Biomass Management

Biomass as an alternative energy source has become one of the fastest growing industries in the last decade. Vegetation deadfall and undergrowth presents a massive fire hazard in dry areas of the west. The past 5 years have seen a tremendous leap in the number of fires experienced in states like New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon and Nevada. In order to reduce the hazard, the fuel must be removed, and biomass energy is the perfect solution to the problem of removal. Biomass can be used to fuel factories, cars, commercial and municipal buildings, and homes. The advantages of biomass fuel versus fossil fuels are numerous, and include renewability, negative carbon emissions, and low cost compared with other types of fuel.

RCI has been involved in several biomass alternative energy projects, including grant proposals for the following:

Agricultural Research Service

RCI was retained by the ARS and the Community of Burns, OR to develop and present a program to the community on wood biomass energy/wood product development opportunities. There is much community interest in new opportunities in economic development due to recent closure of a major industry at Burns. The community feel that an opportunity exists in harvest and productive use of the excess Western juniper biomass in the region.

Lincoln County

Lincoln County Economic Development / Nevada Association of Counties

RCI was involved in securing funds from the Nevada Legislature to assist in carrying out a statewide scoping study regarding treatments and uses of the Pinion-Juniper Woodlands in Southeastern Nevada. In this study, RCI focused on methods presently being employed by BLM to address the management issues of these woodlands, and what the future potential opportunities include to achieve desired plant community. Energy and wood product development were identified as high potential outcomes, as the woodlands are managed on a sustainable / renewable basis.

The Glenbrook Community Project

RCI is retained to assist this Lake Tahoe nonprofit group in planning for and managing a project directed toward removing dead timber surrounding the community and presently presenting a severe fire threat to the private homes and also the clarity of Lake Tahoe. Excess wood biomass will be removed and transported from the basin to be used for productive purposes such as energy.

The Sugarpine Project

RCI has been retained to assist this nonprofit organization in securing funds and developing plans to address the most severe fire threat from dead and dying timber in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Funding applications have been successful and a coordinated effort that includes TRPA, USFS, NDF, and others is underway to remove the wood biomass from the basin to useful purposes such as energy. The risks associated with this problem included an exclusive housing area, watershed values, and the clarity of Lake Tahoe itself. The Governor of Nevada, US Forest Service Chief, and scientists have visited this project and declared it a priority.

Western Juniper

RCI developed an overview document on behalf of the North Cal-Neva Resource Conservation & Development Council (NC-NRC&D) to outline an approch for addressing large scale inventory and treatment of identified problem stands of excess Western juniper woodlands existing within several million acres. A report recommended development of a Western Juniper management strategy to serve as a prototype for all juniper communities in the region.