The draft agenda includes two full day sessions.  After introductory remarks, including a keynote speaker, day one is set up around panel presentations.

These panels will describe:

Presentation of the problem

  • Why we are trying to address the high cost of energy in Southeast Alaska through the use of wood.
  • What are the most important energy systems (e.g., electricity, heat, etc.) that need addressing through the use of wood?  What systems are inappropriate?
  • If wood is going to be used to address all of the appropriate energy needs, how much would it take?
  • How much wood is available to meet this demand?  Where will the wood come from?
  • How will the wood be removed from the forest/sawmills?
  • What equipment is needed to process the wood into energy products?
  • Is there a business model for these various applications?

II. Potential Solutions

  • What equipment and technologies are appropriate to manufacture biomass energy from wood?
  • What technologies are appropriate to turn the products into heat and electricity.

III. Southeast Alaska Experiences

  • Sitka Plans and Projects
  • Craig Wood Boiler
  • Petersburg Briquette Facility
  • Tlingit and Haida Central Council
  • Wood Energy Projects
  • Projects in the Planning Stages
  • Timber Industry Initiatives
  • Fuels for Schools

IV. Programs to Assist in Wood Energy Projects

  • Alaska Energy Authority
  • Juneau Economic Development Council
  • US Forest Service
  • State of Alaska Legislature
  • USDA Rural Development
  • University of Alaska, Cooperative Extension
  • Denali Commission
  • EDA

The start of day two will be used to discuss strategies to encourage/promote timber for energy use in Southeast communities.  The remainder of the day will be used to begin discussions between the audience and the panels on specific applications that may be appropriate for individual communities.  The hoped for result of the workshop is to have individual community representatives, Alaska Native tribes, utilities, and others from the community (or groups of communities), sit down with appropriate presenters/agencies to begin developing wood based energy projects.

Sponsors for the workshop include the Tongass Futures Roundtable, the Denali Commission, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, The Nature Conservancy, the Sitka Conservation Society, Sealaska Corporation, and the Southeast Conference.

For more resources on energy solutions for Southeast Alaska, visit the Biomass Energy Issues page.