Biomass Research and Development Project
Project description
The project addresses the need for better utilization of the Northern Sierra Nevadas natural resources to supplement the manufacturing sector and reduce the danger of catastrophic fire throughout the study area. The study area includes the four counties in Sierra Economic Development District; El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, and Sierra, as well as Plumas and Amador. The later two counties were added because of their inclusion in the Northern Sierra Nevada Geographic Information Systems, a subsidiary of the Sierra Planning Organization, the sister organization to the Sierra Economic Development District. Perhaps more importantly they are included because of their similarities to SEDD in terms of the declining timber industry, high employment rates and need for diversification of economic base. The California Department of Finance reported the population estimates for the six-county region as of January 1, 1994, as 488,850.
Work Program
- Hire a consultant to carry out field research activities.
- Organize a steering committee made up of private landowners, mill operators, timber associations and unions, forest supervisors, fire protection supervisors, environmental groups. The committee would help guide the actual study and perform in an advisory capacity.
- Identify and characterize the biomass resource bas, both geographically and by ownership classification, in terms of quantity and quality.
- Determine the existing production capacity. Assess facilities and their ability to utilize the biomass resources. Perform a cost benefit study for all existing facilities that utilize biomass.
- Calculate and rank economic potential of proposed biomass products.
- Prepare and publish a final document, including a series of GIS maps ofthe resource base in the six county region.
Follow-Up Activities
The feasibility study will lay the groundwork for a possible long term job-generating, economic development activity that will also improve our environment. Once resource availability, production capacity and market potential have been established the possibility of more technical assistance might be appropriate.
- Promoting the idea to the local community, private landowners, and existing industry.
- Renovation of existing lumber mills to accommodate new biomass utilization technology.
- Establishment of new firms
- Recruitment of Biomass utilization facilities from outside areas, development of new products.
- Aggressive marketing activities.
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