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(21) Developing Community and Regional Wood-to-Energy Partnerships
Henry E. Stelzer, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
John Tuttle, Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO
Session: Concurrent session A4: Exploring Partnership Models
The vast majority of family-owned forests in the United States are over-stocked with small-diameter (6-12”) trees due to lack of forest management. From a utilization perspective, stands in this condition do not attract new industry due to their poor quality. From a forest management perspective there is no incentive to manage these stands because there are no viable markets for this small-diameter, low-value material. Novel uses of this resource need be explored and their ensuing markets developed.
A team of foresters at the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources and spatial analysts at the MU Center for Agricultural, Resource and Environmental Systems (CARES) successfully developed a spatial analysis tool for estimating woody biomass that could be available for a wood-to-energy facility that would: (1) supply a relatively constant and stable amount of biomass over the long term for accurate financial analyses, (2) be ecologically sustainable, and (3) not adversely impact existing primary wood processors in the region.
This study reports the results of a USFS Wood-to-Energy Jumpstart Grant whose objective was to evaluate the interest and feasibility of building long-term partnerships among key stakeholder groups in three regions of the Missouri Ozarks that were identified as having the highest potential for a wood-to-energy conversion facility. County and city governments, wood processors, other industry interested in utilizing green energy for power/heating/cooling, woodland owners, and environmental groups were invited to participate. Following the initial town hall meeting in each locale, stakeholders were invited to participate in informal discussions and then come back together in a second town hall meeting to reach consensus on a wood-to-energy project and begin developing a plan of action.
Henry Stelzer
Department of Forestry
University of Missouri
203 ABNR
Columbia, MO, 65211
Phone: 573-882-4444
FAX: 573-882-1977
stelzerh@missouri.edu