A synthesis of biomass utilization for bioenergy production in the Western United States

USDA Forest Service - General Technical Report PNW-GTR

Volumn , Issue 753, 2008, Pages 1-52

  Nicholls, David L ^a   Monserud, Robert A ^b   Dykstra, Dennis P ^b  

^a Alaska Wood Utilization Research and Development Center   (United States)

^b PACIFIC NORTHWEST RESEARCH STATION   (United States)

Author keywords

Bioenergy; Biomass; Forest products; Fuel hazard reduction; Harvesting; Renewable energy

Indexed keywords

BIOENERGY; BIOMASS; COMBUSTION; ELECTRICITY GENERATION; HARVESTING; PLANT RESIDUE; RENEWABLE RESOURCE;

NORTH AMERICA; UNITED STATES;

EID: 45949089972     PISSN: 08874840     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (81)

1. Abatzoglou, N.; Barker, N.; Hasler, P.; Knoef, H. 2000. The development of a draft protocol for the sampling and analysis of particulate and organic contaminants in the gas from small biomass gasifiers. Biomass and Bioenergy. 18(1): 5-17.
2. Associated Press. 2005. Western schools, helped by Vermont firm, look to forests for fuel. http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S= 4077333&nav=4QcS. (22 July 2006).
3. American Wind Energy Association [AWEA]. 2006. Wind Energy Projects throughout the United States of America. Washington, DC: American Wind Energy Association, http://www.awea.org/projects/. (20 October 2006).
4. Bain, R.L.; Amos, W.A.; Downing, M.; Perlack, R.L. 2003. Biopower technical assessment: state of the industry and the technology. NREL Rep. TP-510-33123. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 277 p.
5. Bain, R.L.; Overend, R.P. 2002. Biomass for heat and power. Forest Products Journal. 52(2): 12-19.
6. Biesecker, R.L.; Fight, R.D. 2006. My Fuel Treatment Planner: a user guide. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-663. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 31 p.
7. Bilek, E.M.; Skog, K.E.; Fried, J.; Christensen, G. 2005. Fuel to burn: economics of converting forest thinnings to energy using BioMax in southern Oregon. Gen. Tech. Rep. FPL-GTR-157. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 27 p.
8. th ed. Ames, IA: Iowa State Press. 554 p.
9. California Integrated Waste Management Board. 2006. Biomass to energy. www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Organics/Conversion/BioEnergy. (17 August 2006).
10. Caputo, A.C.; Palumbo, M.; Pelagagge, P.M.; Scacchia, F. 2005. Economics of biomass energy utilization in combustion and gasification plants: effects of logistic variables. Biomass and Bioenergy. 28(1): 35-51.
11. Community Power Corporation. 2006. Community Power Corporation homepage, http://www.gocpc.com. (22 July 2006).
12. Crookston, N.L.; Havis, R.N., comps. 2002. Second Forest Vegetation Simulator conference. Proc. RMRS-P-25. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 208 p.
13. Dooley, J.H.; Fridley, J.L.; DeTray, M.S.; Lanning, D.N. 2006. Large rectangular bales for woody biomass. Paper 068054. St. Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 8 p.
14. Egger, C.; Ohlinger, C.; Dell. G. 2001. Fourteen percent of the total primary energy produced from biomass - a success story from the highly industrialized region of Upper Austria. In: Proceedings of the 5 international biomass conference of the Americas. [Place of publication unknown]: [Publisher unknown]: [Pages unknown]. Copy on file with David Nicholls.
15. Emergent Solutions and Christopher Allen & Associates. 2003. SDU wood as feedstock for biomass conversion in western Montana - opportunities and challenges. Missoula, MT: Christopher Allen & Associates; final draft. 46 p. http://www.mtcdc.org/pdf/110703.pdf. (29 January 2008).
16. Fiedler, C.E.; Keegan, C.E., III; Wichman, D.P.; Arno, S.F. 1999. Product and economic implications of ecological restoration. Forest Products Journal. 49(2): 19-23.
17. Fight, R.D.; Barbour, R.J.; Christensen, G.A.; Pinjuv, G.L.; Nagubadi, R.V. 2004. Thinning and prescribed fire and projected trends in wood product potential, financial return, and fire hazard in New Mexico. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-605. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 48 p.
18. Fried, J.S.; Barbour, R.; Fight, R. 2003. FIA BioSum: applying a multiscale evaluation tool in southwest Oregon. Journal of Forestry. 101(2): 8.
19. Fried, J.S.; Christensen, G. 2004. FIA BioSum: a tool to evaluate financial costs, opportunities and effectiveness of fuel treatments. Western Forester. (September/October): 12-13.
