United States Department of Agriculture / Forest Service

Rocky Mountain Research Station

General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-244WWW

September 2010

Forestry-Based Biomass 

Economic and Financial 

Information and Tools:

An Annotated Bibliography
Loeffler, Dan; Brandt, Jason; Morgan, Todd; Jones, Greg. 2010. Forestry-based 

biomass economic and financial information and tools: An annotated 

bibliography. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-244WWW. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 

52 p.

Abstract

This annotated bibliography is a synthesis of information products available to land 

managers in the western United States regarding economic and financial aspects 

of forestry-based woody biomass removal, a component of fire hazard and/or fuel 

reduction treatments. This publication contains over 200 forestry-based biomass 

papers, financial models, sources of biomass and log price information, and 

biomass utilization facility locations.

Keywords: biomass, logging residues, annotated bibliography, Joint Fire Science 

Program, forest management

Authors

Dan Loeffler, College of Forestry and Conservation, The University of Montana, 

Missoula, MT

Jason Brandt, USDA Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center, Boise, ID

Todd Morgan, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, The University of 

Montana, Missoula, MT

Greg Jones, Human Dimensions Science Program, USDA Forest Service, Rocky 

Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT

The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not 

imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service.

Available only online at http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr244.html

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Publishing Services

Telephone (970) 498-1392

FAX (970) 498-1122

E-mail rschneider@fs.fed.us

Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/publications

Mailing address Publications Distribution

Rocky Mountain Research Station

240 West Prospect Road

Fort Collins, CO 80526
Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1

Section 1: Models and Tools for Estimating Economic and Financial 

Aspects and Quantities of Forest Biomass....................................... 2

Section 2: Biomass Production, Cost, and Related Literature........................... 6

Section 3: Log and Mill Residue Price Information .......................................... 46

Section 4: Biomass Utilization Facility Locations.............................................. 48

Section 5: Ancillary Biomass Information ......................................................... 50
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 1

Forest vegetation treatments create large quantities of forest residue biomass, and policies at many 

forestland management agencies encourage biomass 

removal to achieve fire hazard and/or fuel reduction 

goals. Biomass includes non-merchantable portions of 

a merchantable tree (that is, tops and limbs) and nonmerchantable small, whole-trees that are removed to 

meet management objectives. Following forest vegetation treatments, the most common methods of biomass 

disposal are in-woods pile or broadcast burning, which 

degrade local air quality and produce large amounts of 

unhealthy particulate matter, among other drawbacks. 

In geographic areas that have biomass utilization infrastructure, biomass can be removed from the landing 

and delivered to a utilization facility to be burned 

in boilers with emission control devices for energy 

production. However, markets for biomass are underdeveloped or non-existent in many areas throughout 

the western United States, and managers often find it 

difficult to quantify the biomass that will be removed 

during fire hazard or fuel reduction treatments.

In 2007, the Joint Fire Sciences Program (JFSP) 

conducted a roundtable discussion with a group of 

managers and scientists from partner agencies and 

stakeholder groups in order to better understand the 

issues, problems, and research needs related to utilizing biomass removed by fuels management projects. 

Decision-makers and planners stated they desire easyto-use methods to evaluate the costs and revenues of 

implementing treatments that involve biomass removal. 

They want methods to compare costs with treatments 

that do not remove biomass, and they need ways to 

better understand biomass disposal options that are 

locally available and what those options mean to disposing different types of biomass. Having recognized 

that there are scattered bodies of literature pertaining 

to economic and financial aspects of biomass utilization, some of which are extensive, the JFSP roundtable 

members chose to sponsor this effort to synthesize existing information rather than to develop new research.

The overall goal of this JFSP-funded project (07-3-

3-03) is to provide a synthesis of available information 

products to help managers understand and deal with 

the economic and financial aspects of woody biomass 

removal as a component of fire hazard and/or fuel reduction treatments. This report is a synthesis of the 

body of economic and financial biomass information, 

literature, models, tools, databases, and other information available to land managers in the western United 

States. Ideally, when information about innovative operational biomass handling, removal, and/or utilization 

practices and techniques is documented and shared, 

land managers may better plan and implement biomass 

removal treatments. The information contained in this 

bibliography fills the gaps between existing information and tools and managers’ awareness of and ability 

to use those tools and information to promote biomass 

utilization in place of in-woods burning. This bibliography may also help managers address the issues and 

problems discussed above.

This bibliography includes web-based biomass-related resources, literature from peer-reviewed journals, 

USDA Forest Service publications, technical reports 

and releases, and white papers. It also includes the 

location and characteristics of biomass-utilizing facilities in several western states and website links to the 

types, tree sizes, and volumes of wood fiber those facilities purchase; the value of wood fiber delivered to 

those facilities; and GIS data depicting mill locations 

and biomass-utilizing facilities. The first section in this 

report lists biomass cost and volume estimator tools, 

models, and related information. The second section 

contains an annotated bibliography of forest biomassrelated literature from a wide variety of publication 

outlets. The third section identifies website links to 

regional and national sources of biomass, lumber, and 

log prices. The fourth section identifies biomass utilization facility locations, and the fifth section contains 

other forestry-based, biomass-related information. 

The information contained in this manuscript is also 

available in a searchable database format at the JFSPsponsored Fire Research and Management Exchange 

System (FRAMES) website: http://frames.nbii.gov/

portal/server.pt.

Introduction
2 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

BIOPAK

Means, Joseph E.; Hansen, Heather A.; Koerper, 

Greg J.; Alaback, Paul B.; Klopsch, Mark W. 1994. 

Software for computing plant biomass—BIOPAK users guide. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-340. Portland, OR: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Research Station. 180 p.

Means, Joseph E.; Krankina, Olga N.; Jiang, Hao; Li, 

Hongyan. 1996. Estimating live fuels for shrubs and 

herbs with BIOPAK. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-372. 

Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 21 p.

Annotation: BIOPAK is a software package that contains 

a plant measurement library of over 1100 documented 

equations that estimate plant components, for example, 

leaf mass, leaf area, stem wood mass, bark mass, and fuel 

size classes. BIOPAK can choose equations from those 

contained in an equation library using built-in assumptions 

based primarily on comparisons of plant dimensions, geographic area sampled, and seral stage sampled for input 

data and prediction equations. Alternatively, a user can direct the program to search a specific subset of the equation 

library or use a particular equation for particular input data. 

In this manner, equations from other species may be used 

for species in the data for which equations are unavailable.

Available: http://www.fsl.orst.edu/lter/data/tools/

software/biopak.cfm?topnav=149.

Online database of model equations: http://

andrewsforest.oregonstate.edu/data/abstract.

cfm?dbcode=TP072&topnav=97.

BIOPAK manual: http://andrewsforest.oregonstate.

edu/pubs/webdocs/reports/pub1659.pdf.

Data requirements: Runs with DOS-type commands. 

Biomass estimations are made for many species 

based on prescribed measurements such as 

diameter, stem length, and cover. The independent 

variables are equation- and species-specific.

Contact: Don Henshaw dhenshaw@fs.fed.us, 

henshaw@fsl.orst.edu, don.henshaw@oregonstate.

edu

Last updated: Unknown

• • • • •

Biomass Site Assessment Tool (BioSAT)

Annotation: The BioSAT model is used to identify the 

top 20 biomass facility locations for 13 southern U.S. 

states. The trucking cost model of BioSAT is used with 

Timber Mart-South 2009 (http://www.tmart-south.

com/tmart/index.html) price data to estimate the total, 

average, and marginal costs for biomass facilities that 

use mill residues for up to 1.5 million dry tons of annual consumption. Costs in south Mississippi, southeast 

Georgia, southeast Oklahoma, southwest Alabama, 

and east Texas range from $25 to $38 per dry ton for up 

to 1.5 million annual dry tons. Additional research on 

BioSAT is forthcoming for 33 U.S. states. These studies will include more types of woody and agricultural 

biomass (for example, logging residues, pulpwood, 

and corn stover). Additional cost models for transportation such as truck combinations with rail and barge 

will be components of BioSAT.

Available: http://www.biosat.net.

Data requirements: Unknown; contact BioSAT for 

more information.

Contact: James H. Purdue: jperdue@fs.fed.us, 

Timothy M. Young: tmyoung1@utk.edu

Last updated: October 2009

• • • • •

Coordinated Resource Offering 

Protocol (CROP)

Annotation: The USDA Forest Service and USDOI 

Bureau of Land Management undertook a series of 

CROP pilot projects as a means of addressing the 

growing fuel load problem within major forest systems 

and the realized potential for fostering catastrophic 

wildfires within these systems across the United States. 

Focused on biomass removal (versus biomass inventory), the CROP model was initially developed in 2003 

to target unlevelized, uncoordinated, and erratic resource offerings from public forest lands at landscape 

scale. The key tenets of CROP projects are: facilitate 

coordination of biomass removal between public agencies; facilitate the use of long-term, multi-agency stewardship contracts to achieve biomass removal; increase 

the certainty of “levelized” biomass supply offerings 

Section 1: Models and Tools for Estimating Economic and 

Financial Aspects and Quantities of Forest Biomass
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 3

from public agencies; invite investment back into a 

sustainable forest management landscape; and heighten public trust and support for biomass removal from 

public lands by operating a transparent process.

Available: http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/

Woody_Biomass/supply/CROP/index.shtml.

Data requirements: None. Summaries of CROP 

projects already conducted are available on the 

website.

Contact: Ed Gee: eagee@fs.fed.us

Last updated: March 2009

• • • • •

FIA BioSum

Fried, Jeremy S.; Christensen, Glenn; Weyermann, 

Dale; Barbour, Jamie R.; Fight, Roger; Hiserote, 

Bruce; Pinjuv, Guy. 2005. Modeling opportunities 

and feasibility of siting wood-fired electrical generating facilities to facilitate landscape-scale fuel 

treatment with FIA BioSum. Systems analysis in 

forest resources: proceedings of the 2003 symposium: 

207-216.

Annotation: FIA BioSum is a concept-based methodology that generates cost estimates, identifies opportunities, and evaluates the effectiveness of fuel treatments in region-wide forested landscapes. The BioSum 

modeling framework incorporates a transportation cost 

model, a treatment cost accounting module, a log valuation model, and a crown fire hazard evaluator with 

Forest Inventory and Analysis plot data.

Available: www.fs.fed.us/pnw/fia/biosum.

Data requirements: Inventory plot data with expansion factors; road network with travel time per unit 

distance assigned to the road segments; silvicultural 

treatments coded in the Forest Vegetation Simulator; 

and product prices. Also, a raft of assumptions, such 

as filters on what characteristics lead to an acre being 

a candidate for treatment, definitions of hazard and 

hazard improvement, choice of logging systems, and 

objectives (for example, make money, improve fuel 

hazard, maximize material removed, or minimize material removed).

Contact: Jeremy Fried: jsfried@fs.fed.us

Last updated: February 2009

• • • • •

Forest Residue Trucking Simulator 

(FoRTS)

Annotation: FoRTS is a spreadsheet-based calculator that 

is designed to help compare alternative methods of moving biomass from the forest to a wood-using facility. The 

program estimates loading and hauling costs for different 

combinations of equipment, evaluates the best mix (numbers and types) of equipment, compares different hauling 

routes, and examines reloading or two-stage hauling opportunities. FoRTS does not provide actual costs because 

it does not include factors such as profit and overhead. It is 

intended to represent a relative comparison among options.

Available: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/forestops/biomass.

htm.

Data requirements: Road travel route description; 

biomass materials (for example, species and moisture 

content); and equipment selection 

(in-woods, transportation, or processing).

Contact: Jason Thompson: jasonthompson@fs.fed.us

Last updated: 2006

• • • • •

Fuel Reduction Cost Simulator (FRCS)

Fight, Roger D.; Hartsough, Bruce R.; Noordijk, 

Peter. 2006. Users guide for FRCS: Fuel reduction cost 

simulator software. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-668. 

Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 23 p.

