(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - Two Alaska communities were awarded Forest Service Wood Innovation Grants; the Haines Borough and the Hydaburg School District. The goal of the grants is to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood products markets through the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. Nationally, over 77 applications were received nationwide with 42 grants awarded after a rigorous competitive process.

The Haines Borough was awarded $250,000 for the design of a wood-fueled district heating system that will heat the Borough’s school, swimming pool, vocational technical school, and other public facilities.

• This installation will potentially displace the burning of 80,000 gallons of heating fuel per year and save the Borough as much as $3 million over the life of the project;
• will result in a net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 1.8 million pounds per year;
• the wood chip fuel will be sourced from sustainably managed local forests, creating local jobs and keeping energy money circulating through the local economy; and
• the total project cost is estimated to be $1.5 million, with a $1.2 million construction grant from the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund in conjunction with the $250,000 Wood Innovations Grant.

The Hydaburg School District was awarded $150,000 for the design of a cordwood-fueled heating system that will provide heat to the school buildings and greenhouse.

• The Hydaburg School Wood Biomass Project will replace old diesel fuel boilers with cordwood-fired boilers;
• the system will heat a greenhouse that will provide fresh, nutritious vegetables for the school lunch program;
• the installation will potentially displace the burning of 24,600 gallons of heating fuel per year;
• Wood fuel for the system will be sourced from the surrounding forest, create jobs for local residents and students supplying cordwood and stoking the boilers, as well as working in the greenhouse;
• this sustainable project will provide students learning opportunities and improve the economy of Hydaburg with a new and stable market for small-diameter and low-value wood coupled with a new fresh vegetable food supply;
• There will be a net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 550,000 pounds per year; and
• the total project cost is estimated to be $892,000, with a $621,000 construction grant from the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund in conjunction with the $150,000 Wood Innovations Grant.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Forest Service’s State and Private Forestry Program
www.fs.usda.gov/main/r10/communityforests

 

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