The Pennsylvania State Wood Energy Team
This three-year statewide team, funded by the US Forest Service, worked together from 2015-2018 to promote clean, sustainable uses of wood energy in the Keystone State. The team's objectives were to:
- Identify and encourage the development of opportunities for well designed and well used wood energy systems, primarily at the commercial scale.
- Educate the general public and end users about wood energy opportunities and issues
- Organize networking and educational events that allow persons interested in wood energy to learn more about the topic and meet people with experience in the subject.
All were welcome to participate - individuals, company representatives, government agencies, NGOs, etc.
The project was directed by team leaders Ed Johnstonbaugh (exj11@psu.edu) or Mike Palko (mipalko@outlook.com).
Read the Prospectus!
The PA Wood Energy Prospectus is the wood energy team's comprehensive overview of the status of and opportunities for sustainable wood energy in Pennsylvania.
Schedule of State Wood Energy Team Events
(subject to revision and updates)
| Date | Description |
| 2015: | |
| 10-Jun-15 | Project Team Organizational Meeting |
| 21-Oct-15 | Public Kick-off Meeting (National Bioenergy Day) |
| 2016: | |
| 06 April, 2016 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting 10:30 am - Tour C&C Pellet Mill, Summerhill, PA 15958 12:00 noon - Lunch and team meeting, Hoss's Restaurant, Ebensburg PA |
| 22 June, 2016 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting 12:30 pm, Hoss's Restaurant, Williamsport, PA |
| 14 Sept, 2016 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting Conference Call, 1pm (Eastern): Dial (712) 775-7300, Passcode 299956# |
| 15 Oct, 2016 | Wood Energy Workshop, Honesdale PA |
| 19 Oct, 2016 | National Bioenergy Day Open House, Caledonia State Park, Morrisdale PA |
| 22 Oct, 2016 | Wood Energy Workshop, Kane PA |
| 07 Dec, 2016 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting, Port Allegany, PA |
| 2017: | |
| 15 Mar, 2017 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting: Champion PA (details TBA) |
| 14 Jun, 2017 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting |
| 12-14 Sept, 2017 | Regional Wood Energy Conference, State College PA |
| 18 October, 2017 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting, Elk Country Visitors' Center, Benezette PA (meeting begins at noon, bring $ to order lunch) |
| 04 Apr, 2018 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting, Agricultural Engineering Building, Penn State University, State College PA. Meet at 10am, lunch to follow. |
| 30 Apr, 2018 | "Underutilized Wood" Short Course, Morgantown WV (in partnership with West Virginia State Wood Energy Team). |
| 10 July, 2018 | Project Team Quarterly Meeting, AFS Energy Systems, 420 Oak St., Lemoyne PA. Meet at 10am, lunch to follow. |
Wood Energy Team's Project Milestones
| Project Year 1 (01 Jul 2015 - 30 Jun 2016) | ||
| Date | Description | Comments / Outcome |
| 1-Jul-15 | Start of Project Period | |
| Dec-15 | Wood Energy Prospectus Drafted | done on time |
| Feb-16 | Forest Management for Bioenergy educational materials developed | |
| Air Quality and Wood Energy educational materials developed | ||
| Wood Energy Utilization educational materials developed | developed "bioenergy and biochar" presentation and fact sheet | |
| Mar-16 | Wood Energy Prospectus Internal Review Complete | done |
| Apr-16 | Wood Energy Prospectus Revised | done |
| Project Year 2 (01 Jul 2016 - 30 Jun 2017) | ||
| Date | Description | |
| Jul - 16 | Wood Energy Prospectus Released | done |
| Nov-16 | Workshop: Forest Management for Bioenergy | TBA |
| Workshop: Air Quality and Wood Energy | TBA | |
| Workshop: Wood Energy Utilization | workshops held in Honesdale (Jan 27, 2017) and Philipsburg (Feb 17, 2017) | |
| May-17 | Regional Wood Energy Conference | Participated in MABEX conference, Sept 2017 |
| Project Year 3 (01 Jul 2017 - 30 Jun 2018) | ||
| Date | Description | |
| Nov-17 | Workshop: Forest Management for Bioenergy | Organized session at MABEC 2018 conference |
| Workshop: Air Quality and Wood Energy | Organized session at MABEC 2018 conference | |
| Workshop: Wood Energy Utilization | Organized session at MABEC 2018 conference | |
| Feb-18 | Wood Energy Short Course | Held in April 2018 |
What now?
The state wood energy team grant is now concluded, but activities related to this effort continue in several forms:
- The Fuels for Schools and Communities group continues to meet and promote biomass energy in Pennsylvania as a non-commercial, collaborative, community oriented intitiative.
- The Mid Atlantic Biomass Energy Council (MABEC) conintues to serve as an industry oriented organization for biomass energy in the region.
- Penn State Extension is carrying out a Biochar Opportunities project in collaboration with Koppers Inc. and the US Forest Service. Contact Ed Johnstonbauh (exj11@psu.edu) for more information.
Team Members
- Penn State Extension
- PA Biomass Energy Association
- Biomass Renewable Energy, LLC
- Allegheny National Forest
- PA Department of Environmental Protection
- PA Game Commission
- USDA NRCS
- PennTAP
- NEWBio Bioenergy Consortium
- Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group
- Northern Tier Hardwood Association
- PA Hardwood Development Council
- Biomass Thermal Energy Center
- The Sustainable Energy Fund
- AFS Energy Systems
- Messersmith Manufacturing
- MCClure Corporation
- Energex Corporation
- Laird Design and Graphics Service
- Penns Valley School District
- East Lycoming School District
- Energy Management Concepts
- Kane Area School District
- Blue Ridge School District
- Wartluft Forestry Services
Presentations from Workshops etc.
To access copies of the presentations from the 17 February 2017 Wood Energy Workshop, please visit our shared resources page at https://sites.google.com/site/paffsbresources/home/presentations/pa-wood-energy-team
To access copies of the presentations from the 30 April 2018 Underutilized Wood Symposium, please visit the Penn State Biomass Energy Center website at: http://bioenergy.psu.edu/shortcourses/2018_Underutilized_Wood.asp