Annotation: FRCS is a spreadsheet application useful 

for estimating the cost of forest operations undertaken 

to reduce forest fuel loads by cutting and removing trees 

for solid wood products or chips. It can also be used to 

estimate the cost of collecting and chipping forest residues. Cost assumptions can be modified by the user. The 

software contains four ground-based systems, four cable 

systems, and two helicopter systems. Cost estimates are in 

U.S. dollars per 100 cubic feet, per green ton, and per acre.

Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/data/frcs/frcs.shtml.

Data requirements: System and cut type, yard/skid/

forward distance, percent slope, elevation, one-way 

move-in costs, green wood density, residue fraction, 

trees per acre cut, and average volume per tree.

Contact: Dennis Dykstra: ddykstra@fs.fed.us

Last updated: 2007

• • • • •
4 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Harvest Cost-Revenue (HCR) Estimator

Becker, Dennis R.; Larson, Debra; Lowell, Eini 

C.; Rummer, Robert B. 2007. User guide for HCR 

Estimator 2.0: Software to calculate cost and revenue 

thresholds for harvesting small-diameter ponderosa 

pine. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-748. Portland, OR: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Research Station. 51 p.

Annotation: The HCR Estimator is engineering and financial analysis software used to evaluate stand-level financial thresholds for harvesting small-diameter ponderosa pine in the southwest United States. The HCR can help 

contractors and planners identify costs associated with tree 

selection, residual handling, transportation of raw materials, and equipment use. Costs are compared against total 

financial return for regionally based market opportunities 

to calculate potential net profit. Information is used to 

identify per-acre cost thresholds for contract appraisal and 

for prioritizing project planning for wildfire fuel reduction 

treatments and forest restoration efforts.

Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/gtr748.

Data requirements: Cut-tree data, harvesting system, 

equipment information, wage and benefit rates, 

equipment mobilization distance, simulated log and 

biomass markets and distance, overhead and indirect 

costs, and desired profit margin.

Contact: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/contact/index.shtml.

Last updated: 2008

• • • • •

USDA Forest Service Region 6 Forest 

Products Web Page: Logging Systems 

and Economic Programs

Annotation: This website contains information, programs, 

and forms used to implement forest health maintenance, 

restoration, and improvement projects on the 19 National 

Forests in Oregon and Washington. The website houses 

many executable programs developed by the USDA Forest 

Service, and the software is public domain. Programs can 

only be installed on IBM-compatible machines.

Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/fp/FPWebPage/

FP70104A/Programs.htm.

Data requirements: Variable; program specific.

Contact: Rick Toupin: rtoupin@fs.fed.us

Last updated: 2008

• • • • •

USDA Forest Service Southern 

Research Station Moisture Content 

Converter

Annotation: This is an Excel spreadsheet that converts 

wood moisture contents from either dry basis to wet 

basis or wet basis to dry basis. The moisture content 

of biomass affects the gross weight of the material that 

is being handled. Green material will have a higher 

density than drier material because of the extra water 

weight in the cells of the wood. In biomass markets, it 

is important for all parties to have a common understanding of the dry mass of material that is being sold 

or processed. Generally, biomass loads are sampled 

for moisture content and then converted to a dry-basis 

measure such as “bone dry tons” or “bone dry units.”

Available: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/forestops/

downloads/MC_Converter.xls.

Data requirements: Percent moisture content to 

convert.

Contact: Jason Thompson: jasonthompson@fs.fed.us

Last updated: 2008

• • • • •

USDA Forest Service Southern 

Research Station Biomass Heat Values 

by Tree Species

Annotation: Located at this website are tables of heat 

of combustion (Btu per ovendry pound) of stems and 

branches of 6-inch diameter breast height (DBH) trees 

from 22 hardwood species growing on southern pine 

sites. Heat value, or heat of combustion, is defined as 

the total amount of heat obtainable from ovendry material when burned in an enclosure of constant volume, 

allowing no deductions for heat losses. Heat value is 

useful to know when dealing with biomass.

Available: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/forestops/

biomass.htm.

Data requirements: Species.

Contact: Jason Thompson: jasonthompson@fs.fed.us

Last updated: 2007

• • • • •
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 5

WEBOFIRE

Annotation: WEBOFIRE links stand inventory data 

and visualizations with the Fire and Fuels Extension 

(http://www.fs.fed.us/fmsc/fvs/description/ffe-fvs.shtml) and the Fuel Characteristic Classification System 

(http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/fera/fccs) to estimate fire 

and fuel potentials. WEBOFIRE provides users with 

estimates of fire hazard associated with existing forest 

conditions in terms of fire behavior potential, crown 

fire potential, and available fuel potential; estimates of 

the effectiveness of the selected treatment alternative 

in reducing hazard; and estimates of net revenue associated with the selected treatment alternative.

Available: http://webofire.cfc.umt.edu/webofire/%28b

opuyhan54dkjjuo00x2puig%29/Default.aspx.

Data Requirements: Three options: (1) select stand 

by visualization, (2) enter stand inventory data 

(species, trees per acre by diameter class, height, 

and crown ratio), or (3) upload existing stand data 

(XML file).

Contact: webofire.support@cfc.umt.edu

Last updated: June 2009
6 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Abt, Karen L.; Prestemon, Jeffrey P. 2006. Timber 

markets and fuel treatments in the western US.

Natural Resource Modeling. 19(1): 15-43.

Abstract: This paper presents a model of interrelated 

timber markets in the U.S. West in order to assess the 

impacts of large-scale fuel reduction programs on those 

markets and concomitant effects of the market on the 

fuel reduction programs. The model maximizes area 

treated, given fire regime-condition class priorities, 

maximum increases in softwood processing capacity, 

maximum rates of annual treatments, prohibitions on 

exports of U.S. and Canadian softwood logs from public lands, and a fixed annual treatment budget. Results 

show that the loss to U.S. private timber producers is 

less than the gains for timber consumers (mills).

Keywords: wildfire, mechanical treatments, spatial 

equilibrium, welfare

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Alabama Forestry Commission. 2009. Woody 

biomass energy opportunities in Alabama.

Montgomery, AL: Alabama Forestry Commission. 

Available: http://216.226.177.78/Biomass/Woody%20

Biomass%20Energy%20Opportunities%20in%20

Alabama.pdf.

Abstract: This publication provides information on the 

woody biomass materials available in Alabama, timber 

harvest and price trends, and per unit cost comparisons 

with traditional energy sources. It also contains references to information useful to investors when deciding 

whether or not to install wood-using energy systems. 

References are provided to manufacturers of woodusing energy systems, grant sources, tax credit incentives, and case studies of others who have installed 

successful systems.

Keywords: biomass, harvest cost, timber price

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Angus-Hankin, C.; Stokes, B.; Twaddle, A. 1995. 

The transportation of fuelwood from forest to facility. Biomass and Bioenergy. 9 (1-5): 191-203.

Abstract: In spite of its simplicity, secondary transport 

is typically responsible for between 20 and 40 percent 

of the delivered fuel cost. To achieve a full payload 

within maximum allowable load dimension restrictions, the transported material must have a minimum 

bulk density of about 250 to 280 kg/m3

. While conventional forest products generally exceed this limit, fuelwood in an unprocessed form may have a bulk density 

of only 120 to 150 kg/m3

. Processing fuelwood to a 

chip allows the use of standard transport systems that 

are designed to transport wood chips for the pulp sector. Major technological gains to improve the transport 

efficiencies of fuelwood are unlikely in the immediate 

future.

Keywords: wood fuel, residues, transportation, bulk 

density

Geographic relevance: Nondescript

• • • • •

Arola, Rodger A.; Miyata, Edwin W. 1981. 

Harvesting wood for energy. Res. Pap. NC-200. St. 

Paul, MN: U.S. Deptartment of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 

28 p.

Abstract: This paper illustrates the potential of harvesting wood for industrial energy, based on the results 

of five harvesting studies, and it presents information 

on harvesting operations, equipment costs, and productivity. It further discusses mechanized thinning of hardwoods, clearcutting of low-value stands, and recovery 

of hardwood tops and limbs and includes basic information on the physical and fuel properties of wood.

Keywords: logging, whole-tree chipping, fuelwood, 

mechanized thinning, clearcutting, residues 

Geographic relevance: Michigan

• • • • •

Arriagada, Rodrigo A.; Cubbage, Frederick W.; 

Abt, Karen Lee; Huggett, Robert J., Jr. 2008. 

Estimating harvest costs for fuel treatments in the 

West. Forest Products Journal. 58 (7/8): 24-30.

Abstract: The costs for harvesting timber for forest fire fuel reduction purposes were estimated for 

12 states in the U.S. West. These simulation inputs 

Section 2: Biomass Production, Cost, and Related Literature
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 7

were used to estimate average costs for 12,039 Forest 

Inventory and Analysis plots in the West, and then 

that FRCS output was used develop regression equations that estimated costs as a function of small-, medium-, and large-sized trees per acre as well as slope. 

Ground-based, mechanical, whole-tree harvesting systems were cheapest in the areas where they could be 

used, with a mean cost of $620 per acre. The other three 

ground-based systems had mean costs that ranged from 

$958 to $1627 per acre. Cable yarder systems’ mean 

costs were much more expensive at $2794 and $3535 

per acre. The results indicate that fuel reduction harvests in the West are expensive, and the results provide 

magnitudes of these costs that can be used for planning 

and budgeting purposes for landowners and forestry 

professionals.

Keywords: fuel treatment, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Ashmore, Colin; Sirois, Donald L.; Stokes, Bryce 

J. 1987. Evaluation of roll designs on a roll-crusher/ crusher/splitter biomass harvester: test bench 

results. Proceedings of the southern forest biomass 

workshop; 1986 June 16-19; Knoxville, TN. Muscle 

Shoals, AL: Tennessee Valley Authority: 113-116.

Abstract: An alternative to conventional methods of 

processing small-diameter trees for energy use is roll 

crushing/splitting. The concept involves crushing and 

splitting stems to expedite field drying and to facilitate 

handling. This method has been considered a feasible 

alternative for handling stems found in short-rotation 

harvesting. This paper reports on one of these objectives: the evaluation of roll designs by the Southern 

Forest Experiment Station for effectively feeding 

woody southern biomass into a set of crush rolls. For 

each of four roll designs, the specific objectives were 

to determine feeding efficiencies, crushing/splitting efficiencies, and operating restraints that would allow the 

greatest range of material to feed through the primary 

and secondary rolls.

Keywords: biomass, crushing, splitting

Geographic relevance: Canada

• • • • •

Atkins, Dave; Rummer, Robert; Dodson, Beth; 

Thomas, Craig E.; Horcher, Andy; Messerlie, Ed; 

Rawlings, Craig; Haston, David. 2007. A report on 

conceptual advances in roll on/off technology in forestry. Missoula, MT: Smallwood News; 2007 October 

8: 1-14.

Abstract: This report summarizes advances in 

forest-related roll on/off container technology. It also 

outlines several studies that tested the economic and 

environmental viability of these technologies. Hookliftenabled trucks with roll on/off containers were found 

to make slash collection more efficient under certain 

conditions at remote landings. Also, several conceptual advances in roll on/off technology have been made, 

including the use of hooklift-enabled forwarders with 

roll on/off containers for slash and roll on/off bunks for 

logs. A multi-use grinder/processor boom attachment 

shows promise to make hooklift-enabled forwarders 

even more efficient for collecting slash and logs in the 

woods.

Keywords: biomass, roll on/off container, hooklift 

truck, forwarder

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •

Badger, Phillip C. 2002. Processing cost analysis for 

biomass feedstocks. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 

Oak Ridge, TN. ORNL/TM-2002/199.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify 

and characterize all the receiving, handling, storing, 

and processing steps required to make woody biomass 

feedstocks suitable for use in direct combustion and 

gasification applications, including in small modular 

biopower systems, and to estimate the capital and operating costs at each step. Since biopower applications 

can be varied, a number of conversion systems and 

feedstocks required evaluation. The boundaries of this 

study were from the power plant gate to the feedstock 

entry point into the conversion device.

