Community Involvement: Making It Work Lessons from the Smethport Woody Biomass Demonstration Project

Transcription

1 Community Involvement: Making It Work Lessons from the Smethport Woody Biomass Demonstration Project Wood Energy in the Northeast Penn State Bio-Energy Short Course Series November 8-9, 2011 Timothy G. Pierson, Ph.D. Extension Forester and Educator Pennsylvania State Cooperative Extension Forest Bio-Energy Austrian Woody Biomass Team Penn State Uni. Uni. Of Maryland Duke Uni. DCNR USFS PA-Nature Conservancy PA-Loggers 1

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3 Critical Success Factors in Europe Infrastructure correlation- Big Dig Resource availability- Local Public funding- State and EU Strong community consensus Carbon Neutral Love but utilize- Wise Use Various Communities Smethport Borough McKean County Seat Forestry Community Business Community Community of Practitioners 3

4 Champions Smethport First Core Meeting 4

5 Combined Heat & Power Plant Smethport is faced with the seemingly impossible expense of replacing its antiquated & failing water system throughout the borough. Much of the Smethport water system was installed during the 1870s to 1890s. 5

6 Smethport is the only community in the PA Wilds that owns its own electric company near a sustainable wood supply. Smethport seeks to be a leader in sustainable and renewable energy independence utilizing woody biomass. This pilot project will be strongly connected to ongoing research guaranteeing feedstock sustainability, forest stand improvement, & biodiversity protection of our local forest habitats. 6

7 Energy Localization gives Smethport & the region more control over our future. Localization means recycling our energy money within our regional community. 7

8 Project Summary Construct Combined Heat & Power (CHP) plant that will supply heat to county buildings, school district complex, other public facilities, business district, churches, & Smethport residences. Generate CHP electricity to be sold to the grid. Install a hot water piping system at the same time that the domestic water system is replaced, coordinating funding. Demonstrate sustainable woody biomass harvesting Demonstrate innovative uses of heat and carbon leading to energy efficiency. Project Summary Establish a separate Smethport Local Energy Corporation with the Borough as a part owner with public & private investors. Create a related Renewable Energy Technology Outreach Center (RTO) in affiliation with Penn State University, other education institutions, foundations, & private industry. Establish a Green Energy Business Incubator & Industrial Tech Park utilizing the thermal load & electricity from the CHP. 8

9 Eco-Energy Tourism Combined Heat and Power Demonstration Research Demonstration PA Wilds-Lumber Heritage Local Renewable Energy Tour Packages RTO Center- Research- Technology-Outreach Forest- Woody Biomass Demonstration Areas Fuels for Schools Demonstration(Kane) Facility Heating Demonstration- Elk Regional Medical Energy Institute- UPB Smethport Woody Biomass Demonstration Project Leadership Team Mayor of Smethport Smethport Borough Councilmen Smethport Planning Commission Smethport Board of Trade Smethport Sewer Authority Smethport Residents McKean County Commissioners McKean County Planning Office DCNR- Bureau of Forestry DCNR- Recreation /Conservation USFS- Biomass Coordinator USFS- Allegheny National Forest Supervisor s Office American Municipal Power- Ohio Senator Scarnati s Office Governor s Office Congressmen Thompson s Office North Central Regional Planning McKean County Tourist Promotion Agency Local Forest Industry Local Forest Landowners Penn State University Faculty Penn State Cooperative Extension 9

10 Smethport Woody Biomass Leadership Team- Elk Regional Community Development and Education Presentations for Local Banks Special Meetings with Local Legislators Meetings with Smethport Water Authority Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet Tours of Local Bio-energy Projects North Central Forest Landowners Association Banquet Presentation Society of American Foresters- Allegheny Section(PA, NJ, MD, DE, WV) Summer Meeting Presentation 10