20. Fried, J.S.; Christensen, G.; Weyermann, D.; Barbour, R.J.; Fight, R.; Hiserote, B.; Pinjuv, G. 2005. Modeling opportunities and feasibility of siting wood-fired electrical generating facilities to facilitate landscape-scale fuel treatment with FIA BioSum. In: Bevers, M.; Barrett, TM., tech. comps. Systems analysis in forest resources: proceedings of the 2003 symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-656. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 195-204.
21. Fuels for Schools. 2006. Cooperative program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; the State Foresters of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah; and the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development Program, http://www.fuelsforschools.org. (25 October 2006).
22. Gray, E. 2006. WGA biomass task force regional metrics project. Presented at the national bioenergy conference II: innovations in restoring forests and strengthening economies, Denver, CO. http://www. nationalbiomassconference. org/presentations/Gray.pdf. (29 January 2008).
23. Hamrin, J.; Dracker, R.; Martin, J.; Wiser, R.; Porter, K.; Clement, D.; Bolinger, D. 2005. Achieving a 33 percent renewable energy target. [Place of publication unknown]: The Center for Resource Solutions Team. Prepared for California Public Utilities Commission. 135 p.
24. Han, H-S.; Lee, H.W.; Johnson, L.R. 2004. Economic feasibility of an integrated harvesting system for small-diameter trees in southwest Idaho. Forest Products Journal. 54(2): 21-27.
25. Haynes, R.W. 2003. An analysis of the timber situation in the United States: 1952 to 2050. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-560. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 254 p.
26. Hewlett-Packard Development Company. 2004. Success story: HP technology helps Fernwarme Wien distribute Vienna's hot water as environmentally safe heat source [Brochure], http://h71000.www7.hp.com/openvms/brochures/wien/ Fernwarme_Wien.pdf. (18 July 2006).
27. Ince, P. J.; Kramp, A.; Spelter, H.; Skog, K.; Dykstra, D.P. 2006. FTM-West: fuel treatment market model for US West. In: Chang, S.J.; Dunn, M.A., eds. 2006. Forestry: economics and environment. Proceedings of the Southern forest economics workshop: 275-291. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2006/ fpl_2006_ince003.pdf (29 January 2008).
28. Irving, J. 2006. McNeil generating station. Presented at the national bioenergy conference II: innovations in restoring forests and strengthening economies, Denver, CO. http://www.nationalbiomassconference.org/ presentations/JohnIrving.pdf. (29 January 2008).
29. Jarck, W.; Sanderson, G. 2000. Scrimber born again. Timber Processing. Montgomery, AL: Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. 25(9).
30. Johnston, P. 2004. Developing biomass potential: turning hazardous fuels into valuable products. Statement to the House Resource Committee, Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/ archives/108/testimony/2004/peterjohnston.htm. (18 July 2006).
31. Jolley, S. 2006. A reliable and consistent fuel supply - Is there really any such thing? Presented at the national bioenergy conference II: innovations in restoring forests and strengthening economies. Denver, CO. http://www.nationalbiomassconference.org/presentations/Jolley.pdf. (29 January 2008).
32. Keegan, C.E.; Fiedler, C.E.; Wichman, D.P. 1995. Costs associated with harvest activities for major harvest systems in Montana. Forest Products Journal. 45(7/8): 78-82.
33. Keegan, C.E.; Morgan, T.A. 2005. Montana's timber and forest products industry situation, 2004. Missoula, MT: University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research. 10 p.
34. Kirkland, L.A.; Steinhagen, H.P.; Campbell, A.G. 1991. The University of Idaho wood-fired boiler: a case study. Forest Products Journal. 41(6): 54-56.
35. Larson, D.; Mirth, R. 1998. Potential for using small-diameter ponderosa pine: a wood fiber projection. Forest Products Journal. 48(6): 37-42.
36. LeVan-Green, S.L.; Livingston, J. 2001. Exploring the uses for small-diameter trees. Forest Products Journal. 51(9): 10-21.
37. Livingston, J. 2006. Small-diameter success stories II. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-FPL-168. Madison, WI : U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 31 p.
38. Loeffler, D.; Calkin, D.E.; Silverstein, R.P. 2006. Estimating volumes and costs of forest biomass in western Montana using forest inventory and geospatial data. Forest Products Journal. 56(6): 31-37.
39. Maker, T. 2004. Wood chip heating systems - a guide for institutional and commercial biomass systems. Prepared for The Coalition of Northeastern Governors Policy Research Center. Revised. Montpelier, VT: Biomass Energy Resource Center. 91 p.
