Rutland Herald: GMC to collaborate for biomass project

Reposted here from the Rutland Herald.

By Lucia Suarez

STAFF WRITER – Published: January 21, 2011

POULTNEY — Green Mountain College in Poultney and the New Hampshire-based Hubbard Brook Research Foundation announced this week they are collaborating in a year-long project to fuel the College’s new biomass facility from local sources of sustainably harvested woodchips.

“We are very excited to be collaborating with Green Mountain College,” said David Sleeper, executive director for Hubbard Brook.

The $73,658 project, called the Poultney Woodshed Project, is funded by the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, the High Meadows Fund, the Riverledge Foundation and the Luce Foundation.

The research foundation is looking to implement over 50 years of information on climate change and forestry sustainability in collaboration with a biomass facility that burns woodchips for heat and electricity, said Sleeper, who called it “a demonstration project.”

GMC and Hubbard Brook will be working to secure woodchips harvested from privately owned lands and loggers located within about a 15-mile radius of Poultney, he said.

“Currently, we are putting together a map of potential forest lands for the project,” Sleeper said.

They will be working with local landowners, foresters and loggers to determine if the forestry standards set by the Forest Guild will be acceptable for them, he said.

“The Forest Guild standards make sure the wood taken from the forests doesn’t harm the sustainability of the forests,” Sleeper said.

He said they will also determine if the practices will be cost-effective.

“The next step is to hold a series of roundtable meetings with local foresters, and landowners to discuss the feasibility of providing wood,” said Jim Harding, professor of Natural Resource Management. “The biggest obstacle is there is a small margin of profit.”

Talks between GMC and Hubbard Brook began over a year ago, after the foundation held a workshop on wood biofuel energy.

“Out of this meeting, we started looking for potential partner for a trial,” Sleeper said. “I knew the college, being a trustee about 10 years ago. I started talking to (president of the college) Paul Fonteyn.”

If the collaboration is successful, GMC will be able to greatly reduce its carbon footprint by transporting woodchips less distance, Harding said.

The college currently purchases its woodchips from a producer in New Hampshire.

The college’s biomass facility, which was inaugurated in April 2010, provides 85 percent of heat required by the college and 20 percent of its electricity, fulfilling the college’s environmental mission.

“The college is interested in helping the local economy,” Harding said. “I think it’s an exciting project. I hope all the pieces fall into place.”