Full Title: Identifying Barriers and Potential Solutions to Facilitate Woody Biomass to Energy Projects in Idaho: Roundtable Report
Author(s): Energy Policy Institute (EPI) and Center for Advanced Energy Studies’ (CAES)
Publisher(s): Energy Policy Institute (EPI) and Center for Advanced Energy Studies’ (CAES)
Publication Date: April 1, 2012
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
In August 2011, the Center for Advanced Energy Studies’ (CAES) Energy Policy Institute (EPI) conducted a policy roundtable to examine forest residues and the potential for utilizing biomass for energy production in northern Idaho. CAES convened a diverse set of stakeholders for the roundtable, each with a different perspective surrounding the utility of using woody biomass for fuel. This roundtable was unique because the attendees were asked to participate as knowledgeable individuals, rather than speak on behalf of their respective agencies, organizations, and companies. This ensured an open exchange, resulting in a more candid flow of information. The objective of the meeting was for participants to discuss the benefits, costs, challenges, and possible path forward for utilizing biomass for energy production. Ultimately, participants were asked to identify consensus recommendations to help promote further discourse surrounding this method to generate energy.
Prior to the roundtable, CAES’ affiliates developed a basic briefing document, which is attached at the conclusion of this overview. The document addresses the environmental and economic benefits of Wood-to-Energy, and discusses how biomass is currently being utilized at state, regional, and national levels. The Appendices of the document showcase excerpts from the Idaho Strategic Energy Alliance’s Forestry Biomass report, as well as the Executive Summary from the 25×25 Alliance’s National Wood-to-Energy Roadmap.
Because of their affiliations as either a regulator or regulated utility, representatives from the Department of Environmental Quality did not endorse or reject any of the recommendations.
Although opinions on the utility of woody biomass projects were wide-ranging, the group identified the barriers and consensus recommendations. Please note that these recommendations cover all potential actors and are not an agenda for EPI.