Tag: Biomass - Georgia Forestry Association

Senate Appropriations Provision Supports the Carbon Neutrality of Biomass

On June 19, the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted a provision within the FY17 Interior Appropriations Bill to ensure that biomass is treated as carbon neutral by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The legislation approved $32.7 billion to fund the U.S. EPA, the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service through the next fiscal year. The bill includes a key provision offered by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) which recognizes biomass as a carbon neutral energy source. The language differs slightly from the House version of the FY17 Appropriations Bill, but uses a practical, science-based approach to recognizing the carbon benefits of biomass energy.

Dave Tenny, President and CEO of the National Alliance of Forest Owners, commended Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) for their work in ensuring the language remained in the bill.

“The Senate language appropriately embraces the fundamental principle that biomass energy from forests where we continue to grow more wood than we harvest is a carbon solution.” Tenny said. “We look forward to working with Senators Collins and Merkley and our friends on both sides of the aisle to secure enactment of a final biomass provision later this year.”

According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the paper and wood products manufacturing industry is the largest producer and user of renewable energy of any manufacturing sector in the U.S. Most of this biomass comes in the form of manufacturing residuals, the use of which avoids approximately 181 million metric tons of CO2 emissions per year – equivalent to removing about 35 million cars from the road.

“We appreciate Senators Collins and Merkley’s legislative efforts to bring closure to EPA’s six-plus years of uncertainty for biogenic CO2 emissions and ensure federal regulations recognize the atmospheric carbon reducing benefits of biomass-based energy,” AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman said. “The Senate Interior Appropriation bill provides a policy framework that uses a practical, science-based approach to achieve this.”

The bill will move to the Senate floor later this year where it will receive an up or down vote. To learn more about the carbon benefits of biomass, visit nafoalliance.org, afandpa.org or forestfoundation.org.

Study Finds Increasing Wood Pellet Demand Boosts Forest Growth, Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Creates Jobs

Screen Shot 2015-06-22 at 10.58.24 PM — A truck is filled with wood chips as part of the process of turning wood into energy. Photo Credit: USDA Blog.

An industry that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase forest growth, and create jobs sounds too good to be true. But that is the reality of the emerging wood pellets market in the Southern U.S. That conclusion is supported by independent economic assessments of wood bioenergy, including a recent study that specifically focused on European pellet demand conducted by researchers at Duke and North Carolina State Universities. Those researchers found that increasing demand for wood pellets resulted in more forest area, more forest investment, large greenhouse gas reductions, and little change in forest carbon inventories.

So, why is there concern?

Some critics have recently argued that land used to produce biomass for energy should instead be permanently protected as forests. They say that harvesting biomass from forests reduces forest carbon stocks. Instead, they claim that the best way to increase carbon storage is to reduce demand for renewable products that come from the land.

Those arguments fail to account for market dynamics and incentives, and do not recognize that these resources are renewable. Importantly, forests with little or no economic value are at greater risk for conversion to non-forest other uses.

A key to accelerating forest growth and regeneration is to create strong markets for biomass that will stimulate investments. Farmers and forest land owners, as with all business owners, respond to markets and invest in strategies to produce more and earn more when facing increasing demand.

Biomass energy markets are providing greenhouse gas benefits for Europe and can be a larger part of our domestic strategy as well. The United States has committed to lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent over the next 10 years. One component of that strategy could be to expand renewable energy generation from forest and agricultural biomass.

The conclusions by the Duke and NC State researchers are not unique to the South. Other studies have found that expanding the use of sustainably grown biomass for electricity production across the U.S. can actually increase forest acreage and carbon storage. Those studies show that as demand for biomass expands, the resource becomes more valuable at creating an incentive to grow and invest. Expanding the use of biomass for electric power will not result in the devastation of the American forests. Rather, forest owners will more effectively and intensively manage forests to increase their value and optimize biomass production and use over time.

