National Forest Restoration National Forest Restoration

Working Partnership GrantWorking Partnership Grant

Multi-collaborative effort to Multi-collaborative effort to explore the use of woody explore the use of woody

biomass for cellulosic biomass for cellulosic ethanol development in ethanol development in

western Oregonwestern Oregon

Tonight’s AgendaTonight’s Agenda

IntroductionsIntroductions Grant partners and activitiesGrant partners and activities Biomass examplesBiomass examples Biomass around the stateBiomass around the state Future technologyFuture technology Discussion Discussion

Grant PartnersGrant Partners

Lane County - Mike McKenzie-BahrLane County - Mike McKenzie-Bahr Lane MicroBusiness - Martin DesmondLane MicroBusiness - Martin Desmond Resource Innovations, Institute for a Sustainable Resource Innovations, Institute for a Sustainable

Environment - Marcus KauffmanEnvironment - Marcus Kauffman Northwest Cooperative Development Center - Eric Northwest Cooperative Development Center - Eric

BowmanBowman Oregon Environmental Council - Chris HagerbaumerOregon Environmental Council - Chris Hagerbaumer Small Business Development CenterSmall Business Development Center William H. Klausmeier, Ph.D - Lane Community William H. Klausmeier, Ph.D - Lane Community

CollegeCollege Trillium FiberFuels, Inc. - Chris BeattyTrillium FiberFuels, Inc. - Chris Beatty Mater Engineering, Ltd. – Catherine M. MaterMater Engineering, Ltd. – Catherine M. Mater Novus Group - Larry Brice Novus Group - Larry Brice

Grant ActivitiesGrant Activities Woody biomass resource assessment Woody biomass resource assessment

to determine feedstock availability, to determine feedstock availability, price, and location, and transportation price, and location, and transportation challenges;challenges;

Education and outreach to increase Education and outreach to increase public understanding; public understanding;

Assessing forest biomass processing Assessing forest biomass processing capacity; and capacity; and

Strengthening forest biomass business Strengthening forest biomass business capacity through training and skill capacity through training and skill development. development.

BiomassBiomass – any solid, non-hazardous, – any solid, non-hazardous, cellulosic material derived from:cellulosic material derived from:– Forest-related resourcesForest-related resources– Solid wood wastes (construction waste)Solid wood wastes (construction waste)– Agricultural residuesAgricultural residues– Dedicated feedstock crops e.g. switchgrass Dedicated feedstock crops e.g. switchgrass

and hybrid poplarand hybrid poplar

Source: US Dept. of EnergySource: US Dept. of Energy

DefinitionDefinition

Oregon is the “Middle East” of forest biomass

Oregon has more softwood volume than any other state in the nation.

27.5 million acres of forestlands

Why Biomass Utilization?Why Biomass Utilization?

Implement fuel reduction on a landscape Implement fuel reduction on a landscape scale scale ((One quarter of the state of Oregon is at One quarter of the state of Oregon is at moderate to high risk of wildfire danger because moderate to high risk of wildfire danger because of excess amounts of forest and range biomass).of excess amounts of forest and range biomass).

Promote energy independence Promote energy independence ($300m to ($300m to $500,000,000 leaves state each year)$500,000,000 leaves state each year)

Foster low-carbon economyFoster low-carbon economy Promote rural economic developmentPromote rural economic development Reduces material to waste streamReduces material to waste stream Reduces burning of slash pilesReduces burning of slash piles

Problem SummaryAll Ownerships10.4 million acres of Condition Class 3 15.3 million acres of Condition Class 2Public Lands15.5 million acres on public lands84 % outside Wilderness and Roadless Area

Treatment Gap

At a minimum we need to be treating 3-5 times current efforts

To be efficient and effective we need strategic assessment and planning at the statewide and local to mid-scale

The gap represents both added opportunity and added responsibility

Woody Biomass UtilizationWoody Biomass Utilization

A wide variety of products (some still in A wide variety of products (some still in R&D)R&D)– Firewood, post, and polesFirewood, post, and poles– Pellets and fuel logsPellets and fuel logs– Lumber products, composite panels, pulpLumber products, composite panels, pulp– Soil amendmentsSoil amendments– Landscape/landfill coverLandscape/landfill cover– Bio-based plastics, solvents, etc.Bio-based plastics, solvents, etc.– Biomass power and heatBiomass power and heat– Biofuels (ethanol, renewable diesel)Biofuels (ethanol, renewable diesel)

Potential ethanol production

Study Million BDT Potential ethanol(60 gallons / BDT)

Walsh (1999) 6.8Mill residues

408 mmg

CH2MHILL (2005) 2.5 Forest thinnings

150 mmg

Graf and Koehler (2000) 140,000 ac

2.9 174 mmg

Graf and Koehler (2000) 350,000 ac

7.3 438 mmg

Graf and Koehler (2000) 700,000 ac

14.5 870 mmg

USDA Forest Service (2005)

1.6 – 12.7 96 – 762 mmg

Issues to Consider Issues to Consider

Scale and type of utilization Scale and type of utilization strategystrategy– Community SupportCommunity Support– Biomass SupplyBiomass Supply– Project EconomicsProject Economics– Appropriate TechnologyAppropriate Technology– Siting/InfrastructureSiting/Infrastructure