40. McNeil Technologies, Inc. 2003. Green power marketing/outreach support for the Lake Tahoe biopower program. McNeil Technologies Project #1173-000. Lakewood, CO: McNeil Technologies, Inc.; final report. Prepared for the Western Regional Biomass Energy Program. On file with David Nicholls. 31 p.
41. Morgan, T.A.; Keegan, C.E., III; Dillon, T.; Chase, A.L.; Fried, J.S.; Weber, M.N. 2004a. California's forest products industry: a descriptive analysis. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-615. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 55 p.
42. Morgan, T.A.; Keegan, C.E., III; Spoelma, T.P.; Dillon, T.; Hearst, A.L.; Wagner, F.G.; DeBlander, L.T. 2004b. Idaho's forest products industry: a descriptive analysis. Resour. Bull. RMRS-RB-4. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 31 p.
43. Morgan, T.A.; Spoelma, T.P.; Keegan, C.E.; Chase, A.L.; Thompson, M.T. 2005. Wyoming's forest products industry and timber harvest, 2000. Resour. Bull. RMRS-RB-5. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 25 p.
44. National Fire Plan. 2004. Biomass plant lights up community, Arizona, 2004. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior, http://www.fireplan.gov/overview/success/fuels/ 2004eagarbiomass.pdf. (27 July 2006).
45. National Fire Plan [NFP]. 2006a. National Fire Plan homepage. http://www.fireplan.gov. (18 July 2006).
46. National Fire Plan [NFP]. 2006b. National Fire Plan success story page, http://www.fireplan.gov/overview/success. (27 February 2007).
47. National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL]. 2002. Renewable energy cost trends, www.nrel.gov/analysis/docs/cost_curves_2002.ppt. (16 August 2006).
48. Neff, S. 2005. Review of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. New York: Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy at Columbia University. 10 p.
49. Obernberger, I. 1998. Decentralized biomass combustion: state of the art and future development. Biomass and Bioenergy. 14(1): 33-56.
50. Office of the President. 2005a. Healthy forests: an initiative for wildfire prevention and stronger communities. Washington, DC: www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/healthyforests/Healthy_Forests_v2.pdf. (18 July 2006).
51. Office of the President. 2005b. Healthy Forests Initiative. Washington, DC: www.healthyforests.gov/projects_map.html. (16 August 2006).
52. Perlack, R.D.; Wright, L.L.; Turhollow, A.F.; Graham, R.L.; Stokes, B.J.; Erbach, D.C. 2005. Biomass as feedstock for a bioenergy and bioproducts industry: the technical feasibility of a billion-ton annual supply. Tech. Rep. DOE/GO-102005-2135. Oak Ridge, TN: Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 59 p.
53. Rizzo, R. 2006. Biomass energy use at Mount Wachusett Community College: a case study. Presented at Smallwood Conference, Richmond, VA. http://www.forestprod.org/smallwood06rizzol.pdf. (29 January 2008).
54. Rummer, B. 2003. Evaluation of forest residue bundling technology. Current Project Record 03-01. Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Forest Operations and Engineering Research. 1 p.
55. Rummer, B.; Prestemon, J.; May, D.; Miles, P.; Vissage, J.; McRoberts, R.; Liknes, G.; Shepperd, W.; Ferguson, D.; Elliot, W.; Miller, S.; Reutebuch, S.; Barbour, J.; Fried, J.; Stokes, B.; Bilek, E.; Skog, K. 2003. A strategic assessment of forest biomass and fuel reduction treatments in Western States. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Research and Development. 18 p.
56. Scahill, J.W.; Diebold, J.; Walt, R.; Browne, K.; Duncan, D.; Armstrong, B. 2002. Development of Community Power Corporation's small modular biomass power system. Presented at Bioenergy 2002, Boise, ID. On file with David L. Nicholls.
57. Schneider, M.H. 1987. Fuel chip harvesting: small scale experience in New Brunswick. Forest Products Journal. 37(2): 39-42.
58. Sheriff, D.W. 1998. Productivity and economic assessment of hardwood species for scrimber production. A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation-RIRDC Publication 98/4. Clayton, South Victoria, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
59. Skog, K.E.; Barbour, J.; Abt, K.; Bilek, T.; Burch, F.; Fight, R.D.; Hugget, B.; Miles, P.; Reinhardt, E.; Sheppard, W. 2006. Evaluation of silvicultural treatments and biomass use for reducing fire hazard in Western States. Res. Pap. FPL-RP-634. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 29 p.
60. Spelter, H.; Alderman, M. 2005. Profile 2005: softwood sawmills in the United States and Canada. Res. Pap. FPL-RP-630. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 85 p.
