The Business Environmental Program provides free and confidential environmental management assistance to business and government operations in Nevada. The Program specializes in cost effective strategies to reduce hazardous materials and waste generation, conserve water and energy, minimize air emissions, and maintain compliance with environmental requirements. The program provides training, on-site consultation, assistance over the phone and through its website and publications.
BEP’s Wood Utilization Program
The purpose of the program is to stimulate the growth of the wood industry in Nevada, focusing initially on Southern Nevada. The program will provide assistance to small businesses in utilizing woody biomass that is generated from forest and range land health treatments and from wood waste generated in urban settings. By expanding the existing regional utilization capacity and encouraging new businesses to take advantage of the woody biomass present in Nevada, a sustainable industry will evolve offering increased employment and environmental improvements to Nevada’s landscape.
What is woody biomass utilization?
The harvest, sale, offer, trade or utilization of woody biomass to produce bioenergy and the full range of biobased products including lumber, composites, paper and pulp, furniture, housing components, round wood, ethanol and other liquids, chemicals, and energy feedstocks are all elements of Woody Biomass utilization.
Photos of two woody biomass “harvest” operations
Sustainable woody biomass utilization restores resilience and productivity of our nations forests and wildlands, slows the pace of global climate change, reduces U.S. fossil fuel dependence, and creates economic opportunities.
USFS Woody Biomass Utilization Strategy Summary
September 2008
“Sustainable woody biomass utilization allows the use of resources without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It is a tool we use to help care for the land and pass it on to future generations in better condition than we found it. Using woody biomass for renewable energy and biobased products also contributes to the Nation’s energy independence and greenhouse gas reduction goals, and provides opportunities for managing carbon.”
Abigail R. Kimbell, Chief
US Forest Service
The Four Strategy Goals of BEP’s Woody Biomass Program
Goal 1: Identify, inform and involve collaborative community
By using the wide range of communication tools available to the program, those Nevadans who are or will benefit from sustainable woody biomass utilization will be identified and involved–bringing to them information that will assist their efforts from such use.
Goal 2: Form “clusters” and engage efficient entrepreneurs
“Clusters” are collectively strong partnerships of diverse stakeholders located throughout Nevada including small businesses and entrepreneurs. These clusters are dedicated to maximizing the use of area resources to further local priorities and successful utilization of woody biomass.
Goal 3: Bring unique profit-adding products to local markets
Nevada was dealt a unique blend of soils, flora and fauna and the BEP program seeks to highlight the positive aspects of biomass products that can be created from that mix and find profitable markets within the state that reduce transportation costs while letting Nevada resources work for Nevada.
Goal 4: Introduce Best Management Practices and appropriately scaled technology to community-based enterprises.
By applying the appropriate forest engineering, wood science and technology and best business management practices to Nevada’s forests, rangelands and community-based woody biomass utilization businesses, predictable long term supplies of biomass will result and a sustainable wood utilization industry will be built.
Suggested “Link” Addition:
Nevada Pinyon Juniper Partnership
The goal of the Nevada Pinyon-Juniper Partnership is for the ecological risks to be addressed by landscape level restoration, with utilization of the resulting biomass as an additional beneficial outcome. Visit the partnership’s website to learn more about the projects:
www.nvpjpartnership.org/
3rd Annual Southern Utah Biomass Field Day
Southern Utah Biomass is an organization dedicated to promoting the use of woody biomass in Utah and the surrounding states. We are excited to announce the scheduling of our 3rd Southern Utah Biomass Field Day for September 18, 19 & 20, 2012 in Beaver, Utah.
http://www.utahbiomass.com/
Restoring The West Conference 2012
On October 30-31, 2012, the Restoring the West Conference will be held in Logan, Utah. Organized by Utah State University, the 2012 Restoring the West Conference will examine how the boom in energy development occurring in many parts of the West is affecting or may affect the well-being of plant and animal species found in the region. For more information and to register: http://restoringthewest.org/
Program Contact Information:
Dusty Moller, Wood Utilization Manager
Business Environmental Program
Small Business Development Center
University of Nevada–Reno
Email: Click Here: 702-866-5962
Cell: 702-275-9579
Las Vegas Office Address: 6275 West Sahara Ave, Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Las Vegas Mail Address: PO Box 81617, Las Vegas, NV 89180-1617
Water ScienceThe free and confidential services of the Business Environmental Program are available by calling our toll-free number 1-800 882-3233
Comments and suggestions Contact
All Images And Logos Used Are Copyright And/Or Trademarks Of Their Respective Owners
© Copyright 2006 NSBDC-BEP
BEP Admin | Call Log
Powered by Nevada SBDC
