JUNE 2020 | A NOTE FROM SABINA

Wisconsin is Conducting a
Wood Energy Survey.

Wood energy is an important segment of forest products sector because it facilitates markets and utilization opportunities for low value biomass and small-diameter timber.

Biomass can be generated by both rural and urban forest management activities and as a result of wood manufacturing. In order to facilitate the utilization of small diameter woody materials and wood residues, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, Forest Products Services (FPS) program is conducting a statewide survey of wood energy users.

The information collected through this survey will help the program and the industry better understand Wisconsin’s industrial wood energy use while quantifying the amount of biomass currently being utilized by facilities throughout the state. The information can also be used to manage use with surplus wood residue.

The survey will be mailed to a compiled list of facilities based on existing wood energy user databases maintained by both FPS and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. Phone calls and potential site visits will be conducted to achieve a higher response rate. The survey will also be shared via Heating the Midwest (HTM) newsletter to capture reader responses or suggestions in reaching out to all the wood energy users in the state. 

A similar survey could be conducted for the Midwestern region if HTM members felt the need of such effort at the regional level. More information on this to come, as this is explored further.

Please stay tuned,
Sabina Dhungana,
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
JUNE 2020 | NEWSLETTER
UPCOMING EVENTS
  • Midwest Biomass Exchange Webinar
GRANTS & TAX RELIEF
  • Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants Program | Call for Applicants
  • NSF Awards Grant to woody biomass project
  • IRS offers COVID-19 tax relief for renewable energy projects
REPORTS & STATS
  • Report: Investment in biomass, waste-to-energy up 9% last year
  • EIA: Densified biomass fuel sales reach 680,000 tons in February
SHAREABLE PRESENTATION
  • How to Explain Renewable Biomass to your employers, investors, community.
HEATING THE MIDWEST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
  • Bruno Zagar
  • Jeremy Mortl
  • T.J. Morice
  • Stacy Cook
  • Sabina Dhungana
  • Brian Brashaw

UPCOMING EVENTS
 
How to Market Woody and Agricultural Residues Using an Internet Marketplace

Event:  Midwest Biomass Exchange Webinar
When:  Tuesday 21 July 2020, 12:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Millions of tons of wood residues are produced each year by sawmills, millwork and pallet shops, utility line maintenance and tree care companies. The same is true for Ag residues with millions of tons available from primary crops residues as well from other residues and processing wastes.

It all has to go somewhere – either pay for disposal, or sell them to defray costs and add to your revenue stream. Find out more in this free 45 min webinar from Midwest Biomass Exchange.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:  
Buyers and sellers of wood- and agricultural residues or biomass, such as sawmills, millwork shops, pallet producers, tree care companies, arborists, firewood producers, pellet manufacturers, biomass utilization facilities, farmers, loggers, mulch and compost manufacturers.
SPEAKER
David Neumann :
Forest Market and Utilization Specialist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
View more on our Event info page
GRANTS & TAX RELIEF
Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants Program | Call for Applicants

The  Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants Program  is now accepting applications.
 
This program will provide $10,000 grants to small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees are eligible.​
The application period will begin, Tuesday, June 23 and close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 to fulfill the 10-day period required by the law. A randomized, computer-generated lottery process will be used to select eligible businesses that will receive awards.

All awards will be administered by qualified local and regionally based nonprofit agencies, and the grant funds can be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and other similar business expenses.
NMF ADMINISTERING GRANTS
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation will be administering grants for businesses located in our region. If you have questions or concerns about the application process, the Northwest Small Business Development Center can help. Please visit the  NWSBDC website to register for free assistance  from one of our consultants.

NSF Awards Grant to Woody Biomass Project With Human Dimensions

Forest Fuels: Equity, Environment, and Woody Biomass Energy Technologies in Michigan

PROJECT SUMMARY
Biofuels currently contribute 50% of the world’s renewable energy, yet the development of each type of biofuel technology is complicated by a constellation of political, social, and economic factors. This research examines the socioecological implications of differently-scaled woody biomass energy technologies in Michigan, including residential woodstoves, community-scale boilers, and biomass power plants.
Using archival analysis, semi-structured interviews, a survey, and spatial analyses, researchers will investigate the sociopolitical factors that have led to adoption of biofuel technologies. This research offers collaborative new approaches for thinking about the relationship between renewable energy development and environmental justice. 
IRS offers COVID-19 tax relief for renewable energy projects

The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service on May 27 issued a notice providing tax relief for renewable energy projects that have been delayed due to market impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   


MINNESOTA SPECIFIC FUNDING
This is a production-based incentive and pays out based on heat generated by using mostly Minnesota-sourced biomass.
REPORTS & STATS
Report: Investment in biomass, waste-to-energy up 9% last year

A report released by the UN Environment Programme, the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre, and Bloomberg NEF on June 10 shows biomass and waste-to-energy received $123 billion in financing for new projects between 2010 and 2019. Biofuels received $28 billion over the same period.

EIA: Densified biomass fuel sales reach 680,000 tons in February
The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently released data showing U.S. manufacturers produced approximately 700,000 tons of densified biomass fuel in February, with sales reaching 680,000 tons
SHAREABLE PRESENTATION
How to Explain Renewable Biomass to Your Employers, Investors, Community.
Use this shareable presentation explaining Renewable Biomass Resources from Heating the Midwest
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Heating the Midwest- Become an Action Team Volunteer!
 
If you have a specific area of interest related to biomass thermal, we welcome your participation in one or all of HTM’s three action teams-Biomass Combustion Technologies, Biomass Policy & Benefits, and Biomass Resources & Demographics. Is your time often stretched? No problem. Time committed to the HTM effort is volunteer time. Joint action team calls are held monthly via conference call, and calls are limited to one hour in respect of members’ time and busy schedules. Members may choose to volunteer more of their time individually to support Action Team specific projects as they arise. 
 
Individuals with a passion for biomass thermal energy are being sought to lead the Biomass Resources & Demographics Action Team or the Biomass Combustion Technologies Action Team. This is a great opportunity to share your leadership skills in furthering the mission of HTM and to directly connect with the biomass industry sector and other agencies—all with a goal of growing market opportunities for biomass and specifically for biomass as a fuel for thermal heating and cooling, and combined heat and power. 
 
The work of the action teams involves developing “boots on the ground” projects for spurring action, discussing industry challenges in each sector and how to possibly address, networking and supporting the overall goals and vision of the Heating the Midwest with Renewable Biomass initiative in an effort to grow demand and expand marketing opportunities in the biomass thermal sector, and create awareness of biomass thermal. 

WHEN:
HTM Joint Action Team calls are held:
Third Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. CST
 Separate action team calls are scheduled as needed.
 
*NOTE: ACTION TEAM CALLS WILL RESUME IN SUMMER 2020. STAY TUNED*
 
For more detailed information, feel free to contact Becky Philipp ( bphilipp@auri.org ), HTM Steering committee member. 
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