2017 Western Statewide Wood Energy Forum

Morning Keynote: CAL FIRE's Efforts with Biomass Energy and Cap and Trade Grants.  Helge Eng, Deputy Director, Resource Management, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Eng_Cal Fire Keynote

Wood Energy Team Profiles and Updates.  California:  Angie Lottes, The Watershed Research and Training Center, Oregon:  Marcus Kauffman, Oregon Department of Forestry, Montana:  Julie Kies, US Forest Service, Alaska:  Devany Plentovich, Alaska Energy Authority

Plentovich_Alaska SWET update

Networking Break

Panel 1: Biomass Successes Stories:  Biomass success usually comes after overcoming many hurdles.  Hear directly from biomass developers and project managers about their path toward success.  Small-scale community modern wood heating systems and biomass product entrepreneurs and developers share their experiences, insights and expertise. Moderator:  Marcus Kauffman, Oregon Department of Forestry.  Panelists include: Greg Stangl, Phoenix Biomass Energy; Camille Swezy, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment

Swezy_Sierra Institute

Stangl_PhoenixEnergy

Panel 2: Ignighting New Biomass Products: 
Biomass can be used to make so much more than heat and power.  It can help communities transition to a more sustainable lifestyle.  In this panel, we'll discuss innovative ways for using local biomass heat to grow food, make ice or provide cooling, and heat ski resorts.  Moderator:  Devany Plentovich, Alaska Energy Authority.  Panelists include:  Lauren Burch, Southeast Island School District; Julie Kies, US Forest Service Region 1

Plentovich SWET Absorption Chilling

Kies_Ski Areas

Networking Break

Panel 3: National and State Policy Review 
Policies and plans that drive California’s response to Climate Change and the ongoing Tree Mortality Emergency, plus an overview of biomass policies in the Northeastern United States. Moderator:  Nick Goulette, The Watershed Research and Training Center.  Panelists include: Adam Sherman, Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC); Claire Jahns, Assistant Secretary for Climate Issues, California Natural Resources Agency; Angie Lottes, Biomass Program Director, Watershed Research and Training Center

Sherman_NE Policy Panel

Jahns_SB 859 Recommendations

Lottes_CA Dead Tree Task Force

The State of California Biofuels:  A Technology Assessment
Akasha Kaur Khalsa , Associate Energy Specialist, California Energy Commission Fuels and Transportation Division ARFVTP Biofuels Unit

Khalsa_CEC and Biofuels

National Wood Chip Standard.  All heating fuels - except wood chips - used in the US are governed by quality standards that ensure these fuels meet clearly defined parameters.  Heating appliances (boilers, furnaces, stoves) are then engineered around a known standard fuel to ensure efficient, clean and safe performance.  Ateam of organizations secured funding support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service to undertake this project. Adam Sherman, Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC)

Sherman_Biomass Chip Standard

Wood Energy Team Profiles and Updates
Nebraska: Heather Norbert, Nebraska Forest Service Washington: Dave Van Holde, Washington State University New Mexico: Harold Trujillo, NM Energy Minerals and Natural Resources

Norbert_Nebraska SWET

Van Holde_Washington SWET

Panel 4: Updates in Biochar: The Panel will discuss advances in biochar production, its utilization as a soil amendment, and emerging science on its use as a filtration medium.  Panelists represent a broad spectrum of interest in biochar and include:  Matt Hart, Director of Business Development, West Biofuels; Dr. Gerardo Diaz, Associate Professor, University of California, Merced; Michael Maguire, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research 

Hart_West Biofuels 

Diaz_UC Merced_Biocahr Research

Maguire Western SWET Forum - OPR Biochar Presentation (Nov. 2017)

Tuolumne County National Disaster Resilience Competition Biomass Project - In January 2016, California received a $70 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund forest and community resilience efforts related to the ongoing recovery from the Rim Fire of 2013. In addition to funding forest and watershed health projects in the Rim Fire footprint and constructing a new community resilience center, the grant provides $22 million to support the development of a new biomass utilization facility in Tuolumne County. Elliott Vander Kolk from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy,  a California State Agency, will discuss this unique approach to funding biomass infrastructure. Elliott Vanderkolk, CDBG-NDR Project Coordinator, Sierra Nevada Conservancy

Vanderkolk_Tuolumne County HUD project

Panel 5: Financing Bioenergy Projects:  Why we Can't Get Financing and What We Can Do About It.  Small scale forest biomass power projects have been in development since the 2012 Senate Bill 1122, which requires the BioMAT Program.  Those projects are now looking for capital financing  and having a surprisingly hard time.  Elissa Brown, Fund Development Coordinator who has worked with numerous projects, leads representatives from the financing industry through a discussion. Moderator: Elissa Brown, Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Panelists include:  Janice Tran, Generate Capital; Dan McDonald, Northern California Community Loan Fund; Subin DeVar, Sustainable Economies Law Center; Bryan Hung, Novogradac & Co LLP

Tran_Generate Capital

McDonald_NorCal Community Loan Fund

Hung_Novogradac

Panel 6: Existing Biomass Power in California: California has produced more biomass power than the rest of the US combined since the 1990s.  Existing biomass power plants in California gather to discuss getting power purchase agreements through the BioRAM program and Community Choice Aggregation, barriers introduced by High Hazard Zone fuel requirements, and the future of California's existing biomass power infrastructure. 
Moderator: Angie Lottes, Biomass Program Director, Watershed Center.  Panelists include:  Rick Spurlock, Plant Manager, Rio Bravo Fresno; Steve Mueller, Plant Manager, Loyalton; Bob Marino, Plant Manager, DG Fairhaven

Spurlock_IHI and Rio Bravo Fresno