Pennsylvania is actively involved in the development and research of alternative products for renewable energy fuels and carbon sequestration. The end result is better fuels without the dependence on foreign oil. Fuel gas, liquid fuels, and the production of steam and electricity are the goals. The efforts in Pennsylvania stem from farm crops, to wood products, and animal by-products (proteins, tissues, bones, fat, and manure). Many people are aware of the efforts to use corn as a source of ethanol production. On the other hand, few people know that in addition to corn, soybeans, canola, rapeseed, and crop residue are other plants being considered and tested for fuel production. From a forester’s perspective, hardwoods, grasses such as switchgrass, wood wastes, sawdust, wood chips, and the noxious weed known as tree-of-heaven are a few woody products being researched. Hybrid and yellow-poplar, sycamore, American chestnut, and willows are several trees being considered as good candidates for carbon sequestration to reduce greenhouse gases. From a natural resources professional’s point of view, these efforts can enhance our forest lands. As trees are utilized for energy, pests and diseases can possibly be reduced or eliminated, waste products from wood production will no longer be hauled to landfills, forests can be thinned to allow for new growth, and perhaps controlled burning operations can be reduced. Since some controlled burnings result in uncontrolled fires, using wood as the basis for additional fuel source is a positive step in eliminating the possibility of fire losses. These efforts will surely impact the forest industry as new businesses and opportunities will arise.
Websites
http://www.pabiomass.org/
http://www.ahs.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=4140&varQueryType=Detail
http://www.eesi.org/briefings/2006/Ag&Energy/5.22.06RegionalBiomass/SticklePresentation.pdf/
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