Bio-fuels study endorses wood pellet plant; still lots of work to do

Chisago County Press (Minnesota)
BY DENISE MARTIN

Officials involved in a renewable fuels study initiated by Chisago County, said at the outset of the study that they would not focus on any one product or lone approach to renewables. The study covering Chisago, Isanti and Pine (CIP) counties was designed to learn in detail how biomass available in the three-county region might support renewable energy as a local industry. The bio-mass raw materials potentially could be processed into ethanol fuel, but those doing the study pledged to stay open minded.

True to form-- the study released recently is recommending against intensive processing of biomass into ethanol fuel. Rather, the study declares "Phase I" of a CIP bio-mass industry should start with development of a wood pellet plant somewhere in the three county region. "This is a low-tech way of getting started with converting to bio-fuel" at some time in the future, the study's executive summary states.

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