Forest Service awards $250,000 grant to Nevada Division of Forestry to support biomass supply

CARSON CITY, Nev–The U.S. Forest Service recently awarded a $250,000 grant to the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) to purchase biomass collection and removal equipment. Up to 6,000 tons of biomass could be removed from fuels treatments on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Bureau of Land Management, state, tribal and private lands.

“We, the Forest Service, fully understand the challenges of delivering affordable biomass due to the rising fuels costs incurred to collect and haul the biomass,” said Ed Monnig, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Supervisor. “NDF’s proposal was an innovative and collaborative interagency solution to decrease overall biomass supply costs,” stated Monnig. The Forest Service supports biomass use as a fuels treatment when it can be done economically, efficiently and effectively.

Grant purchases will include a truck, four roll-off containers and a trailer. Biomass collection could begin as soon as September at selected fuels reduction project sites. Biomass, or “waste wood” lacks the higher traditional wood product value of dimensional lumber. This waste wood will be chipped directly into the roll-off containers and transported via trailer.

“This grant provides a cost-effective way to remove biomass from small-scale forestry operations that are having difficulty disposing of biomass,” said Pete Anderson, Nevada’s State Forester and Firewarden. “It’s essentially a double benefit—biomass can be more effectively moved off site to ultimately help fuel the Northern Nevada Correctional Center’s power plant.” Biomass can be burned completely and more efficiently under the controlled environment of a biomass fueled boiler, increasing overall air quality in the region.

Newspapers sound off about Environmental Commission decision

Three of Nevada’s newspapers wrote editorials this week in response to last week’s State Environmental Commission hearing.

• Las Vegas Review-Journal: More Power Plays
• Las Vegas Sun: Clouding the issue
• Reno Gazette-Journal: Rejection of petition to stop coal-fired plants predictable

Fuels for Schools and Beyond (Biomass Magazine)

One of the most recent Fuels for Schools projects, and also the largest, is not in a school. Nevada has few schools that are close to sufficient biomass resources and also have a large enough population to justify the capital costs, according to Jason Perock, state coordinator of the Nevada Fuels for Schools. Read the complete story in Biomass Magazine.

Nevada State Forester calls for increased biomass production

(Division of Forestry) CARSON CITY, Nev.—Nevada State Forester Pete Anderson recently called for increased investments into biomass technologies in Nevada. A devastating 2006 fire season created tremendous impacts on Nevada’s lands, including ranching operations put out of business, wildlife losses and the spread of invasive weeds like cheatgrass. Anderson said that “biomass tools can be utilized to address the fire situation.”