For example, USDA Forest Service researchers analyzed the potential effects of greatly expanding biomass electricity markets in the US. They found meeting 8 percent of U.S. electricity production from wood energy would require a 42 percent increase in harvesting; but they also found that a substantial portion of that increase would be offset over 50 years largely because of regrowth and market responses in land use and management strategies. They estimated that substituting biomass for fossil fuels to generate electricity could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 40 and 70 percent.

Larger trees and higher valued materials such as sawtimber, are not likely to be used for energy. They are simply too valuable for uses such as structural building material, furniture, high end plywood, and veneer. In reality, new markets for biomass energy can help supplement declining markets for low-value, small diameter wood, logging residuals, and the byproducts of manufacturing. In many parts of the country, wood energy can in turn help to reduce the risks of catastrophic wildfire and provide incentives for forest management needed to address the increased risks of insects and disease.

A great deal is at stake. The nation’s forests provide us with many services. They filter the air we breathe, they provide millions of Americans with clean drinking water, they provide habitat and recreation opportunities and they offset about 13 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions each year. Yet many of those services are at risk, in part due to the challenges of a changing climate: increased exposure to pests, diseases, and wildfire. Over the next few decades holding policies constant, carbon sequestration rates in our nation’s forests are expected to slow, mainly due to a loss of area principally to development.

Generating clean and renewable energy from biomass is an important and economic tool in our toolkit to address those challenges. Markets work. Increasing forest productivity and health makes them more valuable and less susceptible to conversion to other uses. Vibrant markets for wood materials raise the value of forest lands and encourage investment, regrowth and expansion. Using biomass for energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossil energy sources.

A healthy, productive, well-managed forest has high value, not just to the public and to the environment, but to the owner. Shaping policies that recognize the real benefits of biomass and that provide incentives for continued performance improvements is a challenge, but the economic and environmental benefits that will be realized make this worth the effort.

This article was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on June 8, 2015. Click here to read the original article →

Newnan Times-Herald: Local Timber Sent To Renewable Energy Plant

It may have been a Coweta County first.

When Phil and Ann Beegle decided to thin timber on their Roscoe farm, putting fuel in Ann’s all-electric car wasn’t even considered. But, on reflection, this exercise in forest stewardship supplied the annual electricity needs for the Beegles, including Ann’s car, and more than 100 other families.

Nissan Leaf — Ann Beagle stands by her electric-powered car in the recently thinned forest. Wood from the Beagle property was sent to a plant that generates electricity.

“We have some beautiful old stands of trees. To keep the dominant ones healthy, we followed our forester’s recommendation to harvest diseased, suppressed, invasive or otherwise undesirable ones. Preserving property aesthetics and wildlife habitat were very important to us too,” Ann said.

The process generates a lot of small stems, limbs and tops. Those byproducts were chipped and delivered to a state-of-the-art biomass electric plant in Barnesville. Owned by Piedmont Green Power, the Barnesville facility produces enough renewable electricity for about 35,000 households.

Think of one load of unwanted wood chips powering two homes for a year.

“There are so many positive components to what happened on the Beegles’ property,” said Jonathan Parker, a Newnan based forester and business owner. “On the surface you have the property owner making the right decisions on what the forest needed. Then we had the operational capability and markets to execute that plan.”

A much greater picture is emerging: Georgians taking a positive step away from fossil fuel dependency. Instead they can rely on locally grown, harvested, processed, transported and consumed fuel. In the Beegles’ example, at least, the greater goods include healthier forests, sustainable renewable energy, safe emissions and pleasing landscapes.

With Atlanta being one of the largest markets for electric vehicles, and the state with the largest inventory of privately owned timberland, Georgia could find itself in a leading role for home-grown energy possibilities.

This article was originally published on Dec. 12, 2014 in The Newnan Times-Herald. Click here to view the story.

USDA Expands Investments in Next-Generation Bioenergy Development

On Feb. 27, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of up to $8.7 million in funding for bioenergy research and education efforts as well as publishing the final rule for a program that provides incentives for farmers and forest landowners interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy. Both programs are made available through the 2014 Farm Bill. The Secretary made the announcements during remarks to the Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Ariz.

