Why Statewide Wood Energy Teams

Transcription

1 Why Statewide Wood Energy Teams Northwest Wood Energy Team Forum Rock Creek Hegewald Center Stevenson, WA May 6, 2014 Ed Cesa USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Wood Education and Resource Center

2 USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Wood Education and Resource Center Wood Education and Resource Center Princeton, WV

3 Emerald Ash Borer Invasion Jessica Simons, Southeast MI RC&D Council, 2010

4 Background The USDA Wood to Energy Initiative, started in 2010, works to leverage USDA programs to increase the number of wood energy systems on the ground. The Initiative brought together five USDA Agencies: Forest Service Rural Utilities Service Rural Housing Service Rural Business Service Farm Services Agency Support of Statewide Wood Energy Teams was identified as an action item by the USDA Wood to Energy Initiative.

5 Background In 2013, a Request for Proposal process was initiated for Statewide Wood Energy Teams (SWET). The Forest Service is providing seed money for initial teams. The program supports the Forest Service s goals of forest restoration, reducing hazardous fuels, and supporting local communities. Teams work together to obtain additional technical and financial assistance through other sources such as USDA Rural Development Administration. Teams have been funded in AK, CA, ID, MN, NH, and OR. This is the second year of the SWET RFP and WERC is managing the RFP process.

6 Program Goals Create wood energy systems using commercially available technologies. Expand markets that convert woody biomass into energy to support wildfire mitigation, forest restoration, and other forest management goals. Develop a systematic approach to installations that will support clusters of projects or larger projects that improve the viability of businesses that harvest, process, and deliver wood. Establish technical, financial and environmental information required for developing wood energy projects to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

7 USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry Wood Education and Resource Center Don Peterson 2011 Woods behind Deal Rite continued

8 Types of work Pre-feasibility and preliminary engineering assessments. Helping projects take that quick initial look at feasibility Work done in advance of full engineering designs (which can be funded through Wood 2 Energy Grants) 2014 Hazardous Fuels Wood 2 Energy Grant Program Funds the design and other preconstruction needs for specific wood energy projects

9 Types of work Education and outreach to support the installation of commercially available wood energy systems in the public and private sectors. Projects are successful if they are socially acceptable. How do we work with communities to determine feasibility? Local Impact of Woody Biomass Energy Projects: Quick Assessment Tools for Planners and Community Leaders. Completed by the New York Farm Viability Institute contact Alice Brumbach:

10 Types of work Innovative approaches to financing wood energy project development. Work on creative ways to finance these projects? Working with private investors, bundling projects, etc. USDA Rural Development Administration Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

11 Minnesota Statewide Wood Energy Team Anna Dirkswager, Biomass Coordinator, MN DNR Forestry ( ) $250,000 Forest Service funding level 22 private, state and federal organizations Identify and evaluate commercial & institutional buildings

12 Minnesota Statewide Wood Energy Team Eligibility criteria include: - facility does not have access to natural gas - scale of thermal demand 1-5 mm BTU - facility must have capacity to use forest resources for energy - facility must commit to a 25% cost share for feasibility study

13 New Hampshire Statewide Wood Energy Council Rick DeMark, Executive Director, North Country Resource Conservation and Development Area Council ( ) $250,000 Forest Service funding level Provide feasibility assistance to 45 facility owners, anticipate 5 installations Could include schools, builders, health care facilities, building owners, residential developers/managers Facility must commit to a 50% cost share for feasibility study

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15 WERC s Woody Biomass Technical Assistance Team Partnership between WERC and private engineer firms with wood energy expertise that provide targeted technical assistance to facility owners and managers Unbiased oversight across state lines Thermal storage

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19 USDA Forest Service Regional Biomass Coordinators Angela Farr: MT, ND, northern ID & nw SD Mike Eckhoff: CO, KS, NE, SD & parts of WY Dennis Dwyer: AZ & NM Scott Bell: southern ID, NV, UT, & western WY Larry Swan: CA, HI, Guam Pacific Islands Ron Saranich: OR & WA Dan Parrent: AK

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