Utilization of woody biomass

fwdailynews.com
By Hanson Young (Created: Saturday, January 31, 2009 7:57 AM EST)

Many case studies that show that industries have reaped substantial economic benefits from using heat and energy from woody biomass, according to the following information from Daniel Cassidy with the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

Laurel Lumber Co., in Mississippi, estimates an annual savings of $200,000 since it switched from natural gas-fired kilns and began using wood waste commonly found on site. Public schools in Wisconsin, Vermont and Montana have also seen increased savings by heating with wood.

Darby Public Schools, in Montana, were able to divert almost $91,000 annually from the cost to heat the school with fuel oil back into the school’s general budget. The pulp and paper industry is almost self-sustaining with regards to heat and energy by electing to use sawdust, wood waste, and black liquor from pulping to produce heat.

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