Grant aids wood waste transport to biomass plant

RENO -- A federal grant will allow the Nevada Division of Forestry to purchase equipment to collect and transport wood waste to help fuel a biomass power plant at Northern Nevada Correctional Center, officials said Thursday.

The $250,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service's Woody Biomass Utilization Grant Program was one of 17 totaling $4.1 million awarded by the federal agency this year.

Ed Monnig, supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, said the Forest Service understands "the challenges of delivering affordable biomass due to rising fuel costs incurred to collect and haul the biomass." Biomass is waste wood, including chips and slash that cannot be used for lumber.

The Nevada Division of Forestry's proposal, he said, represents an "innovative and collaborative interagency solution to decrease overall biomass supply costs."

The money will be used to purchase a truck, four roll-off containers, and a trailer.

Officials hope the $8.3 million alternative plant eventually will power the prison and nearby Stewart Conservation Camp. But since it opened six months ago, it's only run intermittently because of a lack of wood.