Bio-fuel growth raises concerns about forests
By JOHN FLESHER
The Associated Press
Monday, November 23, 2009; 4:50 AM
PARK FALLS, Wis. -- Forests are a treasure trove of limbs and bark that
can be made into alternative fuels and some worry the increasing trend
of using that logging debris will make those materials too scarce,
harming the woodlands.
For centuries, forests have provided lumber to build cities, pulp for
paper mills and a refuge for hunters, fishers and hikers. A flurry of
new, green ventures is fueling demand for trees and the debris leftover
when they are harvested, which is called waste wood or woody biomass.
"There simply is nowhere near enough waste wood for all of these biomass
projects that are popping up all over the place," said Marvin Roberson,
a forest policy specialist with the Sierra Club in Michigan.
Waste wood has become a sought-after commodity, prompting concerns that
the demand might overwhelm supply and damage the ecosystem. But
government officials say there's plenty available and they point to
guidelines that are aimed at maintaining tree debris to give the soil
nutrients.
Many biomass projects are tied to the forests that extend across
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and part of Ontario. Among them is
Flambeau River Papers, a mill in Park Falls, Wis., that emerged from
bankruptcy three years ago and is pinning its hopes for profitability on
generating its own heat with woody biomass.
In another Wisconsin town 50 miles away, a power company is switching
from burning coal to producing combustible gas from logging leftovers.
And in Michigan's neighboring Upper Peninsula, a plant under development
called Frontier Renewable Resources will convert timber into 40 million
gallons of cellulosic ethanol a year.
Researchers led by University of Minnesota forest expert Dennis Becker
reported this summer that many would-be investors are uneasy about
supplies of waste wood.
They fear environmental reviews and litigation could make some public
woodlands unreliable sources, particularly in the West, where most
forest lands are under federal ownership and logging often raises legal
tussles, the report said.
Another problem with woody biomass is that much of the supply is in
protected areas, or so far from markets that removing and transporting
it would be too expensive, Becker said.
He led a separate study that found a realistic estimate of biomass
available in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin was 4.1 million tons a
year. Annual demand soon could reach 5.7 million tons, it said.
"A lot of folks believe there's a significant amount of woody biomass
that can be used for renewable energy," Becker said. "In reality, not
everything that's physically available is economically feasible or
environmentally sustainable."
State and federal officials say there's enough material left over from
harvesting the nation's forests to help reduce dependence on foreign
oil, curb greenhouse gases and build a green economy.
A federal report says about 368 million tons of biomass could be removed
sustainably from U.S. forests each year. Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack in August promised to spend $57 million on 30 projects
supporting development of biofuels from trees.
"Emerging markets for carbon and sustainable bioenergy will provide
landowners with expanded economic incentives to maintain and restore
forests," Vilsack said.
Some schools, hospitals and utilities in the Great Lakes region already
use biomass for heat and electricity. Michigan Biomass, a group
representing six wood-fired power plants, fears the growing interest
will make fuel costlier and more scarce. Closure of lumber and paper
mills that were reliable suppliers of biomass has worsened the problem,
director Gary Melow said.
"In the past four or five years, where we've seen a dramatic decline in
forest products manufacturing and in waste wood availability, we've
started to experience significant shortages," Melow said. "We've even
had power plants that ran out of fuel."
Roberson, with the Sierra Club in Michigan, said biomass projects will
end up using waste wood and logs suitable for paper or other products.
"We advocate getting the best economic return for industrial use of the
Midwest's forests, and there is no lower return than throwing it in the
furnace," Roberson said. "There are fewer jobs per cord, per acre, from
biomass than any other use."
A biomass shortage could bring pressure on forest managers to cultivate
plantations of fast-growing species such as willows and aspen at the
expense of pines and hardwoods native to the region, Roberson said.
That's also a concern in the southeastern part of the country, which
will have to rely heavily on biomass to meet alternative energy goals
because it has less potential for wind power, said Jimmie Powell, energy
specialist for The Nature Conservancy.
Roberson said biomass incineration, although an alternative to
greenhouse gas sources like oil and coal, still pollutes the air.
Removing too much woody debris, instead of letting it decay and nourish
soils, can damage the health of the forest, he said.
A number of states have developed guidelines for collecting biomass in a
way that doesn't harm forests. Minnesota calls for leaving 33 percent of
fine woody debris in place, said Anna Dirkswager, state biomass
coordinator. Wisconsin recommends 20 to 25 percent remains for most
locations.
State officials acknowledge competition for biomass may intensify but
predict demand and supply will balance in time. One reason: Not every
project on the drawing board will come to pass.
"Any time you have an emerging industry, there's concern that everyone
will go rushing into it and there will be too much pressure on the
resource," said Cara Boucher, Michigan's state forester. "But the market
shakes things out."
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