Powered by Oregon - The potential for woody biomass

As a fuel, wood has been with us since humans tamed fire. So what’s the big deal? Why the renewed interest in wood as a source of energy? If we imagine a way to power Oregon that is less dependent on fossil fuels, that is built instead on renewable and homegrown sources of energy, then woody fuel should be a significant part of the picture. Why do we import oil or propane to heat a rural town, for instance, when abundant, clean-burning fuel is a few miles away? Using local fuel creates jobs and keeps money at home. Many small Oregon towns could use more of both. Is it sustainable? Yes. In Oregon, we produce millions of tons of woody byproducts every year, from logging slash to sawdust to small trees from US Forest Service thinning projects. All of it contains stored solar energy – in total, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and public buildings. Moreover, technological advancements are making possible liquid transportation fuel made from woody material. As for heat and electricity, modern wood-burning technology extracts more energy from a pound of wood than ever before, and does so with negligible emissions.