FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2010
Forest Biomass Initiative report now available
Update to Legislature is viewable online
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has delivered the Forest Biomass Initiative report to the 2011 Washington State Legislature. The report is an update to Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark’s Forest Biomass Initiative that he first launched shortly after taking office in 2009.
The report is viewable here: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/em_biomass_leg_rprt_2011.pdf
From the executive summary of the report:
Forest biomass can and should play a meaningful role in Washington’s renewable energy sector. The Department of Natural Resources is moving forward with its forest biomass initiative thoughtfully in order to ensure sustainability as it continues to gain momentum in our state. To date, our work and the work of our partners have demonstrated that a sustainable forest biomass-to-energy sector in Washington can:
- Reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Increase forest health and reduce fire hazards while protecting the forest environment.
- Reduce air emissions (utilizing the materials in a regulated environment as opposed to slash burns).
- Create green jobs and enhance rural economies.
- Increase industrial efficiency.
- Contribute to the development of drop-in replacement fuels.
- Reduce the risk of forest land conversion by providing land-owners with an additional revenue stream.
Forest Biomass Initiative
In 2009, HB 2165 was enacted into law authorizing DNR to implement biomass energy pilot projects in eastern and western Washington. Removing biomass feedstock in ecologically sustainable ways to produce energy (liquid fuels or heat and electricity) can:
- Provide income for forest landowners while improving forest health;
- Create rural jobs;
- Reduce wildfires and greenhouse gas emissions; and
- Aid in the production of renewable energy.
Read more about forest biomass and DNR’s efforts here: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/Topics/OtherConservationInformation/Pages/em_biomass.aspx
Media Contact: Aaron Toso, Director of Communications & Outreach, 360-902-1023, aaron.toso@dnr.wa.gov
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