Public invited to hear Phase II Biomass Energy Study report

Representatives of the environmental consulting firm Dovetail Partners Inc. will present a report to the public on the results of phase II of the Cook County Biomass Energy Study at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in the commissioners’ room at the Cook County courthouse.

This second phase of the two-year study is titled Supporting Community-Driven Sustainable Bioenergy Projects and was funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The study also included the city of Ely in support of its effort to determine the financial viability and impact of a proposed biomass fuelled, district heat facility for their area.

According to representatives of the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP), the Phase II study has produced in-depth background reports on biomass availability within 60-mile supply zones around each community, environmental impacts of forest biomass harvest, and estimated air emissions of biomass combustion systems – both direct (smokestack) and life cycle (cradle-to-grave).

Dovetail Partners Inc. studied implementation issues throughout the supply chain from forest to consumer and involved discussions with public lands representatives, loggers and timber industry representatives, major customers, and environmental stakeholders.

CCLEP believes that collectively, the information generated by this study provides a regional picture of locally produced bioenergy and its associated impacts. According to CCLEP, the study creates a framework and tools which can be applied by other communities contemplating a conversion to biomass as an energy source. One of these tools is a series of fact sheets on study findings which will be disseminated throughout the communities and serve as a foundation for further education and public discussion.

With the conclusion of this study, both Grand Marais and Ely are now exploring the engineering and business planning specifics of district heating options in their respective communities. As part of the Dec. 11 meeting, representatives of the Biobusiness Alliance of Minnesota and FVB Energy, Inc. will be on hand to offer an update on that activity as it proceeds in Grand Marais.