“USDA’s support for innovative bioenergy research and education supports rural economic development, reduces carbon pollution and helps decrease our dependence on foreign energy,” said Vilsack. “These investments will keep America moving toward a clean energy economy and offer new jobs and opportunities in rural communities.”

USDA will publish the final rule on the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) in tomorrow’s Federal Register. BCAP provides up to $25 million each year in financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks to a qualifying energy facility. The rule includes modifications to cost sharing, eligible types of biomass and other definitions. Stakeholders are encouraged to visit www.regulations.gov to review program details and provide comments during a 60-day public comment period. Comments are due by April 28, 2015. The full program will resume in 90 days on May 28, 2015. Additional information on application dates will be announced this spring. For more information on the program, visit the web at www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap and to learn more about the Farm Service Agency, visit www.fsa.usda.gov.

USDA is also taking applications for research and education grants through the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Biomass Research and Development Initiative (BRDI). BRDI is a joint program through NIFA and the U.S. Energy Department (DOE) to develop economically and environmentally sustainable sources of renewable biomass, increase the availability of renewable fuels and biobased products to help replace the need for gasoline and diesel in vehicles, and diversify our energy portfolio.

Applicants seeking BRDI funding must propose projects that integrate science and engineering research in the following three areas: feedstock development; biofuels and biobased products development; and biofuels development analysis. Past projects include a grant to the Quad County Corn Cooperative in Galva, Iowa that is retrofitting an existing corn starch ethanol plant to add value to its byproducts, which will be marketed to the feed markets and to the biodiesel industry. Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in Findlay, Ohio, is seeking to use remaining plant residue from the guayule shrub, which is used for rubber production, for use in biopower and for conversion to jet fuel precursors. The University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, is developing closed-loop energy systems using dairy manure as source of fiber and fertilizer.

A description of the solicitation, eligibility requirements, and application instructions for the BRDI program can be found at http://www.grants.gov/ under Reference Number USDA-NIFA-9008-004957. Concept papers are due by March 27, 2015 and full applications are by July 27, 2015.

Both BCAP and BRDI were made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past six years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people’s daily lives and the nation’s future. More information is available at: www.nifa.usda.gov.

DOE’s Biomass Program works with industry, academia, and national laboratory partners on a balanced portfolio of research in biomass feedstock and conversion technologies. For more information on DOE’s Biomass Program, please visit www.energy.gov/biomass.

NAFO Blog: Forest scientists in the U.S. help remove the clutter and complexity on biomass energy

By: Dave Tenny, President and CEO, National Alliance of Forest Owners

The science dialogue is heating up on biomass as policy makers in the United States, Europe and elsewhere seek to chart a path forward on carbon emissions policies. With so many opinions and hypotheses offered by so many, the airwaves on biomass seem to be getting pretty cluttered and pretty confusing, pretty fast.

Fortunately, U.S. forest scientists are helping policy makers breathe a little easier by decluttering and clarifying the basic science on biomass. Last November, 100 forest scientists in the U.S. jointly endorsed a set of “science fundamentals for biomass carbon accounting” that distill the growing body of biomass literature into a few straightforward principles. Scientists at the U.S. Forest Service also have also published new research further reinforcing the fundamentals of biomass science.

The key takeaways from this growing body of scientific consensus include:

The long-term carbon benefits of biomass energy are well accepted by the international science community, and most debates are about the timing rather than the existence of these benefits.
Biomass decreases overall carbon accumulation in the atmosphere over time compared to fossil fuels.
The carbon impacts of biomass should be measured using the same timeframe applied to other energy sources. The most common timeframe is 100 years.
Forest economics strongly influence biomass carbon impacts. Strong markets improve the long-term carbon benefits of biomass energy just like they do for other forest products.
The single most significant threat to long-term forest carbon benefits is the conversion of forests to other land uses.