11 Community Development and Education Newspaper Articles Website- smethportpa.org Updates, Podcasts, General Inf Penn State Agriculture Magazine- Summer 2009 WPSU- Television Quality Digital Video Big Ten Network- 28 th - 7:00 PM, 30 th - 4:00 PM, 31 st - 9:00 AM Biomass Magazine Article- June 2009 Penn State Community Scale Short Course Renewable and Alternative Energy Working Group- WPSU 11

12 Smethport Heat Survey FAQ s-frequently Asked Questions Residential Exchanger 12

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14 27 Smethport Woody Biomass Forest Sustainability Cooperative (Public and Private Forest Landowners, Managers and Contractors providing woody biomass supply to the SWBDP) Woody Biomass Forest Sustainability Leadership Team Guidance & Recommendations (Public: DCNR-Bureau of Forestry, Allegheny National Forest, PA Game Commission, McKean Conservation District, Penn State Cooperative Extension; Private: Hancock Forest Management Group, Forest Investment Associates, Forestland Group, Kane Hardwood, Seneca Resources, North Central Forest Landowners Association, Forecon Inc., Keith Horn Inc., Sustainable Forestry Initiative of PA, Pennsylvania Nature Conservancy. Smethport Woody Biomass Demonstration Project Team Guidance & Recommendations (Local Residents, Local Businesses, Smethport Board of Trade, Mayor of Smethport, Smethport Borough Council, Smethport Borough Planning Commission, Smethport Water Authority, Smethport Area School District, McKean County Commissioners Office, McKean County Planner Office, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Penn State- School of Forest Resources, USDA-Forest Service, DCNR- Bureau of Forestry) Best Management Practices Forest Sustainability Guidance Logger, Landowner, Forest Manager Sustainable Biomass Harvesting Training Penn State Cooperative Extension Sustainable Forestry Initiative of PA Overall Sustainable Forest Management and Supply of Woody Biomass Woody Biomass Cooperative and Supply Plan Flowchart- Dr. Timothy G. Pierson, PSU 14

15 Smethport Woody Biomass Forest Sustainability Leadership Team- Issues and Recommendations Sustainability Recommendations Utilize DCNR- Guidance on Harvesting Woody Biomass for Energy in Pennsylvania by incorporating the existing Best Management Practices (BMP s) Classify feedstock criterion-types of usable chips/residue Evaluate outcomes on a social value and resource value from a scientific basis Develop a LUW (Low Use Wood) TUSAF (Timber Utilization Stand Assessment Form) specifically for woody biomass Develop a formal outreach strategy for the general public, public/private forest landowners and managers and loggers regarding the sustainable harvest of woody biomass. Answer the question - How much is the community actually willing to invest (cost of the feedstock) in insuring use of sustainable practices? Begin considering how eco-energy tourism blends into this project and the development of potential demonstration areas. Support the development of regional, forest type specific (Down Woody Debris/Coarse Woody Debris) and nutrient standards/thresholds. Work through feedstock supply and market access based on sustainability criterion (price premium for certified material). 15

16 Feasibility Study and Engineering Planning Lahmeyer International Team (Germany) Seeger International- CHP Engineering (Germany) GEF Engineering- District Heat System (Germany) O brian and Geer Engineering- Community/Site/Permitting Gannet Flemming Engineering- Water Infrastructure Funding RK Mellon Foundation Community Foundation for the Alleghenies Wood Education Resource Center-USFS Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development 16

17 Business Planning Model Small Business Development Center- Penn State SWBDP- Technical Committee DCNR- Bureau of Forestry USFS- NE- Biomass Coordinator Penn State- Biomass Energy Team Smethport Borough Council Borough Planning Commission McKean County Commissioners Factors Influencing Smethport Project Completion Natural Gas Prices REC values per kwhr Federal Renewable Energy Policy State Renewable Energy Policy American Tradition of Independence regarding Home Heating & Hot Water 17

18 Making It Work!!! Consider all stakeholders- be inclusive Find Your Champions Utilize Leadership Teams Utilize smaller committees to focus Design Public Education Strategies Develop Community Consensus Requires stalwart and consistent project maintenance 18