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South Sound Farm Forestry Association an affiliated chapter of Washington Farm Forestry Association
November Meeting
President: Boyd Wilson Vice President: Michael Gaffney Co-Secretaries: Norma Green and Brian LeTourneau Treasurer: Bonnie Miller
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November 9, 2011 Meeting |
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Your ideas are needed - Please come, or call them in.
When: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 -- 6:30 PM
Who: Members are invited to join us in planning the next year's program of events. Everyone is welcome.
Where: President Boyd Wilson's home (2611 Mayes Road SE, Olympia WA 98503)
We'll have dinner while we plan. Boyd will make a pot of chili; and you are welcome to bring a small side dish. So, plan on coming for the good food - homecooking, not pizza. Please RSVP to Boyd at 360-438-1166
What: Program Planning for 2012
Plan to attend. If you cannot, please communicate your ideas to Pres. Boyd Wilson at the phone number or e-mail address above. We want to have programs that will servey our needs.
Directions: From the I-5 Freeway take Exit 111 and turn south on Marvin Road. Continue 2+ miles until you cross a single set of railroad tracks. Continue for less than a half mile around an easy "S" curve, then turn right onto 25th. At the end of 25th is Mayes Road. Turn left, drive 400' up a slight rise and turn right into the driveway just past the blue mailbox.
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South Sound Farm Forestry Co-Secretaries
Brian
LeTourneau, Ph. 360 943-8774
BrianL4802@aol.com |
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In case you missed it: The October 2011 meeting was held at the Thurston County courthouse and featured Scott Morgan, Director of Sustainability for Evergreen State College (ESC), who coordinated the college's research into the feasibility of biomass for energy production. Scott talked about the ESC proposal to generate energy from forest biomass, which, in this case would be the forest debris left over after logging. It was estimated that enough such biomass would be available in the area surrounding ESC to fuel the project, but local public resistance scrapped it.
It turns out that this is a very complex subject. Here is a local, renewable resource with an adequate supply. It is feasible to burn wood debris, although the heat value in biomass is only about one-half that found in fossil fuels. The available fossil fuels have a limited availability; natural gas may be in short supply within 20 years, coal may be 100 years. Burning biomass produces emissions such as ash and carbon dioxide, and these emissions can affect the public. The major public concerns were that burning wood would cause air pollution and that biomass demand would lead to overharvest.
It therefore appears that much of the biomass from logging will continue to be burned on site to reduce the fire hazard. It would be beneficial to the landowner and the public to find a way to use biomass as an energy source without the emissions consequences. At the present the public is very sensitive to that issue.
A study referenced by Mr. Morgan can be found at: http://www.dovetailinc.org/content/dovetail-partners-releases-new-report-bioenergy
NOTE: Membership Special continues for 1st time new members: $45 for 1 year, with $25 rebate if SSFFA is selected as prime chapter. Contact Pres. Boyd Wilson for more information.
Future Meetings - 2nd Wednesday, unless noted -- Mark your Calendars
Tentatively Scheduled:
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