The Tongass Futures Roundtable believes that the high cost of energy in Southeast Alaska is unsustainable and jeopardizes the viability of many of the region’s communities and residents. While there are several hydroelectric projects in Southeast that provide relatively inexpensive electricity from a renewable resource, only a small percentage of the energy for heating comes from this resource. Additionally, there are several communities with no access to hydroelectric power and the cost of electricity in these communities is prohibitively expensive.
There is, however, another regionally available resource that can be utilized for electrical and heating needs - biomass energy from wood. To provide a clearinghouse for information about the potential use of wood for energy in Southeast, this web page will serve as a repository of information concerning - projects underway in Southeast and relevant projects from elsewhere in Alaska; technologies that may be appropriate for use in the region; summaries of feasibility and engineering studies on biomass energy projects; links to various programs that individuals and communities can access to support biomass energy projects; opportunities to affect public policies that promote biomass energy from wood; and links to media and other stories about wood energy.
This web page is intended to grow as new information becomes available. Anyone wishing to add information to this web page, please send your comments or posts to the Roundtable Coordinator.
Tongass Futures Roundtable - Statement on Biomass Energy
The Roundtable believes meeting Southeast energy needs is urgent and critical. Biomass energy provides both a near-term and long-term solution to many problems in Southeast, including moderating the cost of home and commercial heating, the efficient utilization of waste products, and an additional revenue source for our local mills.
The Roundtable would like to see any biomass project meet the following goals:
- Improve regional energy self-reliance
- Improve community viability and prosperity
- Increase resiliency and competitiveness of regional sawmills
- Reduce energy costs and carbon footprint
- Create jobs and stimulate secondary manufacturing of wood products
- Make forest restoration more economically viable
- Reduce volume of municipal and forest waste/turn into a resource
- Scale industry to regional energy needs
- Scale industry to regional municipal, commercial, and forest byproduct waste streams
Adopted by consensus of the Roundtable, May 8, 2008
Wood Biomass Energy Projects in Southeast Alaska
Sensible Heating for Alaskans - Petersburg
Wood Fired Boiler System - Craig
Wood Biomass Energy Projects in Alaska
Wood Energy Feasibility Studies
Use of Wood Energy for Lumber Drying and Community Heating in Southeast Alaska - Hoonah
Funding Opportunities
HB 152 - Renewable Energy Grant Fund
Fairbanks News-Miner Article about HB 152
Governor Palin Proposes a Special Session to Assist Alaskans’ Pay High Energy Costs
Alaska Energy Authority’s Alternative Energy and Energy Efficiency Assistance Plan
Biomass Energy Policy Development in Alaska
State of Alaska Alternative Energy Plan Town Hall Meetings Scheduled
Alaska Energy Authority Director and Energy Coordinator, Steve Haagenson, will be conducting Alternative Energy Plan town hall meetings throughout Alaska in May. Five meetings are scheduled for SE Alaska, including:
- Juneau - May 27 5-9 pm at Centennial Hall
- Ketchikan - May 28 TBA
- Wrangell - May 28 4-8 pm at City Hall
- Craig - May 29 TBA
- Kake - May 29 4-8 pm at Community Hall Gym
Alaska Energy Authority Proposed Alaska Strategy for Wood Energy Development
Links to Other Sources of Information on Biomass Energy for Southeast Alaska
Cooperative Extension Service, UAF, Wood Energy website. Contains information on residential and municipal heating applications.
The Forest Products Laboratory website contains useful information about biomass energy from wood. The articles can be found half way down this site.