:39:54 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forest Biomass research news 12-13-2010 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E10D9080@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> This research, policy and technology news regarding biomass energy appeared recently on the Web: The U.S. Forest Service has additional information available on the 2011 Woody Biomass Utilization Grants: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/research/units/tmu/tmugrants.shtml EPA releases 2011 RFS2 volume requirements: biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2010/11/30/epa-confirms-tiny-cellulosic-biofuels-mandate-for-2011-is-brazil-the-big-winner/ UM Missoula expands public input on proposed gasifier: missoulian.com/news/local/article_934f7446-fd0b-11df-8b9c-001cc4c002e0.html Montana's Energy Future summit includes session on alternative fuels: www.energyfuturemontana.org/ Montana study finds camelina biojet fuel reduces GHG emissions 75%: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ep.10461/abstract Canadian Renewables Fuels Assn study finds biodiesel can reduce GHG emissions 99%: www.greenfuels.org/uploads/documents/crfareportcardenglish2010final.pdf Eagles greener than Seahawks, stadium to focus on renewables, including cogen: www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=22574 White House releases report on accelerating energy technologies through policy: www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-energy-tech-report.pdf Ultrasound helps remove solids from biodiesel: biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2010/12/03/researchers-develop-better-means-of-removing-solids-from-biodiesel-eliminating-filter-clogs/ Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Dec 15 14:29:23 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:29:23 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Website to collect biomass feedback for Governor-elect Kitzhaber Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E113D455@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Website to collect feedback for Governor-elect Kitzhaber's biomass transition team Woody biomass continues to be a potential triple win for Oregon; restoring forest health, meeting green energy objectives and revitalizing rural economies. Governor-elect Kitzhaber has named a biomass energy team to be lead by Matt Donegan of Forest Capital Partners, John Shelk of Ochoco Lumber and Russ Hoeflich with The Nature Conservancy. The original charge to the Biomass Transition team proposed four key focus areas: * State investment in biomass and jobs * Clearing a path for bioenergy in Oregon * Providing the technical knowledge and training a workforce, and * Identifying near-term and long-term bioenergy resources, projects and possibilities After preliminary meetings, two primary goals have been established by the transition team: * Identify a strategy for securing greater certainty in merchantable timber harvest, along with biomass supplies, through federal forest ecosystem restoration. * Recommend opportunities to develop and expand woody biomass markets. A new website is being created to help gather input for the Governor's biomass transition team. The website will include resources from OFRI, Oregon State University, Oregon Department of Energy, and Oregon Department of Forestry. The input section and resources will be available at: www.johnkitzhaber.com - please consult the Governor-Elect's web site for the feedback area. View the Biomass Transition Team Priorities Discussion Draft: http://oregonforests.org/assets/newsletter/biomass_priorities_document2%20docx_scn%2012-10%20%282%29.pdf Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 20 15:16:29 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:16:29 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forest Biomass in the News, 12-20-2010 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E113DA3F@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> These stories about forest biomass issues in the Pacific NW appeared within the past few days: Lakeview biomass construction starts Klamath Herald and News, December 20, 2010 LAKEVIEW - The first phase of construction of the Lakeview Biomass Cogeneration Plant, a project that's expected to cost $75 million to $100 million and provide 70 permanent jobs, is nearing completion. "By next week, we'll have accomplished what we set out to do," said Jan Johnson, spokeswoman for Iberdrola Renewables, the Portland-based company building the plant. "Despite the weather, we've been able to get quite a bit done so we'll be ready to go in the spring." The company needs to have 5 percent of the value of the project completed by Dec. 31 to qualify for federal tax credits. Site preparation and engineering work, along with buying necessary equipment including boilers and steam turbines, is being done to meet that requirement. Johnson said crews have been pouring cement foundations, which will be completed next week, and completing site grading and security fences. ### Washington DNR announces biomass assessment team: www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101209/news/312099989/forest-biomass-supply-research-team-chosen McKinstry study favorable towards biomass gasification at TESC: www.evergreen.edu/sustainability/docs/bmg/mckinstry_presentation_120610.pdf Port Angeles upholds Nippon Paper shoreline permit: www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101208/news/312089990/protest-groups-mulling-further-appeal-of-nippons-biomass-permit Biomass considered central to Nippon mill's future: www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101213/news/312139991/biomass-boiler-called-crucial-to-way-nippon-mill-can-survive-thrive Foresters - plenty of wood for Nippon, another big project not so much: www.konp.com/local/6419 Post-consumer digester proposed for Portland: news.opb.org/article/20343-metro-consideres-biogas-plant-northeast-portland/ Greenwood Resources poplar plantations for Boardman bioenergy: www.capitalpress.com/othernews/profit/ml-poplar-farm-110510-art Bend-area biomass plant debated: www.ktvz.com/news/26073416/detail.html Kevin Weeks, Oregon Department of Forestry (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Tue Dec 21 08:15:46 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:15:46 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forest Biomass Research News 12-21-2010 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E113DAE6@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> A brief roundup of research & policy links related to Forest Biomass in the Pacific NW: ORCAA air emissions lifecycle assessment now available: www.orcaa.org/woody-biomass-emissions-study/ Visit Northwest Clean Energy Application Center's new website on CHP, district heating and more: www.northwestcleanenergy.org Biofuels Digest annual survey of 50 top firms in bioenergy: biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2010/12/07/the-50-hottest-companies-in-bioenergy-for-2010-11/ Key biofuel trends overheard at recent BIO Pacific Rim Summit: biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2010/12/13/new-usda-loan-guarantees-50-biofuels-asia-syngas-among-new-biofuels-trends-gossip-at-pacific-rim-summit/ Section 1603 extended, omnibus appropriations bill failure avoids cuts to Farm Bill energy programs: www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/5176/bcap-safe-for-now-1603-program-extended WSGR guide to USDA funding for clean tech and renewables: www.wsgr.com/publications/PDFSearch/USDA_booklet.pdf New Biomass Crop Assistance Program guidelines available: www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ener&topic=bcap USDOE EERE offering $30m for small-scale biofuel process integration projects: biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2010/12/15/doe-to-award-30-million-for-advanced-biofuels-feedstock-processing-improvements/ Puget Sound Clean Cities hosts alternative fuels workshop in Seattle, Jan 20: www.altfuelsalliance.org/scheduledworkshops/Seattle.html MSU explores biopower from invasive plants: www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=8903 Alaska fires up first fuels-for-schools project: newsminer.com/view/full_story/10544325/article-New-wood-energy-project-keeps-Tok-School-warm?instance=home_news_window_left_top_2 Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Wed Dec 22 11:04:35 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:04:35 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forest Biomass in the News 12-22-2010 Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E113DCEC@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> This story about forest biomass appeared in the Portland Daily Journal of Commerce this week: Forest overgrowth targeted for biomass http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/12/20/forest-overgrowth-targeted-for-biomass/ Nathalie Weinstein, Daily Journal of Commerce, December 20, 2010 Techniques used for fire suppression and timber harvest in Eastern Oregon's federally-managed forests have left trees at risk of drought, disease and intense wildfires, according to the Oregon Forest Resource Institute. Kevin Weeks Public Information Officer Oregon Department of Forestry Agency Affairs Office (503) 945-7427 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kevin.weeks at state.or.us Mon Dec 27 07:29:06 2010 From: kevin.weeks at state.or.us (WEEKS Kevin) Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 07:29:06 -0800 Subject: [Forest_Biomass] Forestry Board to meet Jan. 5 in Salem Message-ID: <2659B04496B9C544A0CB26155C1FD1B601E113DEAD@WPODFEXCL01.ODF.STATE.OR.US> Oregon Dept. of Forestry issued this news release Thursday. Forestry Board to meet Jan. 5 in Salem For immediate release Major media distribution Dec. 22, 2010 Contact: Rod Nichols, 503-945-7425, rnichols at odf.state.or.us Dan Postrel, 503-945-7420, dpostrel at odf.state.or.us Management of state-owned forests, regulation of water quality, and discussion of how the Oregon Department of Forestry could be most efficiently organized to protect forest resources are on the agenda for the Board of Forestry's Jan. 5 meeting. The Board will consider a revised work plan for state forest management activities during 2011. The plan lays out a path to achieve the board's overarching objective for the state forests: to provide a practical demonstration of forest management that contributes to the board's statewide goals for economic, social and environmental sustainability. The board will also receive a review, conducted by the state Institute for Natural Resources, of the ways in which the department applies science to its management of state forests in northwestern Oregon. The Department of Forestry oversees about 848,000 acres of forest - 3 percent of Oregon's total forestland - in six state forests and various scattered tracts. Other agenda items include: Possible consolidation of forest protection services - Staff will update the board on a proposal to merge two department divisions - one focused on fire protection, the other on protection of a range of resources, primarily on private forestland. Protection of Oregon's forests requires aggressive fire protection and diligent prevention efforts. In addition, science-based forest practices laws and effective technical help to landowners are necessary to promote improvement in forest health and assure retention of healthy, working forests. State budget shortfalls have drastically reduced the number of field personnel assigned to resource protection and landowner consultation. The department is evaluating whether transition to an integrated Forest Protection Division would enhance efficiency, while maintaining the department's commitment to fire protection and forest practices regulations. Forest ecosystem services markets - The board will receive a report from the Oregon Sustainability Board on potential markets for forest ecosystem services, which include clean air, safe drinking water, and habitat for fish and wildlife. The 2009 legislature directed the sustainability board to recommend ways of developing ecosystem services markets. In such markets, those who benefit from the services compensate the landowners who provide them, based on how the providers protect, restore or maintain the ecological values that produce the services. Water quality regulation - The board will discuss its role and responsibilities regarding water quality in relation to the state Environmental Quality Commission (EQC). The commission sets overall water quality standards for the state, and the Board of Forestry is charged with ensuring that forest practices meet those standards on state and private forestlands. This ongoing discussion seeks to clarify the unique cooperative relationship between the board and the EQC provided for in the state laws that ensure water quality protection on forestland. State Forester recruitment - Staff will provide a progress report on recruitment of a new state forester. The application period closed on Dec. 12. An online survey that sought the public's opinions and ideas on desired qualifications for the state forester job elicited more than 400 responses. The new state forester will succeed Marvin Brown, who resigned last October. The board meeting will be held at 8 a.m. at Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in the Tillamook Room, Building C, 2600 State St., in Salem. Accommodations for people with disabilities, and special materials, services or assistance can be arranged by calling the department's Agency Affairs Office at least 48 hours before the meeting, 503-945-7200, text telephone 503-945-7213. More information on the Board of Forestry can be found at: www.oregonforestry.gov. Background information on the Jan. 5 meeting agenda items is available through the 2011 "Meeting Schedules" link on the website. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: