Nevada Biomass Workshop (3)

7/29/2019 Nevada Biomass Workshop (3)

1/27

So, You Have a Biomass

Problem/Opportunity?

Nevada Biomass Workshop

Reno, NV

June 27-28, 2006

Bill Carlson

Western Governors Association Biomass Task Force

Carlson Small Power Consultants


2/27

Clean and Diversified

Energy InitiativeWestern Governors Association

Mission

WGA addresses important policy and

governance issues in the West, advances

the role of the Western states in the federalsystem, and strengthens the social and

economic fabric of the region.

WGA develops policy and carries out

programs in the areas of natural resources,

the environment, human services,economic development, international

relations and state governance.

WGA acts as a center of innovation and

promotes shared development of solutions

to regional problems


3/27


Energy Initiative

Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee(CDEAC) Formed to Provide Recommendations to Attainthese Goals

Western Governors Goals

1. Add 30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2015

2. Increase energy efficiency 20% by 2020


4/27


Energy Initiative

Potential 2015 Generation Capabilities

Advanced Coal 5,000 megawatts

Biomass 10,000 megawatts at 8/kWh

Energy Efficiency 48,000 megawatt decrease in forecasted demand

(by 2020)

Geothermal 5,600 megawatts

Solar 8,000 megawatts

Wind 54,000 megawatts


5/27


Energy InitiativeBiomass in the WGA Region Available for Power Generation

Agriculture

21,681 GWh

15%

Forest Resources

70,956 GWh

50%

Urban Biomass

49,117 GWh

35%


6/27


Energy InitiativeAncillary Benefits of Biomass Energy Production

(from 1999 NREL Report)

Mill ResiduesForest Residues

Agricultural ResiduesUrban Wood ResiduesTotal

Thousand bdt/yr6,4001,800

2,3001,40011,900

US Biomass Fuel Mix


7/27


Energy Initiative

Ancillary Benefits of Biomass Energy Production

(from 1999 NREL Report)

Criteria Pollutants

Greenhouse GasesAvoided LandfillTimber Stand ImprovementTotal

/ kWh

4.3

5.91.10.1

11.4

Value of the Benefits


8/27


Energy InitiativeAncillary Benefits of Biomass Energy Production

Synergies

Fire Risk Reduction

Rural EconomicGrowth AndPreservation

Distributed Resources

Productive Use of

Byproducts


9/27


Energy InitiativeFire Risk Reduction Strategy

Forestland:

216 MM acres

Timberland:

141 MM acres

Timberland screened for

Fire Severity Regime

89 MM acres

Treatment opportunities

on WUI and non-WUI timberland:

23 MM acres

Butte Creek Fuels Reduction

Treatment Results

Final Screens:1. Plots with higher fire hazard (CI < 25 mph or CI < 40 + TI < 25)

2. Inventoried roadless areas excluded

3. Counties with wetter climates excluded

WUI1.4 MM

Non-WUI21.6 MM

Fire Severity Regime Screens:1. Forest type with a surface or mixed severity fire regimes

2. For WUI added limited treatment of high severity fire regimes


10/27

Relating the WGA Biomass Work

to Nevada

Overstocked, sick dying forests

Lake Tahoe

Mt. Charleston

Back side of Sierras

Overstocked Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands Central & Eastern Nevada

Dewatering streams/springs


11/27

Relating the WGA Biomass Work

to Nevada (Cont.)

Exotic & Invasive Species

Urban Wood

Las Vegas

Reno/Carson City


12/27


Energy Initiative

Biomass Recommendations -

1.Achieve Tax Parity Among Renewable

Technologies.

2.Strengthen Federal Land Management Policies to

Allow Larger, Longer Restoration Projects.

3. Environmental Benefits of Biomass Should Be

Paid For by Beneficiaries.


13/27


Energy Initiative

Biomass Recommendations(Cont.)

4.Demonstrate Government Leadership by

Purchasing Power/RECs from Biomass Projectsand by Supporting Biomass R&D.

5.Recognize the Value of Firm Capacity in

Renewable Purchase Programs.

6.Renewable Energy Credits Should Not Include

Ancillary Environmental Benefits


14/27


Energy Initiative

Biomass Recommendations - (Cont.)

7. Establish a Single Definition for Biomass.

8.Revise Utility Interconnection Policies.

9.Provide Long-Term Certainty for Biomass

Programs.

10.Consider Fuel-Based Emissions When Issuing Air

Quality Permits.


15/27

Making It Work in Nevada!

-Drawbacks-

No infrastructure

Few concentrations of biomass

WGA estimated 2 million TPY

No infrastructureFew large steam/heat users

No infrastructure


16/27

Making It Work In Nevada! (Cont.)

-Advantages-Streamlined decision process

People/trees/agriculture in closeproximity

Good package of power generationincentives

Renewable Portfolio Standard Corporate Property Tax Exemption

Corporate Sales Tax Exemption

Recognition of problem areas


17/27

Overcoming Your Drawbacks

A setting must be created that will attractprivate infrastructure development

Private capital needs Raw material supply

Markets

Long term commitment

Focus your efforts in a few key areas of state


18/27

Raw Material Supply

Largely responsibility of federal landmanagers due to land ownership

Must block up lands across agencies over

long time period and offer as stewardship

contracts

No artificial constraints on activity that

would destroy economic value

Urban biomass supplies can supplementland restoration

You are trying to restore lands by creatingeconomic unit that would attract privateinfrastructure development


19/27

Markets

Largely responsibility of private infrastructuredevelopers

Scope and scale should be appropriate to the

resource restoration need

Big developed markets are commodity forestproducts, transportation fuels, electricity

Every piece of biomass should go to highest and

best use for best economics

Grants are great, but create neither markets norinfrastructure, and are no substitute for economicstrategy


20/27

A Checklist for Land Managers


21/27

1. Decide what you want land to look like: Spacing

Age mix

Species mix

Wildlife provisions

Perhaps prepare a several acresample plot


Treating maximum acres for minimum costinstead of minimum acres for maximum cost


22/27

2. Use stewardship contracting authorityin order to establish proper

relationship with contractors and allow

agency to focus on final results on the

land.

These are not timber sales!




23/27

3. To create new infrastructure, make thestewardship offering as large as possible.

100,000+ acres

4. To create new infrastructure, make thestewardship offering as long as possible

10 year minimum

20 years preferable




24/27



5. Do not place artificial constraints on

offerings that will raise the cost per acreArbitrary size limits

Ability to unilaterally changeprescription

Seasonal restrictions

Remember, the goal is to save theselands from loss to catastrophic wildfire,disease or insects


25/27

6. In offerings, use removal along existing

road network to block lands into defensibleperimeters as quickly as possible

The Quincy Library Group Model

7. Insure that your agency has done all it canto create the best economic climate forbidders that will result in lowest cost peracre for service

Help with federal energy bill extension

Help with state energy incentives




26/27

8. Never, for a minute, forget the ultimate goal:

Return the land to a sustainable condition as

quickly as possible at a reasonable cost

Treat it like a crisis, because it is!

Its a vision thing


Treating maximum acres for minimum costsinstead of minimum acres for maximum costs


27/27

If You Are Successful-

Lands will be restored to within range of natural

variability Potential for catastrophic wildfire will be reduced

Rural economies and tax coffers will be strengthened

Air pollution will be reduced

Greenhouse gas generation will be reduced Water will be returned to streams/springs

Balance of payments improved as products, energyproduced domestically

Fossil fuel use reduced Landfill life will be extended

Strike your blow for world peace, use biomass!!

Nevada Biomass Workshop (3)

Documents

Transcript of Nevada Biomass Workshop (3)