Woody Biomass BasicsWoody Biomass Basics

Larry Swan and Ron SaranichLarry Swan and Ron SaranichUSDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service

(Slides Courtesy of John Scahill, US DOE and Tad Mason, TSS (Slides Courtesy of John Scahill, US DOE and Tad Mason, TSS Consultants)Consultants)

Utilization Can Help Utilization Can Help Reduce Cost of Reduce Cost of ManagementManagementSprinkle Stewardship Pilot Restoration Project, Wallowa-Whitman NF

Avg Suppression Cost -1992-2002 = $1,172/ac

Cost to Treat - No Utilization = $500-$1,000+/ac

Cost to Treat - With Utilization, 50% Small Sawlog/50% Fiber Log = $200-$250/ac Return to Govnt

Cost to Treat - With Utilization, 25% Small Sawlog/75% Fiber Log

= $300-$500/ac

($2,000)

($1,500)

($1,000)

($500)

$0

$500

$1,000

Retu

rn o

r C

ost to

Govnt P

er

Acre

Low Range High Range

Note: Costs do not include planning, prep, admin, or post-treatment burning (e.g. underburn or jackpot).

Plus Other ReasonsPlus Other Reasons

Forest and Watershed HealthForest and Watershed Health Smoke ManagementSmoke Management Improve Wildlife HabitatImprove Wildlife Habitat Maintain Local Industry InfrastructureMaintain Local Industry Infrastructure Retain Local JobsRetain Local Jobs Produce Renewable Energy and Other Produce Renewable Energy and Other

ProductsProducts Reduce Fire Suppression & Rehab Reduce Fire Suppression & Rehab

CostsCosts Carbon SequestrationCarbon Sequestration

Estimated Cost Estimated Cost Savings Vary WidelySavings Vary Widely

Mechanical Thin With Mechanical Thin With Biomass Removal:Biomass Removal:

Deschutes NF, $100-Deschutes NF, $100-$150/ac$150/ac

Prineville BLM, Prineville BLM, $215/ac$215/ac

Fremont-Winema Fremont-Winema NFs, $150-$350/acNFs, $150-$350/ac

Shasta-Trinity, $200-Shasta-Trinity, $200-$500/ac (could $500/ac (could include cable)include cable)

Estimated Revenue Estimated Revenue Estimates VaryEstimates Vary

Forest Service, Forest Service, $0.25 - $0.50/ccf $0.25 - $0.50/ccf (Deschutes and (Deschutes and Fremont-Winema Fremont-Winema NFs)NFs)

BLM Prineville, BLM Prineville, $0.10/ccf $0.10/ccf

Local Conditions Vary Local Conditions Vary and So Will and So Will

Costs/Revenue for Slash Costs/Revenue for Slash DisposalDisposal

Critical Forest Products Critical Forest Products Infrastructure Still Exists Infrastructure Still Exists

in Willamette Valleyin Willamette Valley

Robust Processing Robust Processing Infrastructure in Lane, Infrastructure in Lane,

Linn and Marion CountiesLinn and Marion Counties Lumber Products (min. 1.3 billion bd ft DF Lumber Products (min. 1.3 billion bd ft DF

production capacity)production capacity) Plywood and Veneer (min 480 million sf 3/8”)Plywood and Veneer (min 480 million sf 3/8”) LVL (no plants)LVL (no plants) Composite Panel Products (e.g. MDF, Composite Panel Products (e.g. MDF,

flakeboard, particle board, hardboard etc.) (min flakeboard, particle board, hardboard etc.) (min 480 sf ¾”)480 sf ¾”)

Pulp/Paper (2,000+ tons/day production)Pulp/Paper (2,000+ tons/day production) Mulch/Soil Amendments (e.g. Rexius)Mulch/Soil Amendments (e.g. Rexius) Charcoal/Other Chemicals (i.e. Kingsford)Charcoal/Other Chemicals (i.e. Kingsford) Pellets (e.g. Bear Mtn)Pellets (e.g. Bear Mtn) Animal Bedding (e.g. Bear Mtn)Animal Bedding (e.g. Bear Mtn) Alternative Daily Cover for Landfills?Alternative Daily Cover for Landfills? Posts and Poles?Posts and Poles?

Variety of Woody Variety of Woody Biomass Supply Biomass Supply

SourcesSources Wood Manufacturing ResiduesWood Manufacturing Residues Agricultural Byproducts and Agricultural Byproducts and

ResiduesResidues Urban Wood WasteUrban Wood Waste Timber Harvest and Fuels Timber Harvest and Fuels

Treatment ResiduesTreatment Residues Dedicated Fuel CropsDedicated Fuel Crops

Variety of Woody Variety of Woody Biomass Markets in Biomass Markets in Willamette ValleyWillamette Valley

Pulp/PaperPulp/Paper Boiler FuelBoiler Fuel Composite Panel ProductsComposite Panel Products Mulch and Soil AmendmentsMulch and Soil Amendments CharcoalCharcoal PelletsPellets Animal BeddingAnimal Bedding

Basic Strategic Woody Basic Strategic Woody Biomass Building-Biomass Building-

BlocksBlocksLegal & Accessible

Supply

Technology & Science

Harvest and Transportation

1º and 2 ºProcessing Residuals

Mkts

Public Awareness & Involvement

Govnt Agency Awareness & Involvement

Tech Transfer, Public Funding &

Training

Compatible Mgt Objectives

Viable Mkts/Prods & Distribution Channels

Business Interest & Financing

AssociationsOrganizations

Elected Officials

U.S. Energy Consumption U.S. Energy Consumption OverviewOverview

Natural Gas23%

Coal23%

Nuclear Electric8%

Petroleum40%

Renewable Energy6%

− 45% Hydroelectric

− 2% Wind

− 5% Geothermal

− 34% Wood

− 1% Solar

72% of the 47% of biomass energy is wood based

Total = 98.156 Quadrillion Btu Total = 6.2 Quadrillion Btu

− 9% Waste− 4% Alcohol Fuels