Keywords: biomass, gasification, modular bioenergy, 

cost

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Bain, Richard L.; Overend, Ralph P. 2002. Biomass 

for heat and power. Forest Products Journal. 52(2): 

12-19.

Abstract: Bain and Overend provide a national history 

of biomass used for energy, a brief market and supply 

analysis, and a current status of technology, and they 

identify research needs.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy history

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •
8 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Barger, Roland L. 1979. The forest residues utilization R&D program. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-

30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, 

UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 5-16.

Abstract: This publication reports the results of research 

conducted by the Residues R&D Program in harvesting 

and utilization opportunities for forest residue. It also provides a record of proceedings of the three-day symposium 

that explored both research and industrial experience in 

residues utilization and a compendium of information useful to those involved or interested in improving the recovery and utilization of forest residues. 

Keywords: forest residues, wood utilization, timber 

harvesting, forest practices

Geographic relevance: Intermountain and Northern 

Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Barger, Roland L.; Benson, Robert E. 1979. Intensive 

utilization with conventional harvesting systems. In: 

Harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. 

Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station: 77-95.

Abstract: Field evaluations in this study included the use 

of in-woods chipping systems in gentle terrain, crawler 

skidder systems in gentle terrain, and skyline systems in 

steep terrain. In each situation, utilization standards ranged 

from conventional saw log utilization to near-total utilization of available fiber. Intensive utilization has been 

achieved concurrent with saw log harvesting, rather than 

through postharvest salvage. The total costs of harvesting 

merchantable material and residue together are partitioned 

to derive costs of residue recovery. Costs of recovery vary 

significantly among the case situations studied and vary 

with the method by which costs are allocated. Residue recovery costs commonly run $30 to $60 per dry ton.

Keywords: forest residues, timber harvesting, wood 

residues, utilization, logging systems, timber 

harvesting productivity

Geographic relevance: Rocky Mountain Region 

(Montana and Wyoming)

• • • • •

Barnett, Paul E.; Sirois, Donald L.; Ashmore, 

Colin. 1986. Reduction of biomass moisture by 

crushing/splitting—A concept. In: Proceedings of the 

southern forest biomass workshop: 1985 June 11-14; 

Gainesville, FL. University of Florida: 13-16.

Abstract: A biomass crusher/splitter concept is presented as a possible means of maintaining rights-ofway or harvesting energy wood plantations. The conceptual system would cut, crush, and split small woody 

biomass, leaving it in windrows for drying. A subsequent operation would bale and transport the dried material for use as an energy source. A survey of 20 southern power companies shows the potential applicability 

of a biomass harvesting system. Drying characteristics 

and power requirements are presented for three southern tree species.

Keywords: biomass, crusher/splitter, baler

Geographic relevance: Canada and southeastern 

United States

• • • • •

Baughman, Ronald K.; Stokes, Bryce J.; Watson, 

William F. 1990. Utilizing residues from in-woods 

flail processing. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of 

the International Energy Agency, task VI, activity 

3 workshop: Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1990 May 28; Copenhagen, Denmark. Auburn, 

AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Southern Forest Experiment Station: 21-30.

Abstract: A tub grinder was employed to process debris discharged by a flail. The machine successfully 

passed the material through a 7.62-cm screen and discharged the reduced debris into a chip van for transport. 

It was found that fuel production is directly dependent 

upon the production of clean chips by the flail/chipper 

portion of the system and the available biomass of the 

stand. Clean chips were produced at 57 green tonnes 

per productive machine hour (PMH) with fuel yields 

of 14 to 21 green tones per PMH. 

Keywords: biomass, grinder, chips

Geographic relevance: Oklahoma

• • • • •

Becker, Dennis R.; Abbas, Dalia; Halverson, 

Kathleen E.; Jakes, Pamela J.; McCaffrey, Sarah 

M.; Moseley, Cassandra. 2009. Characterizing lessons learned from Federal biomass removal projects. Final report submitted to Joint Fire Science 

Program, 07-3-2-08. Boise, Idaho.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 9

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify and 

assess biomass utilization challenges in different parts of 

the United States. The information collected through case 

studies was used to address persistent conventional wisdoms to biomass utilization that may help land managers 

better accomplish project objectives through informed 

planning and implementation. The information may also 

be used to illuminate particular barriers to biomass utilization that can be addressed through policy development at 

the local, state, or national level.

Keywords: biomass, policy

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Benson, Robert E.; Schlieter, Joyce A. 1979. Residue 

characteristics in the northern Rocky Mountains. In: 

Harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues 

in the northern Rocky Mountains: Symposium proceedings 

1979; November 28-30: Missoula, MT. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 33-43.

Abstract: In the northern Rocky Mountains, 350 to 450 

million cubic feet of logging residue is generated each 

year. Up to 60 percent of the residue material is technologically suitable for wood products; but condition, size, 

and product potential vary among forest types. Other factors that influence residue utilization are level of harvest, 

trends in wood processing, industrial uses, and economic 

conditions.

Keywords: forest residue, logging residue, utilization

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Benson, Robert E.; Johnston, Cameron M. 1976. 

Logging residues under different stand and harvesting conditions, Rocky Mountains. Res. Pap. INT-181. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station. 15 p.

Abstract: Volume and characteristics of logging residues 

from 34 clearcut and partial cut harvest areas are presented. 

Residue volumes ranged from almost 3600 cubic feet per 

acre down to 550 cubic feet per acre, depending on treatment. More than 60 percent of the residues were sound.

Keywords: biomass, logging residue, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho

• • • • •

Bergman R.; Zerbe, J. 2008. Primer on wood biomass for energy. (Rev. January 2008). Madison, WI: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, State 

and Private Forest Technology Marketing Unit, Forest 

Products Laboratory. Available: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/

documnts/tmu/biomass_energy/primer_on_wood_biomass_for_energy.pdf.

Abstract: This paper explains and describes the concepts 

of wood energy on a residential, commercial, and industrial 

scale in the United States so that the USDA Forest Service 

can help meet the demands of communities involved in 

the forest-products industry. In addition, terminology associated with this field is explained so that individuals can 

develop a basic understanding of and familiarity with technical terms common to bioenergy. Definitions specific to 

wood energy are given at the end of this report.

Keywords: biomass, forest products, bioenergy

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Blackard, J.A.; Finco, M.V.; Helmer, E.H.; Holden, 

G.R.; Hoppus, M.L.; Jacobs, D.M.; Lister, A.J.; 

Moisen, G.G.; Nelson, M.D.; Riemann, R.; Ruefenacht, 

B.; Salajanu, D.; Weyermann, D.L.; Winterberger, 

K.C.; Brandeis, T.J.; Czaplewski, R.L.; McRoberts, 

R.E.; Patterson, P.L.; Tymcio, R.P. 2008. Mapping U.S. 

forest biomass using nationwide forest inventory data 

and moderate resolution information. Remote Sensing 

of Environment. 112: 1658-1677.

Abstract: This paper presents a spatially explicit dataset 

of aboveground live forest biomass made from groundmeasured inventory plots for the conterminous United 

States, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. The plot data are from 

the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis 

program. To scale these plot data to maps, models relating 

field-measured response variables to plot attributes serving 

as the predictor variables were used. The mapping models 

for the United States are segmented into 65 ecologically 

similar mapping zones, plus Alaska and Puerto Rico. The 

authors found there was a tendency in all regions for the 

models to over-predict areas of small biomass and underpredict areas of large biomass, not capturing the full range 

in variability.

Keywords: forest biomass, MODIS, classification and 

regression trees, forest probability, carbon, FIA

Geographic relevance: United States, Alaska, and 

Puerto Rico

• • • • •
10 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Bolding, M. Chad; Lanford, Bobby L. 2005. 

Wildfire fuel harvesting and resultant biomass utilization using a cut-to-length/small chipper system.

Forest Products Journal. 55 (12): 181-189.

Abstract: This study examined and measured the 

feasibility of ground-based mechanical harvesting to 

reduce forest fuel buildup and produce energywood. 

This study shows that a cut-to-length harvesting system coupled with a small, in-woods chipper provided 

a low impact way to harvest pre-commercial trees and 

tops along with merchantable logs. A smaller, less expensive chipper allowed operations to stay small and 

more efficient when compared to a larger operation and 

grinder. Productivity and cost results showed that the 

system was capable of harvesting non-merchantable 

trees and utilizing non-merchantable portions of merchantable-sized trees as energywood chips.

Keywords: biomass, chipper, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Brinker, Richard W.; Tufts, Robert A. 1989. Wholetree chipping in the southern United States. In: 

Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the International Energy 

Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting 

small trees and forest residues; 1989 June 5-7; Auburn, 

AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Southern Forest Experiment Station: 140-149.

Abstract: This paper provides a general overview of 

chipping wood for pulp and energy wood including 

fuel chip production costs, problems, innovations, and 

system designs.

Keywords: biomass, chipper, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Southern United States

• • • • •

Brown, James K. 1978. Weight and density of crowns 

of Rocky Mountain Conifers. Res. Pap. INT-197. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station. 56 p.

Abstract: Relationships between live and dead crown 

weight and DBH, crown length, tree height, and crown 

ratio are presented for 11 Rocky Mountain conifers. 

Also included are partitioned estimates of crown foliage and branchwood. This study shows a high correlation between DBH and crown weight.

Keywords: tree biomass, crown sampling, crown 

weights, forest fuels

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains 

(Idaho and Montana)

• • • • •

Brown, James K. 1976. Predicting crown weights 

for 11 Rocky Mountain conifers. Working part on 

forest biomass, International Union of Forest Research 

Organizations congress; 1976 June 22; Oslo, Norway. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 103-115.

Abstract: For 11 conifer species in the Rocky 

Mountains, the best-fitting regression relationships between live and dead crown weight and DBH, crown 

length, tree height, and crown ratio were determined. 

Also determined were fractions of crown weight in foliage and branchwood diameter classes.

Keywords: tree biomass, crown sampling, crown 

weights, forest fuels

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains 

(Idaho and Montana)

• • • • •

Brown, James K.; Kendall Snell, J.A.; Bunnell, 

David L. 1977. Handbook for predicting slash 

weight of western conifers. Gen. Tech. Rep. INTGTR-37. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range 

Experiment Station. 35 p. 

Abstract: Procedures are provided for predicting 

weights of slash using tables of either slash weight per 

tree by DBH or slash weight per square foot of tree 

basal area by DBH. Slash weights include crowns and 

non-merchantable bole tips to 3- to 6-inch diameters. 

Slash can be predicted for material less than and greater than 3-inch diameters.

Keywords: tree biomass, slash, forest fuels

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains 

(Idaho and Montana)

• • • • •

Calkin, David; Gebert, Krista. 2006. Modeling 

fuel treatment costs on Forest Service lands in the 

western United States. Western Journal of Applied 

Forestry. 21(4): 217-221.

Abstract: This report was intended to increase the accuracy of cost data available for planning and prioritizing fuel 

management in National Forests. A survey of fire management officers was used to develop regression models 

that may be used to estimate the cost of hazardous fuel 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 11

reduction treatments. The model is based on USDA Forest 

Service Region, biophysical setting, treatment type, and 

design. The authors found that treatment size described the 

largest amount of variation in cost per acre, with increased 

size reducing cost per acre, on average. 

Keywords: fuel treatments, prescribed burning, 

economics

Geographic relevance: Continental United States

• • • • •

Cleaves, David; Martinez, Jorge; Haines, Terry. 

2000. Influences on prescribed burning activity 

and costs in the National Forest system. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. SRS-GTR-37. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research 

Station. 34 p.

Abstract: This study covers the results of survey concerning National Forest System prescribed burning activity 

and costs from 1985 to 1995. Four types of prescribed fire 

were looked at, including slash reduction; managementignited fires; prescribed natural fires; and brush, grass, 

and rangeland burns. Ninety-five of 114 national forests 

responded to the survey, providing rankings of importance 

for 9 resource enhancement targets, 14 possible barriers 

to burning, and 12 factors that influence burning costs. 

