Wood: rediscovering an old fuel

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · People and Energy; (United States)

OSTI ID:7328584

Paskin, M

Wood chips have almost twice the BTU content per dollar as coal and three times the BTU content/dollar as oil (according to research being done by the Michigan Technological University). Wood resources are widely distributed throughout the country, and Mr. Paskin estimates that use of waste wood alone could reduce reliance on other energy sources to the extent of the equivalent of 7 million barrels of fuel oil per day. Those areas of the country with extensive wood supplies, such as New England and the Pacific Northwest, could satisfy large percentages of their energy needs from that single resource. Utilization of wood as a source of energy would not involve damage to health or the environment if proper monitoring, controls, and studies were maintained. When current pollution control technology is applied, the burning of wood for energy meets the EPA's air pollution control standards. Moreover, while wood combustion equipment costs more than that needed for oil and coal, pollution control devices cost considerably less. In addition, by using modern technologies to harvest forest residues, wood chips are found to be available throughout the U.S. without touching the ''merchantable'' timber supply. Environmentally, timber harvesting can benefit most forms of wildlife by creating openings in a forest that encourage more abundant growth of food supplies to sustain the wildlife population. Some undesirable characteristics include its bulkiness, its lack of uniformity insofar as particle size is concerned, and its economic limit of about 60 miles for transport. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 7328584
• Journal Information: People and Energy; (United States), Journal Name: People and Energy; (United States) Vol. 2:8; ISSN PEEND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090400 -- Solid Waste & Wood Fuels-- (-1989)
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299003* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
AIR POLLUTION
CALORIFIC VALUE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
POLLUTION
RESIDUES
TRANSPORT
USA
USES
WOOD