COOK COUNTY LOCAL ENERGY PROJECT

Biomass Working Group

CCLEP has created the Biomass Working Group - one of five such working groups (also Solar, Wind, Transportation and Energy Efficiency) - to look at biomass projects and concerns. As with the other working groups, the Biomas Working Group consists of engaged citizens and is headed by a CCLEP Board Member. If you are interested in being involved or have information to share please contact Buck Benson, the Biomass Chair at 218-387-2419 or online at buck@boreal.org.

Topics

Heating and Heating/Electrical Cogeneration

Fuels

Waste

Environmental and Social Concerns

Funding Resources

Current Activities

We have been heating homes with wood stoves for many generations here in Cook County. The question is: Can we expand this use of our biomass resource in an efficient and sustainable manner? In addition to stick wood, other forms of woody biomass usable for heat are a variety of wood chips, pellets, and bricks. These can be burned on a small scale for individual structures, or on a large scale to heat groups of buildings. Especially in larger applications, the use of biomass for heat can be coupled with electrical power generation in a cogeneration process. Cogeneration is the most efficient way of producing electrical power from biomass since the waste heat is captured and put to use, usually to heat buildings.

Strategies

• Determine parameters for sustainable and socially acceptable biomass Harvest. (link to environmental)
• Determine quantity and quality of sustainable biomass harvest in local area.
• Identify and quantify heating needs throughout Cook County.
• Assess economic feasibility of different biomass heating application.
• Consider development of biomass processing plant to make wood pellets or bricks.
• Research field processing aspects of wood chips and hog-fuel.
• Consider program to increase the efficiency of wood stoves currently used With particular emphasis on outdoor furnaces.
• Consider biomass-fired district heating projects using cogeneration to also create electricity.

Local Resources
Birch Grove Community Center - Plans to heat building with wood pellets
Hedstrom Lumber Company - 387-2995 - heat buildings with wood chips
Grand Portage Tribal Council - 475-2339 - heat buildings with wood chips
O'Neill Firewood and Tree Service - 663-7601 - 370-9770 (cell)

Weblinks
Clean Energy Resources Teams - Biomass Heating
Fresh Energy
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, US Dept of Energy
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
National Resources Defense Council


Making fuel from woody biomass is something that has been much discussed and researched - it may be on the verge of becoming economically feasible. The possibilities range from cellolosic ethanol, to biodiesel, and also to methane gases. While transforming biomass to create alternative fuels may have a role in Cook County, it must be weighed against other uses such as heating and electrical generation. We will be looking at the most efficient use of our biomass resource to bring the most benefits to our local economy.

Strategies

• Determine which forms of locally accessible biomass are best suited for Fuel production.
• Determine quantity and quality of best-suited biomass which can be Sustainably harvested.
• Assess economic feasibility of various biomass fuel production
• Assess potential local markets for biomass fuels.

Weblinks
Wood to Wheels
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Biomass Energy Foundation


Municipal and smaller scale effluent waste can be used to create energy. It is being explored for use in another North Shore community, Silver Bay, and can be investigated here as an option. Landfill gases also have opportunities for use in energy creation. Waste woods can be used in conjunction with forest biomass in energy applications. Other waste materials that cannot be economically recycled may also fit into the mix. Some of these waste biomass materials could be composted for use as nutrients in our rocky, nutrient poor soils.

Strategies

• Determine municipal effluent forms and quantities to evaluate uses
• Identify closed landfills in Cook County and explore present energy possibilities
• Work with recycling center to identify materials which could be used for biomass energy production
• Identify biomass and waste materials which are better suited for use as Compost.

Local Resources
Tim Nelson - Recycling Center - 387-3014
Grand Marais PUC - 387-1848

Weblinks
US EPA - Clean Energy
Power Score Card


Using our woody biomass from our forests for energy production has to work not only economically but also environomically and socially. How can energy harvest be made compatible with other socially valued uses of our forests such as lumber and pulp production, recreational use, wilderness, biodiversity and aesthetics?

Strategies

• Assess environmental and health effects of various biomass combustion technologies.
• Determine sustainable harvest rates.
• Determine biomass harvesting techniques which best preserve soil
• Fertility, protect biodiversity of forest ecosystems and improve carbon sequestration in our forests.
• Incorporate uses of forest for recreational areas, wilderness areas, wildlife habitat and natural beauty.

Local Resources
Chel Anderson - Forest Ecologist
Cook County Firewise Committee - Paul Nelson
U.S. Forest Service Gunflint Ranger District - 387-1750
Landscape Committee - Minnesota Forest Resources Council - 651-603-0108
Cheryl Miller - Project Coordinator - Minnesota Carbon Sequestration Initiative - 651-653-8133

Weblinks
Mn Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration Initiative
Minnesota Forest Resource Council


Without resources to fund renewable energy projects, they become just pipe-dreams. We will be continually identifying sources of funding including tax incentives to help make projects, both small and large, feasible.

Local Resources
Grand Marais State Bank - 387-2441
Security State Bank - 387-1000
North Shore Federal Credit Union - 387-1512

Web Links
Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency - DSIRE
Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credits
Minnesota Investment Fund


The Biomass Working Group (BWG) is working with the Cook County Firewise Committee to develop best practices in harvesting biomass and also solving infrastructure needs to process the biomass into a usable form. The Minnesota Forest Resource Council has established sustainable harvesting guidelines and are working on long range plans to help Restore the forest to its pre-1900 sustainable mix. Biomass reduction and use are part of those plans.

The group is also consulting with Cheryl Miller of the Minnesota Terrestial Carbon Sequestration Initiative to see how our biomass harvest can help in improving carbon sequestration fhrough developing new growth.

Grand Marais District Heat and Power Cogeneration: An initiative has been started by BWG to create district heat and electricity using a cogeneration biomass burner. The buildings being discussed are the Hospital/Clinic, the Recycle Center, the Community Center, the Schools, the School and County garages And the Courthouse.

BWG has also consulted with the Local Food Project in the creatiom of greenhouses which the district heat could also serve. If a new Community Center and pool are built in the area of the present Community Center, this biomass burner would also heat them. Electricity produced could directly feed these combined needs or run back through the PUC's local grid.

BWG is working with Chuck Hartley of LHB, the City of Grand Marais, and the County Board to determine feasibility of this plan.

Wood Pellet Plant: BWG has started investigations into the feasibility of a Wood Pellet Plant in Cook County. The USFS (primarily Patty Johnson) is being consulted as to the available biomass which can be harvested sustainably. We are working with Firewise to solve infrastructure needs such as grinders or chippers to process this biomass into a form that can be used in creating wood pellets. SEH (creators of the Bois Forte Biomass Feasibility Study) has been contacted to consult with concerning possibilities and next steps in moving forward. BWG is working hand-in-hand with the Cook County Firewise Committee on these initiatives.