Furthermore, respondents were asked to anticipate burning levels over the next 10 years and what burning levels 

would be needed to achieve the desired management goals 

on National Forest System lands.

Keywords: ecosystem management, environmental 

laws, hazard reduction, management ignited fire, 

national forests, prescribed natural fire

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Clark, A.; Saucier, J.R. 1990. Table for estimating 

total-tree weights, stem weights, and volumes of 

planted and natural southern pine in the southeast.

Georgia Forestry Commission, Forest Research Paper 

79. 23 p.

Abstract: This article has tables and equations that can 

be used to estimate total-tree weights, stem weights, 

and volumes of plantation-grown loblolly and slash 

when DBH and height to a 4-inch top or total height 

are known.

Keywords: tree biomass, tree weight, stem weight, 

forest fuels

Geographic relevance: Mid-Atlantic and Southeast 

United States

• • • • •

Clark, A.; Saucier, J.R.; McNab, W.H. 1986. Totaltree weight, stem weight, and volume tables for 

hardwood species in the Southeast. Georgia Forestry 

Commission, Forest Research Paper 60. 44 p.

Abstract: This paper is a summary of the cooperative 

research with the USDA Forest Service, Southeastern 

Experiment Station and the Georgia Forestry 

Commission. Together, members of the agency conducted a study to develop reliable weight and volume 

equations and tables for the hardwoods in the Southeast 

that are commercially important. The tables and equations can be used to estimate the green weight of wood 

and bark and volume of wood excluding bark in the total 

tree, stem to a 4-inch top, and stem to sawlog top. The 

tables and equations contain estimates for numerous 

commercially viable southeastern hardwood species.

Keywords: tree biomass, tree weight, stem weight, 

forest fuels

Geographic relevance: Southeast United States

• • • • •

Conner, Roger C.; Adams, Tim O.; Johnson, Tony 

G. 2009. Assessing the potential for biomass energy 

development in South Carolina. Res. Pap. SRS-46. 

Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Southern Research Station. 19 p.

Abstract: This paper provides an assessment of the 

potential for developing a sustainable biomass energy 

industry in South Carolina. Several possible sources 

of biomass were analyzed: unutilized logging residue 

and standing residual inventory trees on acres with tree 

harvesting, commercial thinning, precommercial thinning on overstocked natural sapling/seedling stands, 

mill residue, and urban wood waste. A range of prices 

from $20 to $30 per ton was established using surveys 

sent to South Carolina’s timber producers (2008 market conditions). The estimates of potential biomass 

distributed across these price points rose from 4.8 million tons to a total of 16.5 million tons annually. Nearly 

7.7 million tons are being utilized. New facilities that 

use wood to produce energy could capitalize on the 8.8 

million annual tons of unutilized biomass and operate 

without overly impacting existing forest industries or 

increasing harvest levels above 2006 estimates.

Keywords: biofuel, biomass markets, FIA, forest 

landowner, green tons, hardwood poletimber, haul 

distance, softwood poletimber, timberland

Geographic relevance: South Carolina

• • • • •
12 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Daugherty, Peter J.; Fried, Jeremy S. 2007. Jointly 

optimizing selection of fuel treatments and siting of 

forest biomass-based energy production facilities 

for landscape-scale fire hazard reduction. INFOR. 

45(1): 17-30.

Abstract: This study was conducted to look into landscape-scale fuel treatments for forest fire hazard reduction that can potentially produce large quantities of 

material suitable for biomass energy production. The 

analytic framework FIA BioSum addresses this situation by developing detailed data on forest conditions 

and production under alternative fuel treatment prescriptions and by computing haul costs to alternative 

sites where forest biomass-based energy production 

facilities could be constructed. This research presents 

a joint-optimization approach that simultaneously selects acres to be treated by fuel treatment prescription 

and assigns bioenergy production facility locations and 

capacities. Effects of alternative fuel treatment policies on fuel treatment effectiveness, economic feasibility, material produced, generating capacity supported, 

and the location and capacity of assigned facilities are 

evaluated.

Keywords: joint optimization, spatially explicit 

facility siting, forest biomass energy

Geographic relevance: Central Oregon and northern 

California

• • • • •

Demchik, Michael C.; Abbas, Dalia; Current, Dean; 

Arnosti, Don; Theimer, Myra; Johnson, Patty. 2009. 

Combining biomass harvest and forest fuel reduction in the Superior National Forest, Minnesota.

Journal of Forestry. 107 (5): 235-241.

Abstract: The impact of combined biomass/fuel reduction harvests on the pools of forest fuels was analyzed 

in this paper to determine whether biomass harvest 

reduced the cost of mechanical fuel treatments. Two 

potential biomass harvest systems were tested in wildland-urban interface areas on the Superior National 

Forest in Minnesota. Both systems performed similarly 

in terms of cost and efficiency at harvesting biomass. 

It was found that the cost of biomass harvest was impacted by site conditions, forwarding distance, number 

of units harvested with one machine haul, number of 

machines that were hauled, acres harvested, and roundwood inclusion. Income from the sale of biomass did 

not cover the costs of harvest and delivery.

Keywords: energy, harvesting, cost assessment 

Geographic relevance: Minnesota

• • • • •

Dwivedi, Puneet; Alavalapati, Janaki R.R. 2009. 

Stakeholders’ perceptions on forest biomass-based 

bioenergy development in the southern US. Energy 

Policy. 37 (5): 1999-2007.

Abstract: This study analyzes perceptions of four 

stakeholder groups regarding forest biomass-based 

bioenergy development in the southern United States. 

Results suggest that non-governmental organization 

representatives perceived rural development as an important opportunity. The government stakeholder group 

noted that less or no competition with food production 

and promoting energy security were major strength 

factors. Conversion technologies that are still under 

trial were identified as a major weakness by industry 

representatives. Representatives of academia felt that 

the competition from other renewable energy sources 

could be a major threat. Overall, all stakeholder groups 

were in favor of forest biomass-based bioenergy development in the southern United States.

Keywords: southern United States, forest biomassbased bioenergy development, stakeholders’ 

perceptions

Geographic relevance: Southern United States

• • • • •

Edman, F. Talmage. 1989. Small stem thinning in 

the Pacific Northwest with barking and chipping 

in the woods. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the 

International Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1989 

June 5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 

126-130.

Abstract: This paper provides a brief history of 

the development of a system to economically thin 

overstocked, naturally seeded stands in the Pacific 

Northwest. It also provides a comparison of flail debarking efficiency in the woods with small alder systems with a pulp log debarker in a satellite yard.

Keywords: thinning, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Puget Sound and Washington

• • • • •

Emergent Solutions, Christopher Allen and 

Associates. 2003. Pre-feasibility assessment: Small 

diameter under (SDU) wood feedstock for a 10 MW 

co-generation facility at the Milltown dam site.

Submitted to U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Montana 

Community Development Corporation, Bonner 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 13

Development Group. Available: http://www.mtcdc.

org/news-events/reportspublications.html.

Abstract: This pre-feasibility assessment was conducted to explore the potential of using SDU wood 

from local forests as the feedstock for a 10 MW cogen plant concept at the Milltown Dam site. The assessment indicates that with green tags and Federal 

tax credit for renewable energy production, the highest 

likely price for the sale of electricity from the facility 

would be approximately $.077 per kWh. Typical generation costs in large-scale direct-fired biomass plants

are $.09 per kWh. The assessment also indicates that 

sufficient woody biomass is physically available from 

local forests to meet the 84,000 BDT per year feedstock requirement of a 10 MW facility.

Keywords: biomass, biomass power, bioenergy, cogeneration

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •

Evans, Alexander M. 2008. Synthesis of knowledge 

from woody biomass removal case studies. Santa Fe, 

NM: The Forest Guild. 39 p.

Abstract: Woody biomass—usually logging slash, 

tops and limbs, or trees that cannot be sold as timber—

is the lowest valued material removed from the forest 

and presents economic and logistic challenges. This 

report brings together 45 case studies of how biomass 

is removed from forests and used across the country to 

demonstrate the wide variety of successful strategies, 

funding sources, harvesting operations, utilization outlets, and silvicultural prescriptions.

Keywords: biomass, harvest cost, silviculture

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Evans, Alexander M.; Perschel, Robert T. 2009. An 

assessment of biomass harvesting guidelines. Santa 

Fe, NM: The Forest Guild. 20 p.

Abstract: This report compares the guidelines for 

harvesting woody biomass from various states including Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and 

Wisconsin. The biomass harvesting guidelines as well 

as this paper cover topics such as dead wood, wildlife, 

water quality, soil productivity, silviculture, and disturbance as it pertains to biomass removal.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Northeast United States and 

Canada

• • • • •

Eza, Douglas A.; McMinn, James W.; Dress, Peter 

E. 1984. Wood Residue Distribution Simulator 

(WORDS). Gen. Tech. Rep. SE-28. Asheville, NC: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6 p.

Abstract: WORDS attempts to find a least-cost allocation of residues from local sources of supply to local sources of demand, given the cost of the materials, 

their distribution, and the distribution of demand. The 

results are useful in evaluating the feasibility of developing wood energy either for a sub-region in general 

or for specific locales. This paper gives an example of 

WORDS application to mill residues in the State of 

Georgia.

Keywords: energy, supply, demand, Georgia

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Fahey, Thomas D. 1979. Value ranking for utilizing 

lodgepole pine residues. In: Harvesting and utilization 

opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 

28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 239-250.

Abstract: Relative values per ton of log input are developed for poles, corral poles, house logs, lumber, 

studs, veneer, chips, and fuel on a current market basis. The techniques to reevaluate on different markets 

are demonstrated. Product specifications, demand, 

and potential to salvage significant volumes are also 

addressed.

Keywords: residues, forest products, lodgepole pine, 

poles, house logs, lumber, veneer, chips

Geographic relevance: Rocky Mountain Region

• • • • •

Faurot, James L. 1977. Estimating merchantable 

volume and stem residue in four timber species: ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, western larch, Douglas 

fir. Res. Pap. INT-196. Ogden UT: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station. 55 p.

Abstract: This report presents tables and equations 

for estimating total cubic volumes of wood, wood 

residue, and bark for ponderosa pine, western larch, 

and Douglas-fir. The equations and tables provide a 

means for estimating wood and bark residue volumes 

from tops, bole sections, and smaller sub-merchantable 
14 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

stems. Tables and equations can also be used to estimate total cubic volume for the size classes, species, 

and locales sampled.

Keywords: tree biomass, residue, bark, forest fuels

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •

Fiedler, Carl E.; Keegan, Charles E., III; Wichman, 

Daniel P.; Arno, Stephen F. 1999. Product and economic implications of ecological restoration. Forest 

Products Journal. 49 (2): 19-23.

Abstract: This study evaluated restoration prescriptions for three widely occurring ponderosa pine stand 

conditions, and researchers determined to what level 

the value of product removal could finance the treatment costs. The article compares the cost in both terrain suitable for ground-based harvesting systems as 

well as in cable systems and with or without a roundwood/pulpwood market.

Keywords: biomass, harvest cost, pulp market

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Fiedler, Carl E.; Keegan, Charles E.; Morgan, Todd 

A.; Woodall, Christopher W. 2003. Fire hazard and 

potential treatment effectiveness: a statewide assessment in Montana. Journal of Forestry. 101(2): 7.

Abstract: This assessment of Montana used data collected from Forest Inventory and Analysis plots across 

Montana and is summarized by forest type, density, 

and structure. The focus of the analysis was ponderosa 

pine/Douglas-fir/dry mixed conifer forests that had historically seen low-intensity fires. Applying the Fire and 

Fuels Extension to the Forest Vegetation Simulator, 

crown fire hazard was modeled and two fire hazard reduction approaches, a thin from below approach and 

a comprehensive ecologically based treatment, were 

evaluated. 

Keywords: fuel treatment, fire hazard, silviculture

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •

Fight, Roger D.; Barbour, James R. 2005. Financial 

analysis of fuel treatments. Gen. Tech. Rep. 

