Community-scale biomass

In June 2010, Scott Bagley of NNFP and Bob Parker from Oregon State University Extension toured Austria for several days back in early June to learn about innovations in wood-based biomass and cooperatives. Listen to a short audio slideshow that highlight's Scott's experience:
NNFP's trip to Austria highlighted in Sept-Oct 2010 issue of USDA's Rural Cooperatives Magazine. Check out the article by clicking here. (375 kb)	Another article about the trip and how pieces of the Austrian model could be adapted and utilized here in the US, Austrian Biomass Trading Centers Might Show Promise in U.S. Published in the Summer 2010 issue of Northwest Woodlands, as well as the Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Western Forester.
Chipping In: The expansion of wood-based biomass in Austria’s energy mix A report from a short tour, June 2-5, 2010 Scott Bagley & Bob Parker Download the PDF (2.84 mb)
why thermal?   Learn about the benefits of thermal applications of wood-to-energy by visiting the websites of the Biomass Energy Reource Center (BERC)and the Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC). BTEC is producing a series of webinars about biomass thermal, with two convened to date and more to come over the next several months. Recordings are available on the BTEC website: The Opportunity of Biomass Energy: Renewable Heating and CHP Green Heat for Homes: Benefits and Challenges of Residential Biomass Energy NNFP is a founding member of BTEC In addition to their webinars, BTEC is also undertaking to produce a series of interviews with experts in biomass thermal energy. Listen to the first, an interview with Christiane Egger, Deputy Director of the Upper Austrian Renewable Energy Agency.

Publications

A selection of publications pertaining to forest-based biomass:
Forest Biomass Retention and Harvesting Guidelines for the Northeast Forest Guild Biomass Working Group
Where Wood Works: Strategies for Heating with Woody Biomass (4.89 mb) National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Colorado Wood Utilization and Marketing Program, and others
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.