Wood fuel examined
Professor Lee M. James of Michigan State University asserts that Michigan's forests are capable of making a significant contribution to the electrical energy needs of the state. For wood to completely replace fossil fuels, 66 million tons of wood and bark annually would be required, equalling 9% of the 700 million tons of potential wood fuel in the forests. This level of utilization would not be acceptable. However, combined forest and nonforest sources do offer potential wood supplies. The largest is standing residues; up to 200 million tons are available in rough, rotten, cull, small, and salvagable dead trees. The forests of Michigan are growing more rapidly than they are being harvested; while not all excess growth is available, it could all be harvested without reducing growing stock. Further, 12 million tons of chippable wood and bark could be removed annually from forests without reducing timber growing stock or reducing commercial timber harvest. Such a wood tonnage could supply 18% of all electrical energy produced in Michigan. Logging residues are another source; about two million tons of tops, branches, and other debris are left on the ground, a resource which could be significant for local industries. Forest fuels could be augmented by industrial wood waste, urban residential demolition, and shade and roadside tree removals. The most significant and useful tonnage is sawmill residues. About 240,000 tons are unsold and unused each year, and more than half of this is sawdust.
- OSTI ID:
- 6658102
- Journal Information:
- Timber Producer; (), Vol. 10
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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