61. Stirling Energy Systems. 2005. News release: California Public Utilities Commission approves Stirling Energy System's solar energy contract with Southern California Edison, http://www.stirlingenergy.com/breaking_news. htm. (10 Oct 2006).
62. University of Idaho. 2005. Wood fuel for steam production, http://www.dfm. uidaho.edu/default.aspx?pid=90144. (05 August 2006).
63. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2000. Fire and fuels buildup. Washington, DC. 6 p.
64. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2004. Biomass for small scale heat and power. Techline Series. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, State and Private Forestry Technology Marketing Unit, www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/techline/biomass- for-small-scale-heat-and-power.pdf. (16 August 2006).
65. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2006. Woody biomass grants. Hazardous fuel reduction on national forest lands, www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu/grant/biomass-grant.html. (16 August 2006).
66. U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Department of the Interior. 2001. Urban wildland interface communities within the vicinity of federal lands that are at high risk from wildfire. Federal Register. 66(160): 43384-43435. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of the Interior.
67. U.S. Department of Energy. 2005a. Monthly energy review, April. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. [Pages unknown],
68. U.S. Department of Energy. 2005b. States with renewable portfolio standards. http://www.eere.energy.gOv/states/maps/renewable_portfolio_states. cfm#chart. (16 August 2006).
69. U.S. Government Accountability Office [US GAO]. 2005. Natural resources. Federal agencies are engaged in various efforts to promote the utilization of woody biomass, but significant obstacles to its use remain. GAO-05-373. Washington, DC.
70. Vermont Department of Public Service. 2006. Using wood chips to economically heat Vermont schools, www.publicservice.vermont.gov/energy- efficiency/ee_files/biomass/ee2.htm. (16 August 2006).
71. Vissage, J.S.; Miles, P.D. 2003. Fuel reduction treatment: a west-wide assessment of opportunities. Journal of Forestry. 101(2): 5-6.
72. Wagner, F.G.; Keegan, C.E., III; Fight, R.D.; Willits, S. 1998. Potential for small-diameter sawtimber utilization by the current sawmill industry in western North America. Forest Products Journal. 48(9): 30-34.
73. Ward, J.E.; Mackes, K.H.; Lynch, D.L. 2001. Availability of wood wastes and residues as a potential fuel source for the Holnam cement plant located north of LaPorte, Colorado. In: Proceedings of the 5 international biomass conference of the Americas. Copy on file with David Nicholls.
74. Ward, J.E.; Mackes, K.H.; Lynch, D.L. 2004. Wood wastes and residues generated along the Colorado Front Range as a potential fuel source. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-50. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 9 p.
75. Western Governors' Association [WGA]. 2005. Western Regional Biomass Energy Program, http://www.westgov.org/wga/initiatives/biomass/. (19 October 2006).
76. Western Governors' Association [WGA]. 2006a. WGA homepage. http://www.westgov.org. (18 July 2006).
77. Western Governors' Association [WGA]. 2006b. Report of the Biomass Task Force, supply addendum. Published as a contribution to the Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative, http://www.westgov.org/wga/initiatives/cdeac/ Biomass-supply.pdf. (19 October 2006).
78. Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. 2004. Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. homepage, http://www.wheelabratortechnologies.com. (22 July 2006).
79. Yadama, V.; Shook, S. 2005. Wood-plastic composite extrusion technology for sustainable economic development of local communities. In: Deal, R.L.; White, S.M., eds. Understanding barriers and opportunities for sustainable wood production in the Pacific Northwest. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-626. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 63-67.
80. Zerbe, J.I. 2006. Thermal energy, electricity, and transportation fuels from wood. Forest Products Journal. 56(1): 6-14.
81. Zieroth, E. 2006. White Mountain stewardship contract: lessons learned, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests and Future Forest LLC. Presented at national bioenergy conference II: innovations in restoring forests and strengthening economies, Denver, CO. http://www.nationalbiomassconference.org/ presentations/Zieroth.pdf. (29 January 2008).