These principles help remove the confusion caused when research overlooks the basics or applies them out of context. These principles, for example, essentially erase the concept of “carbon debt” with respect to U.S. biomass. They also correct the sometimes out-of-context application of findings from other countries to the U.S.

We in the U.S. are fortunate to have some of the worlds’ most productive and well-managed forests. We are also fortunate to have a strong community of forests scientists who understand better than anyone the carbon benefits these forests provide. When the airwaves get cluttered and confusing, we are well served to look to these experts for clarity. Doing so will foster good policy here and abroad ensuring continued carbon benefits from U.S. forests and biomass well into the future.

Visit www.nafoalliance.org for more information >>

Eco Seed: Largest biomass plant in U.S. to power P&G facility in Georgia

A 50 megawatt biomass plant, one of the largest in the United States, is being developed by Procter & Gamble and Constellation in Georgia.

The plant, which will be built, owned and operated by Constellation, will supply steam to P&G’s paper manufacturing facility in Albany, Georgia.

The plant will use waste woody biomass such as discarded tree tops, limbs, branches and scrap wood from local forestry operations, crop residuals such as pecan shells and peanut hulls, and mill waste, such as sawdust.

Construction on the plant has already begun and commercial operation is scheduled to begin in June of 2017.

The Albany facility has been using biomass power from more than 30 years, converting woodscraps into steam with a smaller onsite biomass boiler. The onsite biomass boiler supplied around 30 percent of the facilities total energy.

The new plant will replace the aging boiler system with a highly efficient combined heat and power biomass unit. Incoming biomass will provide 100 percent of the steam and up to 60 to 70 percent of the energy used in manufacturing.

Read the full article on www.ecoseed.org >>

USDA Improves Forest Health by Harvesting Biomass for Energy

USDA Press Release

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that more than 200,000 tons of biomass were removed from federal lands through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). BCAP, reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, provided incentives for the removal of dead or diseased trees from National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands for renewable energy, while reducing the risk of forest fire. This summer, 19 energy facilities in 10 states participated in the program.

“This initiative helps to retrieve forest residues that are a fire risk, but otherwise are costly to remove,” said Vilsack. “In just three months, working with private partners across the country, the program helped to reduced fire, disease and insect threats while providing more biomass feedstock for advanced energy facilities.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency administered the program earlier this year. Eligible farmers, ranchers or foresters participating in BCAP received a payment to partially offset the cost of harvesting and delivering forest or agricultural residues to a qualified energy facility. Up to $12.5 million is available each year for biomass removal.

Key program accomplishments include:

In Colorado’s Front Range, 18,000 tons of trees targeted by the USDA Forest Service to reduce forest fire threats were removed to generate energy.

In California’s Rim Fire area in Tuolumne County, nearly 100 percent of the USDA Forest Service’s targeted 40,000 tons of forest residue was approved for removal and transport to energy facilities.

In Arizona, 41,000 tons of forest residue in Apache and Navajo counties were approved for removal and transport to energy facilities.

In Oscoda County, Mich., home of the Huron Manistee National Forest, 5,000 tons of forest residue were approved for removal and transport to energy facilities.

These accomplishments helped the Forest Service meet or exceed its restoration goals for Fiscal Year 2014, including reducing hazardous fuels on 1.7 million acres in the wildland urban interface and sustaining or restoring watershed conditions on 2.9 million acres, resulting in 2.8 billion board feet of timber volume sold. To further support this program, the Forest Service has entered into a three-year, $1.5 million agreement to provide technical assistance to the Farm Service Agency as they implement BCAP on National Forest System lands. This will enable the development and execution of biomass sales, and help open and support new and existing markets for biomass products.

USDA will issue a final regulation this winter to incorporate BCAP updates established in the 2014 Farm Bill. The next funding opportunity will be announced once updates are incorporated.

BCAP was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visitwww.usda.gov/farmbill.

Visit www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap or contact a local FSA county office at offices.usda.gov to learn more about BCAP.

Contact:
USDA Office of Communications
(202) 720-4623