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ENLARGE
JIM LONG
For renewable energies, forest waste materials can be burned, chemically converted into liquid fuels such as ethanol, or heated without oxygen to produce bio-oil, bio-char and gasses. Last summer, the Umpqua and Umatilla National Forests coordinated experiments to test one technology, called fast pyrolysis, to heat waste wood chips to produce useful products.
These field trials will be featured at a public program held from noon to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Roseburg Country Club, 5051 Garden Valley Road. The panel is sponsored by Lunch Bunch, a men's discussion group. It is the fourth in a series of community discussions on Energy Options in Douglas County. Earlier panels focused on the “smart grid,” transportable nuclear power, and techniques to use Oregon coastal waves to generate electricity.
At the Jan. 12 panel on forest biofuels, chemical engineer David Hackleman is scheduled to introduce related research at Oregon State University. The Umpqua National Forest's Jim Archuleta will then review last summer's fast pyrolysis demonstrations in Oregon and will previews plans here in 2010 for the Umpqua Valley. Third, John Pine, biomass specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry, will summarize other local interests in forest biofuels. Master of Ceremonies Mark Raymond, publisher of The News-Review, will set aside 30 minutes for discussion with the audience.
Reservations for lunch are required by Jan. 5. Admission to the meeting is $5 per person. For more information and to register for the lunch and/or program, readers may contact Jim Long by e-mail at jblong@dcwisp.net or by phone at 673-3713.
The fast pyrolysis unit demonstrated last summer was the creation of Phil Badger of Renewable Oil International in Alabama. The transportable unit experienced technical difficulties here in Oregon, so the demonstrations of heating wood chips for bio-oil, bio-char and syngas were incomplete. At each of the four demonstrations, other researchers summarized economic data, which Archuleta plans to review on Jan. 12. Work with fast pyrolysis equipment continues in eastern Oregon this winter and is expected to resume in the Umpqua National Forest in the summer of 2010.
Archuleta, a soil scientist, said he is keenly interested in bio-char, a charcoal-like product. When added to some types of soils, bio-char can “bank” carbon and improve soils. Archuleta cited centuries of experience in the Amazon where pre-discovery indigenous farmers added charcoal to sustain the productivity of “terra preta” (black earth) in a climate that quickly wears out farm soil. He said he believes many forest, range and farm soils in North America can become more productive by adding bio-char, because bio-char holds and then slowly releases moisture and nutrients plants need to grow. Archuleta said there is worldwide interest in ways to minimize a reliance on petroleum-based fertilizers and irrigation. For details, see the International Biochar Initiative's Web site at www.biochar-international.org.
Archuleta and Badger believe technologies can be adapted to convert organic “wastes” into useful products that generate revenues for healthy lands and healthy communities.
“Energy Spotlight” is a monthly feature in The News-Review, highlighting what local businesses and organization do to save on energy costs.
The Douglas County Global Warming Coalition, a group that promotes energy efficiency, is canvassing local business owners and organizational leaders about practices that reduce energy costs.
To nominate your firm for an Energy Spotlight, contact Jim Long at jblong@dcwisp.net. To learn more about the coalition, call Stuart Liebowitz at 672-9819.
These field trials will be featured at a public program held from noon to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Roseburg Country Club, 5051 Garden Valley Road. The panel is sponsored by Lunch Bunch, a men's discussion group. It is the fourth in a series of community discussions on Energy Options in Douglas County. Earlier panels focused on the “smart grid,” transportable nuclear power, and techniques to use Oregon coastal waves to generate electricity.
At the Jan. 12 panel on forest biofuels, chemical engineer David Hackleman is scheduled to introduce related research at Oregon State University. The Umpqua National Forest's Jim Archuleta will then review last summer's fast pyrolysis demonstrations in Oregon and will previews plans here in 2010 for the Umpqua Valley. Third, John Pine, biomass specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry, will summarize other local interests in forest biofuels. Master of Ceremonies Mark Raymond, publisher of The News-Review, will set aside 30 minutes for discussion with the audience.
Reservations for lunch are required by Jan. 5. Admission to the meeting is $5 per person. For more information and to register for the lunch and/or program, readers may contact Jim Long by e-mail at jblong@dcwisp.net or by phone at 673-3713.
The fast pyrolysis unit demonstrated last summer was the creation of Phil Badger of Renewable Oil International in Alabama. The transportable unit experienced technical difficulties here in Oregon, so the demonstrations of heating wood chips for bio-oil, bio-char and syngas were incomplete. At each of the four demonstrations, other researchers summarized economic data, which Archuleta plans to review on Jan. 12. Work with fast pyrolysis equipment continues in eastern Oregon this winter and is expected to resume in the Umpqua National Forest in the summer of 2010.
Archuleta, a soil scientist, said he is keenly interested in bio-char, a charcoal-like product. When added to some types of soils, bio-char can “bank” carbon and improve soils. Archuleta cited centuries of experience in the Amazon where pre-discovery indigenous farmers added charcoal to sustain the productivity of “terra preta” (black earth) in a climate that quickly wears out farm soil. He said he believes many forest, range and farm soils in North America can become more productive by adding bio-char, because bio-char holds and then slowly releases moisture and nutrients plants need to grow. Archuleta said there is worldwide interest in ways to minimize a reliance on petroleum-based fertilizers and irrigation. For details, see the International Biochar Initiative's Web site at www.biochar-international.org.
Archuleta and Badger believe technologies can be adapted to convert organic “wastes” into useful products that generate revenues for healthy lands and healthy communities.
“Energy Spotlight” is a monthly feature in The News-Review, highlighting what local businesses and organization do to save on energy costs.
The Douglas County Global Warming Coalition, a group that promotes energy efficiency, is canvassing local business owners and organizational leaders about practices that reduce energy costs.
To nominate your firm for an Energy Spotlight, contact Jim Long at jblong@dcwisp.net. To learn more about the coalition, call Stuart Liebowitz at 672-9819.
