New Bioenergy Grant Aimed at Turning Fire Hazard into Energy Resource
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To help minimize forest fires, the U.S. Forest Service Wood Education Resource Center (WERC), Washington, D.C., USA, and the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence (OEI), Madison, Wis., USA, have joined forces to offer a grant opportunity to turn a fire hazard into a valuable bioenergy commodity for facilities with old boilers.
"We have been exploring ways to repower old boilers with bioenergy," said Judy Ziewacz, director of the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence. "By making use of the smaller diameter forest materials for boiler fuel the project will provide jobs in our state, build a market for fire reduction efforts, and assist businesses to become energy independent."
OEI and WERC are seeking applicants for the bioenergy grant program. Public and private facilities can apply. The ideal candidate, from an economic standpoint, would have an older coal, heating oil, or propane boiler. Six applicants will be chosen for feasibility studies and up to three applicants will be chosen for project construction. Projects must be located in one of the 42 Wisconsin counties identified by the U.S. Forest Service as within a fire hazard reduction zone. This boundary is roughly counties north of State Highway 60.
More information, a map of the eligible area, and application materials are available on the Office of Energy Independence web site.
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