PNW-GTR-662. Portland, OR: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest 

Research Station. 20 p. 

Abstract: This paper discusses the My Fuel Treatment 

Planner software to show the effect treatment variables have on the cost and net revenue from fire hazard 

reduction treatments in dry forest types of the western 

United States. The study was meant to help design a 

hazard reduction treatment with cost estimation of four 

ground-based systems, four cable systems, and two helicopter systems. 

Keywords: financial analysis, silviculture, fire, 

prescriptions, economics, fuel treatments

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Fire Science Digest. 2009. Making biomass pay: obstacles and opportunities. Joint Fire Science Program, 

issue 6. Available: http://www.firescience.gov/Digest/

FSdigest6.pdf.

Abstract: Getting woody biomass from the forest to 

the consumer is economically and logistically difficult, 

and efforts to make biomass utilization profitable have 

been disappointing so far. Joint Fire Science Programfunded researchers have found that, while there is no 

recipe for building a successful economy around forest 

biomass, certain elements are essential: commitment 

and budget support from land-management agency 

leaders, processing and transportation infrastructure, 

developed or potential markets, and the ability of community members to work together. The researchers’ 

findings give land managers and community leaders a 

basis for assessing whether biomass utilization can be 

successful in their communities.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy market, land 

management

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Forest Guild. 2008. Woody biomass removal case 

studies. Santa Fe, NM: Forest Guild. Available: http://

biomass.forestguild.org.

Abstract: These case studies show that all aspects of 

woody biomass removals, from markets to mechanization, are evolving. This report identifies the building blocks for successful biomass projects–including 

public involvement, partnerships with contractors, and 

judicious mechanization of harvesting operations–that 

are present in the management of many forests across 

the country.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy market, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: United States and Alaska

• • • • •
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 15

Forest Resources Association. 2007a. Adding a chipper to a treelength system for biomass collection.

Technical Release 07-R-3. Rockville, MD. Available: 

http://www.forestresources.org.

Abstract: Forest Resources Association partnered with 

Langdale Industries of Valdosta, Georgia, to evaluate 

the performance of a tree-length Southern pine operation that added a small Conehead 565 chipper to chip 

material otherwise left in the woods. Three treatments 

were evaluated: in one treatment there was no attempt 

to harvest and chip unmerchantable material, but the 

other two treatments included unmerchantable material chipping. The crew produced an average of 8 loads 

of roundwood per day in the chipper treatments and 9 

loads per day in the conventional treatments. A load of 

chips was produced for every 5 and 18 loads of roundwood in chipper treatments.

Keywords: biomass, chipper

Geographic relevance: Georgia

• • • • •

Forest Resources Association. 2007b. Chipping biomass: a challenge in first thinnings. Technical Release 

07-R-32. Rockville, MD. Available: http://www.

forestresources.org.

Abstract: Forest Resources Association partnered with 

Langdale Industries of Valdosta, Georgia, to evaluate 

the performance of a tree-length Southern pine operation that added a small Conehead 570 chipper to chip 

material otherwise left in the woods. Two treatments 

were evaluated: a clearcut and a first thinning. The 

clearcut removed around 65 tons per acre of roundwood compared to 20 tons per acre in the first thinning. 

If only limbs and tops were chipped, the volumes per 

acre of biomass chips were similar: 3.8 tons per acre in 

the clearcut and 3.0 tons per acre in the thinning. When 

understory was also chipped, the volumes of biomass 

chips differed significantly. The clearcut produced 10.8 

tons per acre when limbs, tops, and understory were 

chipped, compared to 20.0 tons per acre with this treatment in the first thinning.

Keywords: biomass, chipper

Geographic relevance: Georgia

• • • • •

Forest Resources Association. 2008a. Gathering 

and transporting hogfuel from logging slash. 

Technical Release 08-R-28. Rockville, MD. Available: 

http://www.forestresources.org.

Abstract: This paper provides a brief description of how 

an Idaho logging contractor has developed an innovative 

collection and transportation method for gathering scattered logging slash and then processing and concentrating it into volumes more easily accessed by chip vans. 

Maneuverable, high-sided farm trucks with modified, 

easily latched rear gates collect the processed slash as 

the grinder moves along the road and then transport the 

material to a nearby road intersection or other location 

where typical 53-foot quad-axle chip vans can more efficiently turn themselves around and be loaded. A frontend loader fills each van with 8 to 12 loads.

Keywords: biomass, grinder, chip van

Geographic relevance: Idaho

• • • • •

Forest Resources Association. 2008b. New sizing 

head for processing slash piles. Technical Release 

08-R-29. Rockville, MD. Available: http://www.

forestresources.org.

Abstract: Working with neighboring industrial forest landowners, Grays Harbor Paper in Hoquiam, 

Washington, has developed a new processor head to 

help secure additional hogfuel from existing logging 

slash piles. The processing head consists of a brush 

grapple with one chain saw mounted on each side, 

configured so that an operator can control each independently. When the operator picks up a full grapple of 

slash, he or she can trim the material sticking out at either side, creating shorter length stems and, ultimately, 

a denser material that is ready to transport.

Keywords: biomass, forest engineering, processor

Geographic relevance: Washington

• • • • •

Fresco, Nancy; Chapin, Stuart F., III. 2009. 

Assessing the potential for conversion to biomass 

fuels in interior Alaska. Res. Pap. PNW-RP-579. 

Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 56 p.

Abstract: The feasibility of switching from fossil fuels 

to wood energy in rural Alaskan villages in forested 

regions of interior Alaska were assessed in this study. 

This analysis demonstrated that conversion to biomass 

fuels is economically viable and socially beneficial for 

many villages across interior Alaska. Modeling results 

based on recent data on rural energy use, demographics, economics, and forest dynamics indicated that 

the installation costs of biomass systems would be recouped within 10 years for at least 21 communities in 

the region. In addition, results showed that all but the 

largest remote communities could meet all their electrical demand and some heating needs with a sustainable 
16 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

harvest of biomass within a radius of 10 km of the 

village. Biomass conversion also offers potential social benefits of providing local employment, retaining 

money locally, and reducing the risk of catastrophic 

wildfire near human habitation.

Keywords: biomass fuel, carbon offset, interior 

Alaska, wood energy

Geographic relevance: Alaska

• • • • •

Fried, J.S.; Christensen, G.; Weyermann, D.; 

Barbour, R.J.; Fight, R.; Hiserote, B.; Pinjuv, G. 

2005. Modeling opportunities and feasibility of 

siting wood-fired electrical generating facilities to 

facilitate landscape-scale fuel treatment with FIA 

BioSum. In: Bevers, Michael; Barrett, Tara M., comps. 

Systems analysis in forest resources: Proceedings of 

the 2003 Symposium; 2003 October 7-9; Stevenson, 

WA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-656. Portland, OR: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Research Station: 195-204.

Abstract: The FIA BioSum modeling framework that 

incorporates Forest Inventory and Analysis plot data, a 

transportation cost model, a treatment cost accounting 

module, a log valuation model, and a crown fire hazard 

evaluator was applied to a 28 million-acre study area of 

western Oregon and northern California. It was shown 

that with four 50 MW biomass-fueled power plants 

strategically distributed over the study area, up to 5.3 

million acres could be effectively treated with net revenue of $2.6 billion, a merchantable yield of 9.5 billion 

cubic feet, and a biomass yield of 79 million green tons 

if net-revenue maximizing fuel treatments are selected.

Keywords: FIA, biomass, bioenergy

Geographic relevance: Western Oregon and northern 

California

• • • • •

Gan, Jianbang; Smith, C.T. 2007. Co-benefits of 

utilizing logging residues for bioenergy production: The case for East Texas, USA. Biomass and 

Bioenergy. 31(9): 623-630.

Abstract: This study evaluated the co-benefits associated 

with utilizing logging residues for electricity production in 

East Texas, USA. The benefits evaluated included the value of carbon dioxide emissions displaced due to substituting logging residues for coal in power generation, reductions in site preparation costs during forest regeneration, 

and creation of jobs and income in local communities. 

Based on the 2004 Forest Inventory Analysis data and a 70 

percent biomass recovery rate, annual recoverable logging 

residues in East Texas were estimated at 1.3 megatons 

(dry). These residues, if used for electricity production, 

would displace about 2.44 megatons of carbon dioxide. 

Removing logging residues would also save $200 to $250 

per hectare in site preparation costs. Input-output modeling revealed that logging residue procurement results in 

about 1340 new jobs created and $215 million in valueadded generated annually. 

Keywords: forest residues, carbon value, site preparation 

costs, community impact, electricity

Geographic relevance: Texas

• • • • •

Gibson, L. 2007. WMSP economic assessment. 

Conducted for WMSP multi-party monitoring FAO 

2001. Global forest resources assessment. Forestry Paper 

140. Rome, Italy: 75-80.

Abstract: The goal of this paper was to look into the 

Healthy Forests Initiative to find the economic impacts on 

the timber harvesting and processing industry in Arizona’s 

White Mountain Region. The goal of the study was to 

obtain a factual and critical baseline that quantitatively 

describes changes in firms in the forest industries in the 

Region and that point out new ways that the area might 

capitalize on current and potential industry for more economic benefit from the forest cluster.

Keywords: HFRI, biomass

Geographic relevance: Arizona

• • • • •

Gingras, J-F. 1995. Harvesting small trees and forest 

residues. Biomass and Bioenergy. 9 (1-5): 153-160.

Abstract: This report summarizes the progress achieved 

under the auspices of the activity “Harvesting small trees 

and forest residues” during 1992 to 1994. The work included literature reviews to assess potentially recoverable material as a function of harvesting system, analysis 

of factors affecting chipping quality and productivity, a 

comparison of firewood processing technologies, small 

tree and residue harvesting method reviews, a description 

of some prototype combination machines for recovering 

roundwood and forest biomass, and an update on multipletree handling harvester head development in the Nordic 

countries.

Keywords: harvesting, residues, forest biomass, 

firewood, multiple-tree handling

Geographic relevance: Canada, Finland, Norway, 

United Kingdom, and Sweden

• • • • •
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 17

Gonsior, Michael J. 1979. Outlook for new harvesting technology. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 

28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 113-146.

Abstract: This paper analyzes harvesting as well as 

its role in the total forest management picture. Models 

are presented for testing the sensitivity of total management cost and the harvesting components of cost 

to alternative silvicultural, utilization, and other forest 

management objectives. These models were used to 

discern opportunities for new harvesting technology.

Keywords: logging systems, timber harvesting, forest 

management, cost modeling, new technology

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Grushecky, Shawn T.; Wang, Jingxin; McGill, 

David W. 2007. Influence of site characteristics 

and costs of extraction and trucking on logging 

residue utilization in southern West Virginia. Forest 

Products Journal. 57 (7/8): 63-67.

Abstract: In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between logging residue accumulations and 

site characteristics on 70 timber harvests in southern 

West Virginia. The average overall weight of wood 

residue remaining after timber harvest in the 14-county 

region was 10.4 tons per acre. Scenarios of residue extraction and trucking indicated a cost range of $58.20 

per cunit or $94.30 per million board feet (MBF) to 

$193.10 per cunit ($312.80 per MBF). These results 

suggest that extracting residues to the landing during 

harvesting would be most cost-effective. Likewise, the 

use of grapple skidders and appropriate loading and 

trucking equipment would be more economical than 

other systems modeled.

Keywords: biomass, logging residue, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: West Virginia

• • • • •

Hall, Richard B. 2008. Woody bioenergy systems in the United States. In: Zalesny, Ronald S., 

Jr.; Mitchell, Rob; Richardson, Jim, eds. Biofuels, 

bioenergy, and bioproducts from sustainable agricultural and forest crops: Proceedings of the short 

rotation crops international conference; 2008 August 

19-20; Bloomington, MN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-31. 

Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 18.

Abstract: This paper describes how most wood bioenergy crop systems in the United States are still in the 

early stages of development, with a wide variety of approaches under test in different regions of the country. 

