The Forest Operations and Biomass Utilization unit at ERI has had a busy 2020 wrapping up previous projects and getting started on some new ones. Here are some highlights:
- Economic Development Administration grant. Han and his team were awarded a $350,000 grant in September to fund the planning phase of a Forest Operation Training Center to be located near Flagstaff. The Training Center will help fill a critical need in the forestry workforce by training machine operators, log truck drivers, and maintenance specialists.
- Wood Innovations Grant. In April, Dr. Han’s team received a $260,000 grant from the US Forest Service to develop a three-state wood utilization team including partners in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. This partnership will help grow the wood products industry in the southwest area to further forest restoration goals.
- Chip n Ship project and follow-ups. A successful pilot project in Fall of 2019 indicated that shipping chipped ponderosa pine from Camp Navajo to South Korean bioenergy markets could be a viable approach. Now, a follow-up study is underway to identify other suitable railroad sites throughout the southwest that could serve a similar role. Additionally, an analysis of the opportunities and barriers of supplying wood fiber to South Korean renewable energy markets is being conducted by graduate student Jim DiPasquale.
- Wood and biomass supply reports for HM3 and Altree. Several wood and biomass supply analyses for the northern Arizona region (Camp Navajo, Drake Cement, and Garland Prairie) were prepared for industry partners and published by ERI. These reports will be useful for investors to determine if sufficient raw material stocks exist to justify their investment.
