Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources is to commission a complete statewide study of potential forest biomass supplies.

The project will be funded through a $1 million grant from the US Forest Service, aiming to assess availability of biomass feedstocks.

The work should help determine appropriate levels of biomass removal from state forests, for use in electricity power generation, heating and to produce liquid transportation fuel.

The Department sees biomass energy projects as a potential market for material that is not currently valuable for landowners, and believes removing some of the material could improve the health of forests while also cutting risks of wildfires.

However, studies are needed to avoid unwanted environmental impacts.

Detail

Unlike previous forest studies in Washington, this one will aim to improve results using finer-scale data.

It will consider individual land managers’ objectives, physical and economic factors on biomass availability and also the issue of environmental sustainability.

Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark said: “Existing studies of biomass availability need refinement and improved detail if we are to achieve the goal of creating new businesses and jobs without causing unwanted environmental consequences. I am very grateful to the Forest Service for their willingness to partner in this effort.”

The study should help to inform decisions by biomass investors regarding prospective facility sizes and locations, the Department said yesterday.

A request for proposals will be issued this summer for organizations to work on the research.