Community-scale biomass

New cost-share funds available for forest landowners interested in selling to biomass buyers

U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) Now Accepting Applications for Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)

FSA will provide financial assistance to collect, harvest, store and transport eligible materials

"Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) provides financial assistance to producers or entities that deliver eligible biomass material to designated biomass conversion facilities for use as heat, power, biobased products or biofuels. Initial assistance will be for the Collection, Harvest, Storage and Transportation (CHST) costs associated with the delivery of eligible material. More Information:

About the USDA's BCAP, including application forms:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=ener&topic=bcap

The USDA's news release:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=ner&newstype=newsrel&type=detail&item=nr_20090729_rel_0348.html

 

Thanks to the Biomass Thermal Energy Council, of which NNFP is a founding member, for this update.

Publications

An Assessment of Biomass Harvesting Guidelines Alexander M. Evans and Robert T. Perschel, Forest Guild, January 2009.
Avoiding the Next Bioenergy Bubble (1.6 MB) V. Alaric Sample, Summer 2009. In Volume 14, No. 1 of The Pinchot Letter, a Publication of the Pinchot Institute for Conservation.
Ensuring Forest Sustainability in the Development of Wood Biofuels and Bioenergy: Implications for Federal and State Policies (3.5 MB) Summary Report from Forest Energy Policy Dialogue, February 9-10, 2009. The Heinz Center and The Pinchot Institute. Powerpoint presentations from the forum, and additional reports about the sustainability of wood-based bioenergy are available on the Pinchot Institute website.
Energy from Woody Biomass: A Review of Harvesting Guidelines and A Discussion of Related Challenges Katie Fernholz et al., Dovetail Partners, 2009. Community-Based Bioenergy and District Heating: Benefits, Challenges, Opportunities, and Recommendations for Woody Biomass Steve Bratkovich et al., Dovetail Partners, 2009.
Social Issues of Woody Biomass Utilization: A Review of the Literature EWP Working Paper Number 20, Summer 2009. Max Nielson-Pincus and Cassandra Moseley, Ecosystem Workforce Program, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon.
Sustainable Forest Biomass: Promoting Renewable Energy and Forest Stewardship Jesse Caputo, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, July 2009.
Conventional Wisdoms of Woody Biomass Utilization (3.8 MB) Dennis R. Becker et al. USFS Joint Fire Sciences Program, USFS Northern Research Station, University of Oregon, University of Minnesota, and Michigan Tech University. 2009.
The website of the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) is a great source for additional publications and other resources focusing on issues pertinent to community-scale woody-based bioenergy. Check it out at: http://www.biomasscenter.org/resources.html

Online magazine article

An Appreciation of Debris: The Science and Changing Perceptions of Dead Trees Alexander Evans and Robert Perschel, in the February 01, 2009 issue of Northern Woodlands.

Webinar recordings

An Assessment of Biomass Harvesting Guidelines
View Zander Evans' powerpoint presentation from his January 14, 2009 webinar presentation.

To view the webinar recording, visit our member forum site and request to participate in the "Community-scale Biomass" group.