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August 2006
The Western Governors' Association (WGA) recently announced it has awarded a $50,000 grant to Arizona to study the use of biomass in state facilities. The study will look at using wood pellets and wood chips taken from forest thinning operations to heat and cool public buildings. The energy office will also survey state facilities to recommend the ones most likely to be able to use biomass.
The grant was part of the WGA Western Regional Biomass Energy Program.
Arizona State Forester Kirk Rowdabaugh will coordinate the study in conjunction with Arizona Industries of the Future. Rowdabaugh said, "Using forest thinnings and otherwise valueless forest material in state facilities would [help us achieve] healthier forests, improve our forest communities' safety [from fire], and enhance their economy." He also said the study will be conducted in parallel with work by the U.S. Forest Service to develop a national plan for utilizing woody biomass.
Project description of a state energy office project dealing with energy efficiency and renewable energy that the State Energy Program (SEP) published in its bimonthly newsletter Conservation Update.
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