In the United States, dedicated wood biomass cropland 

is expected to increase to more than 2 million hectares 

with an average production rate of 18 tons per hectare. 

Another 334 million dry tons per year can come from 

forest residues and wood wastes. This short paper provides a few examples.

Keywords: adoption impediments, cultural systems, 

Populus, Salix, yields

Geographic relevance: United States (New York, 

Pacific Northwest, and Minnesota)

• • • • •

Hampton, H.M.; Sesnie, S.E.; Dickson, B.G.; 

Rundall, J.M.; Sisk, T.D; Snider, G.B.; Bailey, J.D. 

2008. Analysis of small-diameter wood supply in 

northern Arizona. Forest Ecosystem Restoration 

Analysis Project, Center for Environmental Sciences 

and Education. Flagstaff, AZ: Northern Arizona 

University. 210 p.

Abstract: This report describes how forest products 

businesses are likely to play a key role in achieving 

forest management activities to restore fire-adapted 

ponderosa pine ecosystems in northern Arizona by 

reducing treatment costs and providing economic opportunities through harvesting, processing, and selling 

wood products. A 20-member working group was put 

together to identify a level of forest thinning treatments 

as well as potential wood supply from restoration byproducts in northern Arizona. Study participants developed up-to-date, remote sensing-based forest structure 

data layers to inform the development of treatment 

scenarios and to estimate wood volume. If mechanical 

thinning occurred on 41 percent of the landscape analyzed, a total of 850 million cubic feet of wood byproducts from tree boles alone and an additional 8 million 

green tons from branches and other tree crown biomass 

would be available.

Keywords: biomass, treatment cost, GIS

Geographic relevance: Northern Arizona

• • • • •
18 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Han, H.; Halbrook, J.; Pan, F. 2008. Economic evaluation of a roll-off trucking system removing forest 

biomass resulting from shaded fuelbreak treatments. Submitted to U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Eureka, CA. Arcata, CA: Humboldt 

State University. 28 p.

Abstract: This study shows that mechanical removal 

of slash has not been successfully implemented in 

many areas due to limited accessibility to sites and 

the high costs associated with slash collection and 

transportation. To address these issues, a roll-off truck 

paired with a small skid-steer loader was used to collect and transport slash to a centralized processing site 

where slash was ground as hogfuel for energy production. Financial analysis indicated that contractors can 

receive high rates of return on their invested capital after accounting for inflation and income taxes, but limited work opportunities are a concern for contractors.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy, fuel treatment, forest 

fires, roll-off containers

Geographic relevance: Northern California

• • • • •

Han, Han-Sup; Lee, Harry W.; Johnson, Leonard 

R.; Folk, Richard L.; Gorman, Thomas M. 2002. 

Economic feasibility of small wood harvesting and 

utilization on the Boise National Forest—Cascade, 

Idaho City, Emmett Ranger Districts. Moscow, ID: 

University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, 

Department of Forest Products. 61 p.

Abstract: This report discusses opportunities for biomass energy in southwest Idaho, looking at the amount 

of biomass available and potential costs and economic 

feasibility of harvesting small-diameter trees. Biomass 

in this report is classified into three different potential 

sources: tops, limbs, and small stems (slash) generated 

from harvesting larger commercial timber; the volume 

generated from thinning younger stands; and chips, 

shavings, and sawdust generated from traditional manufacturing processes.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Idaho

• • • • •

Han, Han-Sup; Lee, Harry W.; Johnson, Leonard. 

2004. Economic feasibility of an integrated harvesting system for small-diameter trees in southwest 

Idaho. Forest Products Journal. 54 (2): 21-27.

Abstract: Considered in this article is the economic 

feasibility of small wood thinning and utilization 

in order to reduce the risk of wildfire in the Interior 

Northwest of the United States. The major factors influencing economic feasibility were forest harvesting 

methods used, road accessibility and conditions, hauling distances to processing facilities, and the market 

price of thinning materials. This article also includes 

a detailed discussion of tree volume and potential 

product recovery in (roundwood/sawlog, clean chip, 

biomass fuel) with respect to a variety of harvesting methods (stump-to-truck, skyline, helicopter, and 

mechanized whole-tree) and their associated economic 

considerations.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest, transportation

Geographic relevance: Idaho

• • • • •

Hardy, Colin C. 1998. Guidelines for estimating 

volume, biomass, and smoke production for piled 

slash. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-364. Portland, OR: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Research Station. 28 p.

Abstract: Guidelines in the form of a six-step approach are provided for estimating volumes, oven-dry 

mass, consumption, and particulate matter emissions 

for piled logging debris. Seven stylized pile shapes and 

their associated geometric volume formulae are used 

to estimate gross pile volumes. The gross volumes are 

then reduced to net wood volume by applying an appropriate wood-to-pile volume packing ratio. Next, 

the oven-dry mass of the pile is determined by using 

the wood density, or a weighted-average of two wood 

densities, for any of 14 tree species commonly piled 

and burned in the western United States. Finally, the 

percentage of biomass consumed is multiplied by an 

appropriate emission factor to determine the mass of 

particulate matter (PM; PM10 and PM2.5) produced 

from the burned pile. These estimates can be extended 

to represent multiple piles, or multiple groups of similar piles, to estimate the particulate emissions from an 

entire burn project.

Keywords: fuel, emissions, piled slash, smoke 

management

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Hartsough, Bruce R. 1989. Harvesting small stems 

and forest residues in the pacific southwestern 

United States. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the 

International Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1989 

June 5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 19

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 

100-107.

Abstract: At the time of this paper, most forest residues were too expensive to recover but some materials were being chipped at the roadside. This paper describes biomass-powered generating facilities and the 

sources of materials for the plants in California at the 

time it was produced.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy power plant, chipper

Geographic relevance: California

• • • • •

Hartsough, Bruce R.; Stokes, Bryce J. 1990. 

Comparison and feasibility of North American 

methods for harvesting small trees and residues 

for energy. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the 

International Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 workshop: Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1990 

May 28; Copenhagen, Denmark. Auburn, AL: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern 

Forest Experiment Station: 31-40.

Abstract: In this study, a database of North American 

harvesting systems was developed. Parameters for 

each system were site, material and product characteristics, equipment mix, and production rate. Onto-truck 

and delivered costs per green tonne and breakeven oil 

prices were developed using standard costing methods. 

Systems costs were compared over the ranges of piece 

size, volume per unit area removed, capital/labor ratio, 

and other variables. Feasibilities of various systems 

were also compared.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy, timber harvest

Geographic location: North America

• • • • •

Hartsough, Bruce R.; Drews, Erik S.; McNell, 

Joseph F.; Durston, Thomas A.; Stokes, Bryce J. 

1997. Comparison of mechanized systems for thinning ponderosa pine stands and mixed conifer 

stands. Forest Products Journal. 47(11/12): 59-68.

Abstract: This article presents a comparative study of 

three systems used for thinning pine plantations and 

mixed conifer stands: whole-tree methods, cut-tolength systems, and hybrid systems. All three produced 

small sawlogs and fuel chips. Time-motion data were 

collected to predict cost per unit volume.

Keywords: biomass, time-and-motion

Geographic relevance: California

• • • • •

Hartsough, Bruce R.; Zhang, Xiaoshan; Fight, 

Roger D. 2001. Harvesting cost model for small 

trees in natural stands in the interior northwest.

Forest Products Journal. 51(4): 54-70.

Abstract: Data from numerous published studies were 

combined to estimate the costs of harvesting small 

trees in natural stands in the Interior Northwest of 

North America. This article discusses cost estimates 

for harvesting small trees in natural stands. The cost 

relationships for six harvesting systems were modeled. 

Specifically, four harvesting methods for gentle terrain 

were discussed (manual log-length, manual whole-tree, 

mechanized whole-tree, mechanized cut-to-length systems), and two harvesting methods for steeper terrain 

were discussed (manual log-length and mechanized 

cut-to-length systems).

Keywords: biomass, harvest costs

Geographic relevance: Inland Northwest United 

States

• • • • •

Hazel, Dennis W.; Bardon, Robert E. 2008. 

Evaluating wood energy users in North Carolina 

and the potential for using logging chips to expand 

wood fuel use. Forest Products Journal. 58(5): 34-39.

Abstract: A survey to characterize the extent and 

nature of commercial-scale wood energy in North 

Carolina was sent to 200 primary wood-processing, 

secondary wood-manufacturing, and nonwood-processing facilities known to have used wood fuels in 

2004. Ninety-four percent of responding facilities estimated their energy savings were 40 percent or greater 

after using wood energy instead of fossil fuels. Twelve 

percent of facilities were generating electricity and 22 

percent expressed interest in exploring the feasibility 

of generating electricity. Results suggest most wood 

residues produced by wood-processing facilities in 

North Carolina are being used as fuel. Thus, expansion 

of wood energy must be based on use of logging chips 

or municipal woodwastes. The main constraints found 

for using logging chips as a fuel were price, moisture, 

dirt, and chip size. Facilities that purchase wood residues for fuel indicated a willingness to purchase logging chips at similar prices in the future.

Keywords: biomass, wood energy

Geographic relevance: North Carolina

• • • • •
20 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Henley, John W. 1979. Technical and economic 

aspects of harvesting dead lodgepole pine for energy. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities 

for forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: 

Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-30; 

Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, 

UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 

213-215.

Abstract: This study highlights the results of a study 

of the economic feasibility of harvesting dead lodgepole pine for fuel and products. Costs, production 

rates, and recoverable wood volumes were obtained 

from a three-month study of a whole-tree logging operation in which dead lodgepole was harvested for fuel 

and products.

Keywords: lodgepole pine, harvesting, energy, 

residues 

Geographic relevance: Oregon

• • • • •

Host, John R. 1979. Low capital investment logging 

systems. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities 

for forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: 

Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-30; 

Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, 

UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 

97-111.

Abstract: This report, part of a larger study of factors 

affecting the utilization of small trees, deals with the 

impact of capital investment on logging productivity. Equipment selling price is not an indicator of machine productivity. Translated into machine production 

costs, which do not include any wages, supervision, 

or overhead; it cost 12 to 48 cents to skid each piece, 

with higher costs associated with higher priced skidders. Ten skidders and 15 yarders were studied. The 

selling price of these machines ranged from $72,000 

to $240,000. Yarding costs varied directly with selling price and ranged from $1.10 to $4.30 per piece and 

$5.77 to $23.90 per cunit.

Keywords: capital productivity, logging production, 

logging costs, yarding, skidding

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Howard, James. 1978. A technique for predicting 

logging residue volumes in the Douglas-fir region.

Res. Pap. PNW-235. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest 

and Range Experiment Station. 14 p.

Abstract: This report presents the findings of a study 

for determining the feasibility of predicting the volume 

of logging residue on clearcuts prior to harvesting. Data 

were collected from 160 clearcuts on USDOI Bureau 

of Land Management and USDA National Forest lands 

in western Oregon and western Washington. Multiple 

regression techniques were used to develop equations 

relating preharvest stand and economic characteristics 

to measured residue volumes. The regression procedure 

resulted in the development of individual equations for 

each of four Bureau of Land Management Districts in 

western Oregon. Separate equations were also derived 

for the National Forests in Oregon and Washington. 

Keywords: residue measurements, clearcutting 

systems, computation, Oregon, Washington 

Geographic relevance: Pacific Northwest (Oregon 

and Washington)

• • • • •

Howard, James O. 1979. Wood for energy in the 

Pacific Northwest: An overview. Gen. Tech. Rep. 

PNW-GTR-094. Portland, OR: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest 

Research Station. 28 p.

Abstract: The first section describes fuel values and 

significant processes used to generate various energy 

products from wood. Physical, technical, and economic availability of the wood resource is discussed in the 

second section. The paper concludes with an outline 

of some critical problems in handling wood and some 

socioeconomic factors that impact the production of 

energy from wood.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy, wood utilization, 

Pacific Northwest

Geographic relevance: Pacific Northwest

• • • • •

Hunter, M.E.; Shepperd, W.D.; Lentile, J.E.; 

Lundquist, J.E.; Andreu, M.G.; Butler, J.L.; Smith, 

F.W. 2007. A comprehensive guide to fuels treatment practices for ponderosa pine in the Black 

Hills, Colorado Front Range, and Southwest. Gen. 

Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-198. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky 

Mountain Research Station. 93 p.

Abstract: This paper presents recommendations 

for fuels treatments in ponderosa pine forests in the 

Southwest, Colorado Front Range, and Black Hills of 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 21

South Dakota stemming from a synthesis of existing 

knowledge in the peer-reviewed literature and discussions with fuels treatment practitioners. Specific treatments; the circumstances under which they can be applied; treatment effects; and recommendations related 

to where, how, and how often fuels treatments may be 

prescribed to achieve desired outcomes are described.

Keywords: southwest, Black Hills, ponderosa pine, 

wildfire, forest thinning, prescribed fire

Geographic relevance: Southwest United States, 

Colorado Front Range, and South Dakota Black 

Hills

• • • • •

Hurteau, M.D.; Koch, G.W.; Hungate, B.A. 2008. 

Carbon protection and fire risk reduction: toward a 

full accounting of forest carbon offsets. Frontiers in 

Ecology and the Environment. 6(9): 493-498.

Abstract: This study looked into the carbon sequestering abilities of forests, and researchers found that 

policies in place promoted avoidable carbon releases 

and discouraged actions that would actually increase 

long-term carbon storage. After stand-replacing catastrophic fires moved through an area, the study found 

that thinning the area and implementing prescribed 

burns would have reduced the carbon dioxide release 

from live tree biomass by as much as 98 percent.

Keywords: biomass, carbon, prescribed fire

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Hurteau, Matthew; North, Malcolm. 2009. Fuel 

treatment effects on tree-based forest carbon storage and emissions under modeled wildfire scenarios. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 7(8): 

409-414.

Abstract: This paper provides results of modeling the 

effects of eight different fuel treatments on tree-based 

carbon (C) storage and release over a century, with and 

without wildfire. Model runs show that after a century of 

growth without wildfire, the control stored the most C. 

However, when wildfire was included in the model, the 

control had the largest total C emission and largest reduction in live-tree-based C stocks. In model runs including 

wildfire, the final amount of tree-based C sequestered 

was most affected by the stand structure initially produced by the different fuel treatments. In wildfire-prone 

forests, tree-based C stocks were best protected by fuel 

treatments that produced a low-density stand structure 

dominated by large, fire resistant pines.

Keywords: carbon, wildfire, fuel treatments

Geographic relevance: Sierra Nevada (California)

• • • • •

Ince, Peter J.; Henley, John W.; Grantham, John B.; 

Hunt, Douglas L. 1984. Costs of harvesting beetlemilled lodgepole pine in eastern Oregon. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. PNW-GTR-165. Portland, OR: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest 

Research Station. 32 p.

Abstract: The cost of harvesting and recovering roundwood logs and whole-tree chips from small-diameter 

lodgepole pine infested by mountain pine beetle was 

studied in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon in 

1979. The average cost of producing chips was $31.30 

per ton, wet, delivered 50 miles from harvest sites. A 

gross energy balance indicates that energy required by 

harvesting was about 3.4 percent of the gross energy 

content of the delivered products.

Keywords: logging enterprise costs, lodgepole pine, 

wood utilization, energy, insect damage, forest 

products, mountain pine beetle

Geographic relevance: Oregon

• • • • •

Jenkins, Jennifer C.; Chojnacky, David C.; Heath, 

Linda S.; Birdsey, Richard A. 2003. National scale 

biomass estimators for United States tree species.

Forest Science. 49: 12-35.

Abstract: This report compiled all available diameterbased allometric regression equations for estimating 

total aboveground and component biomass, defined in 

dry weight terms, for trees in the United States. A modified meta-analysis based on the published equations 

to develop a set of consistent, national-scale, aboveground biomass regression equations for U.S. species 

was implemented. Equations for predicting biomass of 

tree components were developed as proportions of total aboveground biomass for hardwood and softwood 

groups. This analysis represents the first major effort to 

compile and analyze all available biomass literature in 

a consistent, national-scale framework.

Keywords: allometric equations, forest biomass, 

forest inventory, global carbon cycle

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •
22 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Johansson, J.; Liss, J.; Gullberg, T.; Bjorheden, 

R. 2006. Transport and handling of forest energy 

bundles—advantages and problems. Biomass and 

Bioenergy. 30(4): 334-341.

Abstract: This study shows that bundles (especially if 

dry) are cheaper to transport than fuel chips in road 

transport bins. The useful cargo space is the limiting factor for trucks when transporting dry material. 

Transport cost decreased until the moisture content 

reached the critical levels: below 40.9 percent for 

chips in road transport bins and below 44.7 percent for 

bundles on timber truck. However, there are also other 

advantages with a dryer material.

Keywords: bundle, forest fuel, main hauling, 

terminal, timber truck, road transport, road 

transport bins, transport cost, wood chips

Geographic location: Sweden

• • • • •

Johnson, Leonard R. 1989. Recovery of woods residues in the Intermountain Region. In: Stokes, B.J., 

ed. Proceedings of the International Energy Agency, 

task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting small trees 

and forest residues; 1989 June 5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern 

Forest Experiment Station: 11-31.

Abstract: At the time of this paper, it was found that 

residue recovery operations in the Intermountain 

Region were mostly experimental, as mill residue supplies were adequate for hogfuel demand. However, it 

was recognized that future wood fiber supplies and 

environmental concerns would provide incentives and 

markets for more residue recovery from the woods. 

This paper summarizes residue recovery research 

projects using a variety of equipment. Cost results are 

provided.

Keywords: biomass, residues, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and 

Washington

• • • • •

Johnson, L. 2002. Adapting conventional harvesting equipment to small diameter stands—The Fritz 

Experiments. In: Baumgartner, D.M.; Johnson, L.R.; 

DePuit, E.J., comps. and eds. Small diameter timber: 

resource management, manufacturing, and markets; 

2002 February 25-27; Spokane, WA. Pullman, WA: 

Washington State University Cooperative Extension. 

MISC0509. 268 p.

Abstract: In this study, two units (one on steep slopes 

and one on gentle slopes) were harvested using variations to conventional harvesting systems in northeastern Washington. On the steep slope unit, cut-to-length 

processing and forwarding were observed in smalldiameter timber. Adjacent stands were harvested using 

the cut-to-length processor and a feller-buncher but 

were transported to the landing with a cable yarder. 

On the gentle slope units, cut-to-length harvesting at 

40-foot trail spacing was compared to whole-tree harvesting. Harvesting costs on the gentle slope units were 

significantly less than on the steep slopes. Whole-tree 

harvesting was the least costly system. On steep slopes, 

the lowest costs were observed with the cut-to-length 

processor and forwarder, followed by the costs of cable 

yarding and bunched logs uphill. The processing and 

bunching provided by the cut-to-length processor appeared to improve production of the cable yarder when 

handling small timber.

Keywords: cable-yarding, cut-to-length, whole-tree 

harvesting, small timber harvesting

Geographic relevance: Washington

• • • • •

Johnson, Maxine C. 1979. Residue utilization and 

the regional economy. In: Harvesting and utilization 

opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 

28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 289-292.

Abstract: This paper describes the state of the wood 

products industry and the economy of western Montana 

in the late 1970s. Forty to 45 percent of the earnings 

in western Montana’s basic or export industries at the 

time came from the wood products and paper industries. The author believed the future of forest industries 

in Montana depended mostly upon Montana’s ability 

to compete in the national market and upon the availability of raw materials. The author also believed that 

increased residue use may be Montana’s only chance 

of maintaining the forest industry at or near the level at 

the time this report was published. 

Keywords: residues utilization, timber availability, 

Montana

Geographic relevance: Rocky Mountain Region and 

Montana

• • • • •
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 23

Johnson, Morris C.; Peterson, David L. 2005. Forest 

fuel treatments in western North America: Merging 

silvicultural and fire management. The Forestry 

Chronicle. 81(3): 365-368.

Abstract: In order to accomplish complex and multiple management objectives related to forest structure, 

fuels, and fire disturbance, silviculture and fire management must be effectively integrated in science and 

practice. The authors linked scientific and management 

tools to develop an analytical approach that allows resource managers to quantify and evaluate the effectiveness of alternative fuel treatments in dry interior forests 

of western North America.

Keywords: fire behavior, fire hazard, fuel treatments, 

silviculture

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Keegan, Charles E., III. 1979. The economic availability of forest residue in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: a preliminary analysis. In: Harvesting 

and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the 

northern Rocky Mountains: Symposium proceedings 

1979; November 28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station: 55-63.

Abstract: The goal of this project was to estimate the 

cost of harvesting and transporting forest residues to 

processing centers in the northern Rocky Mountains. 

Regionwide estimates were to be made based on the 

detailed analyses of the volumes and types of forest 

residues available to selected individual manufacturing 

centers. The results of the analysis of the first manufacturing center are presented in this paper. The initial study area selected was Lincoln County, Montana, 

with Libby, Montana, as the processing center. It appears from the analysis that substantial volumes of logging residue material would be available at a cost that 

would allow for its use in fuel and reconstituted wood 

fiber products as well as solid wood products. 

Keywords: residue availability, residue utilization, 

residue cost 

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •

Keegan, C.E.; Niccolucci, M.J.; Fiedler, C.E.; Jones, 

J.G.; Regel, R.W. 2002. Harvest cost collection approaches and associated equations for restoration 

treatments on National Forests. Forest Products 

Journal. 52(7/8): 96-99.

Abstract: This article provides several harvest cost 

estimation methods for forest managers. Methods 

discussed include elements of stump-to-truck timber 

harvest cost estimation methods in ecosystem restoration prescriptions. Particular attention is given to cost 

estimation models for tractor and skyline systems in 

Montana with additional focus on cost variances incurred at different tree diameters and skidding/yarding 

distances.

Keywords: fuel treatments, harvest costs

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •

Keegan, Charles, III; Fiedler, Carl E.; Stewart, 

Fred J. 1995. Cost of timber harvest under traditional and “new forestry” silvicultural prescriptions. Western Journal of Applied Forestry. 10(1): 

36-42.

Abstract: Harvest costs were estimated for New 

Forestry silvicultural prescriptions designed for application on National Forest lands in western Montana. 

Estimates were derived using an expert opinion format 

and were compared using constant dollars with actual 

1991 costs based on more traditional prescriptions. 

Costs were developed for three major logging systems 

(tractor with hand-felling, tractor with mechanical-felling, and uphill skyline with hand-felling) and four major stand types (lodgepole pine, mature ponderosa pine/

Douglas-fir, second-growth pine/fir, and mixed conifer). Average harvest costs for New Forestry prescriptions ranged from no increase to 48 percent ($72 per 

million board feet [MBF]) higher. In light of stumpage 

price increases of >$200 per MBF since 1991, these 

increased costs should be a minor factor in determining 

the feasibility of future timber harvest.

Keywords: silviculture, harvest costs, logging 

systems

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •

Kellogg, L.D.; Bettinger, P. 1994. Thinning productivity and cost for a mechanized cut-to-length 

system in the Northwest Pacific coast region of the 

USA. Journal of Forest Engineering. 5(2): 43-54.

Abstract: This production study of the single-grip harvester and forwarder combination focused on delayfree productive machine hour rates in a second growth 

thinning operation in western Oregon. Rates of production of “marked by forester trees” and trees “selected 

by machine operator” are discussed as well as specific 
24 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

techniques of forwarder operation in relation to site 

conditions.

Keywords: mechanized logging, single-grip 

harvester, forwarder, logging cost, thinning 

productivity

Geographic relevance: Pacific Northwest (Oregon)

• • • • •

Kelsey, Rick G.; Shafizadeh, Fred. 1979. Chemical 

characteristics of wood residues and implications 

for utilization. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 

28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 203-221.

