WISCONSIN NON-INDUSTRIAL PRIVATE FOREST LANDOWNERS AND WOOD-BASED BIOENERGY

WISCONSIN NON-INDUSTRIAL PRIVATE FOREST LANDOWNERS AND WOOD-BASED BIOENERGY
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

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Abstract : Wood-based bioelectricity production is expanding due to its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fossil fuel resources. U.S. non-industrial private forest landowners (NIPFs) are key to the production of wood-based bioelectricity since they own 59% of the forestland in the country that could supply bioelectricity feedstocks (The National Association of State Foresters 2018). This is particularly important in states like Wisconsin with a mandatory renewable portfolio electricity standard (RPS). My dissertation focuses on issues around Wisconsin bioelectricity production including related NIPF views and the creation of the state's sustainable biomass harvesting guidelines. In Chapter Two, I present findings from analysis of NIPF interviews showing that they support local bioelectricity production while holding concerns about negative social and ecological impacts. Chapter Three focuses on findings from a survey conducted of NIPFs close enough to a local bioelectricity plant to supply it with biomass feedstock. I found that they perceive the plant as having negative environmental but positive socioeconomic impacts and that environmental membership was negatively associated with support for local bioelectricity. Chapter Four presents findings from my study of Wisconsin's biomass harvesting guidelines (BHGs) creation process. These findings focus on the degree to which the process adhered to Collaborative Governance (CG) guidelines and how this process impacted outcomes. In combination, these three chapters enhance our understanding of the sustainability dimensions of Wisconsin's RPS and suggest strategies related to the success of state and federal renewable energy and bioelectricity goals.

Woody Biomass Availability for Energy

Woody Biomass Availability for Energy
Author: Lana Landra Narine
Publisher:
Total Pages: 13
Release: 2013
Genre: Biomass energy
ISBN:

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Non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners control 58% of all forests in the U.S. Great Lakes States consisting of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. A regional assessment of the availability of woody biomass for bioenergy will therefore be incomprehensive without a consideration of supply from the most dominant ownership group. This study aimed to evaluate the social availability of woody biomass for renewable energy in the U.S. Great Lakes States by examining NIPF landowners' willingness-to-harvest (WTH) their woodlands. Following the Tailored Design Method, surveys were mailed to 4,190 NIPF landowners from Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Results identified two latent factors summarizing landowners' bioenergy perceptions: (a) bioenergy support and (b) environmental degradation and four latent factors behind woodland ownership: (a) amenity, (b) personal use, (c) production and (d) legacy. A two-step cluster analysis approach was used to construct a landowner typology for the region based on landowners' bioenergy views and reasons for woodland ownership. Four types of landowners were consequently identified: recreationist, indifferent, preservationist and multiple-objective. Recreationists were found to own the majority or 51% of the total woodlands reported by sample respondents and were also most willing to harvest their woodlands with an estimated 38% potentially available for timber harvest and 46% for biomass harvest. A comparison of WTH by landowner type and state revealed that the greatest level of acceptance as indicated by potential acreage availability were from recreationists owning NIPFs in Michigan. Binary logit regression models were also used to determine significant factors influencing landowners' WTH timber and woody biomass. Findings indicated that non-timber objectives decreased the odds of harvesting and timber and biomass prices increased those odds. However, marginal probability effects of prices on WTH highlighted the substantial impact that timber price, rather than biomass price had on landowners' choice to harvest. These results suggested that the availability of woody biomass will be contingent upon timber prices.

Forest Management and Economic Development

Forest Management and Economic Development
Author: Wisconsin Economic Development Coordinating Committee. Forest Industries Development Subcommittee
Publisher:
Total Pages: 140
Release: 1977
Genre: Forest management
ISBN:

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Wood-Based Energy in the Northern Forests

Wood-Based Energy in the Northern Forests
Author: Michael Jacobson
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2013-12-05
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1461494788

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This unique book provides the first comprehensive overview of wood based bioenergy in the northern hardwood forests of the Eastern United States. This includes a holistic look at the topic of wood based bioenergy, as well as focused analyses of key topics. This book is relevant to engineers, project developers, foresters, economists, sociologists, environmental scientists and natural resource managers. Most chapters also provide practical hands-on advice for the practitioner, and provide a valuable resource for anyone who is considering developing a woody bioenergy project.