| Title: | Wyoming Biomass Energy Awareness Program |
| Type: |
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| State: | Wyoming |
| Program Description: | Wyoming Bioenergy Partnership
The Wyoming Bioenergy Partnership was created to establish a foundation for expanding production and use of biomass energy resources within Wyoming. It was supported by a grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) through the Western Governors’ Association (WGA). The Wyoming State Forestry Division (WSFD) has taken an active leadership role in the state to educate, promote and develop the use of residual biomass as a renewable source for bioenergy and bioproducts. WFSD undertook many activities to increase the knowledge and development of biomass in Wyoming and to support the existing timber industry. Some Activities to Increase Awareness of Opportunities for Biomass Utilization Wyoming Biomass Inventory The inventory provides an estimate of the amount of biomass available in Wyoming at the county level. The inventory includes animal waste, crop residue, wood residue, and municipal solid waste. It also provides a brief description of technologies currently employed to utilize residual material and possible funding sources. The final chapter of the inventory estimates the amount of energy that could potentially be produced from the residual biomass in Wyoming, The Wyoming Biomass Inventory is available on the WSFD website at: Wyoming State Forest Division. CD copies are also available from the WSFD Cheyenne office. Wyoming Biomass Conference WSFD hosted the Wyoming Biomass Conference in May of 2007. The goal of the conference was to present the Biomass Inventory and increase awareness of biomass utilization opportunities in the state. In-school programs WFSD developed a class for elementary school children that was presented at several different schools. The curriculum demonstrated how waste material could be used to create energy and how biomass differs from fossil fuels in regards to the carbon cycle. Forest Operators Biomass Workshop In April 2008 WSFD and Northeastern Wyoming RC&D held a Forest Operators Biomass Workshop in Newcastle, WY. Wyoming Fuels for Schools WSFD collected data for the Wyoming State Facilities Boiler Inventory to identify locations that could be good candidates for conversion to a wood boiler. Questionnaires were sent to all school districts, hospitals, community colleges, state buildings in Cheyenne, the Wyoming National Guard, and the Wyoming Department of Corrections. The survey looked at such information as: year facility was built, square footage, future construction plans, and specific boiler information such as boiler capacity (Btu/hr), fuel type, water or steam system, year manufactured and boiler use. The inventory covers 447 buildings and 994 boilers. A draft report on the study was released in November, 2008. The report can be requested through the WSFD Cheyenne office. The Inventory recognized that the most cost effective and available supply of woody biomass in Wyoming is sawmill residue. To identify opportunities for biomass boilers, WSFD established target locations within a 70-mile radius around sawmills. Appendix A of the boiler inventory includes a list of facilities that fall within the 70-mile radius. Since the survey was completed, several sawmills have closed due to poor economics in this business sector. Pre-feasibility Studies CTA Architects and Engineers conducted a pre-feasibility study for a installing a wood boiler into a proposed new elementary school in Mountain View, WY and a pre-feasibility study for installing a wood boiler in the Newcastle Armory, WSFD District 1 office and shop in Newcastle. The elementary school study showed a positive cash flow in 17 years with a subsidy of $261,800 and a savings of $1,1000,000 after 30 years. However, since the state pays the utility bills for schools, there was no economic benefit to the School Facility Commission. The school construction project has not been approved so the boiler project is on hold at this time. The Armory project was deemed a poor candidate for use of a wood biomass heating system due to the high cost of wood pellets. This project was also not done. Demonstration Project In 2009, a biomass boiler was installed at the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp, see Wyoming Wood Fired Boiler Demonstration Project. Contact Information For more information, contact Dan Perko at the Wyoming State Forest Division, Dan Perko Deputy State Forester WY State Forestry Division Office 307-777-5659 Fax 307-777-5986 dperko@state.wy.us Wyoming State Forest Division Wyoming Wood Fired Boiler Demonstration Project |
The Woody Biomass Utilization Database is a project of the Western Governors' Association
designed to increase awareness of the use of biomass resources for economic development and
environmental sustainability. Program objectives highlighted include biomass energy and
heating activities, education programs, and projects and technologies involving biomass
residue resulting from forest health treatments to reduce wildfire hazard risk.