The
three-day conference held on January 20 - 22, 2004, provided a forum to
share information and to address institutional, internal, and external
barriers to successful utilization of forest and woodland biomass for
energy and small diameter wood products. |
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Pacific
Northwest Region
- Improving communication
o What are the public perceptions
o Focus on end results
- Policy
and planning
o Create an environment conducive to biomass utilization
- Create
economic opportunities
o Energy tax credits
o Enhancing the environment
o Keep and maintain existing infrastructure
- Establish
targets
o Acres treated that can make biomass available (RX vs Mechanical)
South
- Form a coalition by March 1 with key partners such as the Southern Group
of State Foresters, Southern Energy Board, Southern Governors, etc
- Coalition
will develop Mission/Vision/Goals. Hold regional workshop and move from
issues to common ground
- Achieve
success – issues are resolved, forest health improved, there is
an increase in the generation and use of renewable energy and increase
in energy security
Southwest
- Collaboration underlies success
- Need
for coordinated information sharing federal/state/county/municipal
- Build
on successes
- Agencies
to walk their talk – heat buildings with biomass
- Coalition
to further energy bill biomass component
- NM
working group
- Southwest
Region's conference notes
Northeast
- NE does not have a severe need to reduce fuels, but still needs to deal
with small diameter wood
- Form
partnerships (NE Council of Governors, Association of State Foresters,
Forest Service Economic Council)
- Revitalize
existing partnerships – combine and use
- Develop
case studies of biomass utilization as educational tools
- Develop
regional workshops, greater participation by partners
- Legislation
– legislate model developed and presented to state legislators
Interior
West
- Problem is the degradation of national forests and rangelands and rural
communities
- Vision – is for lands and communities to be in a proper functioning
condition, energy independent and in good economic health
- Barriers – infrastructure, public perception, policy (national
priorities/local building codes) and lack of information (solutions)
- Need
participation by environmental community, media, state legislatures
- Solutions
o Economic development agencies
o Create collaborations – should go beyond local
o Information clearing house
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