November 14-16, Fresno, California
This 4th annual Western Statewide Wood Energy Team Forum was hosted by the California SWET. It was sponsored by US Forest Service Region 5 and California Department of Fire and Forestry.
Agenda and Presentations
| Tuesday, November 14 | |||
| 8:30AM | Welcome and Opening Remarks | ||
| 8:45 | Morning Keynote: CAL FIRE's Efforts with Biomass Energy and Cap and Trade Grants. Helge Eng, Deputy Director, Resource Management, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | ||
| 9:15 | Wood Energy Team Profiles and Updates. California: Angie Lottes, The Watershed Research and Training Center, Oregon: Marcus Kauffman, Oregon Department of Forestry, Montana: Julie Kies, US Forest Service, Alaska: Devany Plentovich, Alaska Energy Authority | ||
| 10:30 | Networking Break | ||
| 11:00 | Panel 1: Biomass Successes Stories: Biomass success usually comes after overcoming many hurdles. Hear directly from biomass developers and project managers about their path toward success. Small-scale community modern wood heating systems and biomass product entrepreneurs and developers share their experiences, insights and expertise. Moderator: Marcus Kauffman, Oregon Department of Forestry. Panelists include: Greg Stangl, Phoenix Biomass Energy; Camille Swezy, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment | ||
| 12:00 | Lunch | ||
| 1:00 | Panel 2: Ignighting New Biomass Products: | ||
| 2:00 | Networking Break | ||
| 2:30 | Panel 3: National and State Policy Review | ||
| 3:30 | The State of California Biofuels: A Technology Assessment | ||
| 4:00 | National Wood Chip Standard. All heating fuels - except wood chips - used in the US are governed by quality standards that ensure these fuels meet clearly defined parameters. Heating appliances (boilers, furnaces, stoves) are then engineered around a known standard fuel to ensure efficient, clean and safe performance. Ateam of organizations secured funding support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service to undertake this project. Adam Sherman, Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC) | ||
| Wednesday, November 15 | |||
| 8:30AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks | ||
| 8:45 | Morning Keynote: Thomas Wheeler, Supervisor-Madera County Wheeler_North Fork photos | ||
| 9:15 | Wood Energy Team Profiles and Updates | ||
| 10:15 | Networking Break | ||
| 10:45 | Panel 4: Updates in Biochar: The Panel will discuss advances in biochar production, its utilization as a soil amendment, and emerging science on its use as a filtration medium. Panelists represent a broad spectrum of interest in biochar and include: Matt Hart, Director of Business Development, West Biofuels; Dr. Gerardo Diaz, Associate Professor, University of California, Merced; Michael Maguire, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Diaz_UC Merced_Biocahr Research Maguire Western SWET Forum - OPR Biochar Presentation (Nov. 2017) | ||
| 12:00PM | Lunch | ||
| 1:00 | Tuolumne County National Disaster Resilience Competition Biomass Project - In January 2016, California received a $70 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund forest and community resilience efforts related to the ongoing recovery from the Rim Fire of 2013. In addition to funding forest and watershed health projects in the Rim Fire footprint and constructing a new community resilience center, the grant provides $22 million to support the development of a new biomass utilization facility in Tuolumne County. Elliott Vander Kolk from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, a California State Agency, will discuss this unique approach to funding biomass infrastructure. Elliott Vanderkolk, CDBG-NDR Project Coordinator, Sierra Nevada Conservancy | ||
| 1:45 | Panel 5: Financing Bioenergy Projects: Why we Can't Get Financing and What We Can Do About It. Small scale forest biomass power projects have been in development since the 2012 Senate Bill 1122, which requires the BioMAT Program. Those projects are now looking for capital financing and having a surprisingly hard time. Elissa Brown, Fund Development Coordinator who has worked with numerous projects, leads representatives from the financing industry through a discussion. Moderator: Elissa Brown, Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Panelists include: Janice Tran, Generate Capital; Dan McDonald, Northern California Community Loan Fund; Subin DeVar, Sustainable Economies Law Center; Bryan Hung, Novogradac & Co LLP | ||
| 3:15 | Networking Break | ||
| 3:45 | Panel 6: Existing Biomass Power in California: California has produced more biomass power than the rest of the US combined since the 1990s. Existing biomass power plants in California gather to discuss getting power purchase agreements through the BioRAM program and Community Choice Aggregation, barriers introduced by High Hazard Zone fuel requirements, and the future of California's existing biomass power infrastructure. | ||
| 5:00 | Adjourn; networking at Full Circle Brewing | ||
| Thursday, November 16 - Tour of Rio Bravo Fresno Power | |||