Abstract: In the Northern Rocky Mountains, where 

dry or cold conditions predominate, woody residues 

remain sound without visual signs of decomposition 

for many years. The chemical composition of this 

weathered material does not change significantly and 

it can be utilized like greenwood. Since wood and 

woody residues are heterogeneous, there are two basic approaches to its chemical utilization: (1) whole 

wood processing and (2) separation of the heterogeneous components followed by processing. The 

chemical utilization of woody residues is almost limitless, the major barrier being economics rather than 

technology.

Keywords: residue utilization, wood composition 

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Kerstetter, James D. 1979. Review of biomass gasification. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities 

for forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: 

Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-30; 

Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 223-236.

Abstract: This paper reviews the topic of biomass air 

gasifiers. The gasification process chemistry is outlined and the operating characteristics of two types of 

gasifiers are presented. A few typical applications are 

discussed and the economics for a particular system 

are presented in comparison with the costs of natural gas. Finally, the appendix gives a list of biomass 

research, demonstration projects and manufacturers.

Keywords: gasification, biomass fuel

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Kirkland, Larry A.; Steinhagen, H. Peter; Campbell, 

Alton G. 1991. The University of Idaho wood-fired 

boiler: A case study. Forest Products Journal. 41(6): 

54-56.

Abstract: The University of Idaho converted its campus steam generating plant from natural gas to wood 

residue fuel. The combustion system typically burned 

chipped or hogged wood fuel 2 inches or less at 35 to 

50 percent moisture content (wet basis). Pre-dried fuel 

was used initially but the fraction of fines caused operating and emissions problems. High quality, low moisture content fuel purchased in the summer was blended 

with wet hogfuel during the winter when steam loads 

were high. The wood-fired unit net fuel cost savings of 

several hundred thousand dollars a year.

Keywords: biomass, hogfuel, biomass boiler

Geographic relevance: Idaho

• • • • •

Klepac, John; Rummer, Bob; Thompson, Jason. 

2006. Evaluation of a cut-to-length system implementing fuel reduction treatments on the Coconino 

National Forest in Arizona. In: Chung, W.; Han, H.S., 

eds. The 29th council on forest engineering conference, 

Coer d’Alene, ID: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 405-414.

Abstract: Time-and-motion-derived production and 

costs were estimated for a cut-to-length system while 

implementing fuel reduction treatments in two stands 

on the Coconino National Forest in Arizona. Product 

recovery and fire behavior within each stand were also 

examined. Time-and-motion data collected revealed 

the harvester produced 33 cubic feet per productive 

machine hour while harvesting biomass. Biomass 

unit costs were $9.62 per cubic foot while harvesting 

biomass.

Keywords: fuel reduction, time-and-motion, timber 

harvest

Geographic relevance: Arizona

• • • • •

Lambert, Michael B. 1989. Harvesting small stems 

and forest residues in the Pacific Northwestern 

United States. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the 

International Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1989 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 25

June 5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 

90-99.

Abstract: This paper addresses the imbalance of unused resources, costs of onsite fuel treatment, electrical 

power demands, technology and economic deficiencies 

in harvesting and transportation, and the shrinking average size of trees being harvested. In this paper, two 

examples of integrated harvesting systems that produce energy wood and emphasize decisive allocation 

of the entire above-ground tree biomass are discussed. 

The processing systems and reasons for their approach 

are also discussed.

Keywords: biomass, harvesting systems, wood 

energy

Geographic relevance: Pacific Northwest

• • • • •

Leenhouts, Bill. 1998. Assessment of biomass burning in the conterminous United States. [Online]. 

Conservation Ecology. 2(1). Available: http://www.

consecol.org/vol2/iss1/art1.

Abstract: Wildland fire has been an integral part of 

the landscape of the conterminous United States for 

millennia. Analysis of contemporary and pre-industrial 

conditions, using potential natural vegetation, satellite 

imagery, and ecological fire regime information, shows 

that wildland fires burned 35 to 86 by 106 Mha annually in the pre-industrial era, consuming 530 to 1230 Tg 

of biomass. At present, in comparison, 5 to 7 Mha per 

year burn, consuming 77 to 189 Tg of biomass annually. For each era, 11 biomass (wildland and agricultural) 

burning emissions were estimated and differences of 

similar magnitude were found. Estimates of contemporary fossil fuel emissions are also provided for comparison. Atmospheric, climatic, social, and ecological system effects from the decrease in area burned, biomass 

consumed, and emissions produced are discussed.

Keywords: air quality, biomass burning, climate 

change, conterminous United States, emission 

estimates, fire regimes, pre-industrial conditions, 

prescribed burning, wildland fire.

Geographic relevance: Continental United States

• • • • •

Leicht, Richard E. 1979. Intermountain Region 

wood utilization and wood energy application program. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities 

for forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: 

Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-30; 

Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, 

UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 

217-221.

Abstract: In 1978, the USDA Forest Service initiated a National Wood Utilization and Wood Energy 

Application Program to focus attention on application 

of existing and developing technology. In this paper, 

the mission and goals of this program are discussed. 

Additionally, problems such as access, economic feasibility, and long-term guarantees are discussed. The 

benefits and hazards of utilizing forest residues are 

summarized and the paper closes with mention of the 

USDA Forest Service and Regional commitment and 

the future opportunities (at the time the paper was written) for wood energy.

Keywords: wood energy, wood residues, firewood, 

wood utilization 

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Loeffler, Dan; Calkin, David E.; Silverstein, Robin 

P. 2006. Estimating volumes and costs of forest biomass in western Montana using forest inventory 

and geospatial data. Forest Products Journal. 56(6): 

31-37.

Abstract: This report studied the feasibility of using 

biomass for renewable energy production as an alternative to onsite burning. Due to the relatively low value 

of biomass, accurate estimates of volumes and costs 

of collection and transport are necessary if investment 

in this type of renewable energy production will be 

possible. Through the use of forest inventory data, remotely sensed data, and spatial data of Ravalli County 

in Western Montana, it was determined that 12 to 14 

green tons per acre of biomass are potentially available 

for biomass energy production at a reasonable delivered cost. A spatial framework for estimating biomass 

volumes and costs is established in this article utilizing 

publicly available forest inventory and remotely sensed 

data for Ravalli County, Montana. This study identified 

67,000 acres of forestland where a fuel reduction treatment could potentially deliver renewable biomass to 

the county at reasonable delivered costs.

Keywords: biomass, harvest costs, biomass 

availability

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •
26 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Lowell, Eini; Larson, Debra; Rummer, Robert; 

Becker, Dennis. 2005. In-woods decision making of 

utilization opportunities to lower costs of fire hazard 

reduction treatments. Joint Fire Science Program: 

Project #01-1-2-03. Boise, ID. Available: http://www.

firescience.gov.

Abstract: The result of this research is an accumulation of information on harvest costs and product values necessary for identifying economic thresholds of 

fuels reduction projects. This information was used to 

develop a Windows-based, public domain financial/

engineering software program called the Harvest CostRevenue (HCR) Estimator that can be used to evaluate 

stand-level economic thresholds for harvesting smalldiameter ponderosa pine in the southwestern United 

States. The HCR Estimator was developed for a variety 

of users including logging contractors and forest planners. Its purpose is to identify costs of fuel reduction 

treatments and evaluate in-woods decisionmaking regarding tree selection, residuals left onsite, and product 

suitability for regionally based wood markets.

Keywords: biomass, harvest costs, logging

Geographic relevance: Arizona

• • • • •

Lowell, E.C.; Becker, D.R.; Rummer, R.; Larson, 

D.; Wadleigh L. 2008. An integrated approach to 

evaluating the economic costs of wildfire hazard 

reduction through wood utilization opportunities 

in the southwestern United States. Forest Science. 

54(3): 273-283.

Abstract: This paper describes the development of an 

integrated wildfire fuels reduction system from silvicultural prescription through tree selection, harvesting, 

in-woods processing, transport, and market selection. 

Data on harvest equipment productivity, lumber recovery, and net profit (loss) for different levels of fuels reduction treatments in small-diameter ponderosa 

pine were collected from four 20-acre sites in northern 

Arizona. These data were used in the development of 

the Harvest Cost-Revenue Estimator, a financial and 

engineering software program.

Keywords: ponderosa pine, wildfire fuel reduction, 

financial analysis, harvest cost-revenue estimator

Geographic relevance: Northern Arizona

• • • • •

Lowery, David P. 1979. Extended use of residue for 

conventional solid wood products. In: Harvesting 

and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the 

northern Rocky Mountains: Symposium proceedings 

1979; November 28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station: 181-189.

Abstract: There is no inherent difference between 

the wood from dead trees and green trees. Solid wood 

product studies have indicated that dead trees can be 

used for lumber, house logs, and posts and poles, although the amount of usable lumber is usually lower 

for dead trees than for green trees. Dead trees may be 

preferred for house logs, posts, and poles; however, extra care is required in selecting and processing these 

products.

Keywords: dead tree utilization, dead tree lumber, 

posts and poles, lodgepole pine, western white pine

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

MacDonald, A.J. 2009. Assessment of economically 

accessible biomass. FP Innovations Technical Report, 

Quebec. 2 p.

Abstract: FP Innovations calculated the amount of 

forest biomass generated by timber harvesting operations on Vancouver Island and the south coast mainland. Field measurements related the volume of roadside residues to the volume of harvested merchantable 

logs in a factor called the biomass ratio. Roadside residue volumes for the entire study area were calculated 

by applying the biomass ratio. Comminution and transportation costs were calculated, and volume reductions 

were made to account for accessibility and transportation costs.

Keywords: biomass, inventory, residue, cost, 

roadside, dispersed

Geographic relevance: Vancouver Island and 

southwestern Canada

• • • • •

Maloney, T.M. 1979. Particle and fiber building 

products from residue raw material. In: Harvesting 

and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the 

northern Rocky Mountains: Symposium proceedings 

1979; November 28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station: 171-179.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 27

Abstract: This paper covers the definitions of the 

composition and composite materials, provides a brief 

history of this segment of the forest products industry, 

describes types of building materials that have been 

produced or are possible to produce, discusses past developments, and presents the role of forest residue raw 

materials. Considerable research has been conducted 

on the use of dead standing trees of western white pine 

and lodgepole pine for use in various composition 

board materials. Economic analyses have shown that 

there is no particular cost penalties associated with the 

use of the dead material in comparison with standard 

green material after the raw material has been delivered to the plant site.

Keywords: residue utilization, building materials

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Manfredo, Michael J.; Fishbein, Martin; Hass, 

Glenn E.; Watson, Alan E. 1990. Attitudes toward 

prescribed fire policies. Journal of Forestry 88(7): 

19-23.

Abstract: This article discusses social considerations 

with respect to public wildland forest fire policy. Social 

attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intentions of wildland 

fire are described as well as the public’s knowledge of 

the effects of fire. This study details those social issues 

with regard to the “let burn” policy and the 1988 fires 

in Yellowstone National Park.

Keywords: biomass, prescribed fire, wildland fire, 

social science

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Mason, C.L.; Lippke, B.R.; Zobrist, K.W.; Bloxton, 

T.D., Jr.; Ceder, K.R.; Comnick, J.M.; McCarter, 

J.B.; Rogers, H.K. 2006. Investments in fuel removals to avoid forest fires result in substantial benefits.

Journal of Forestry. 104(1): 27.

Abstract: Although large trees can be removed for 

valuable products, the market value for the smaller logs 

may be less than the harvest and hauling charges, resulting in a net cost for thinning operations. However, failure to remove these small logs results in the retention 

of ladder fuels that support crown fires with destructive 

impacts to the forest landscape. A cost/benefit analysis 

broadened to include market and non-market considerations indicates that the negative impacts of crown fires 

are underestimated and that the benefits of government 

investments in fuel reductions are substantial.

Keywords: forest fuels, non-market values, smalldiameter logs, cost/benefit analysis, forest fires

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

McIver, J.D.; Adams, P.W.; Doyal, J.A.; Drews, 

E.S.; Hartsough, B.R.; Kellogg, L.D.; Niwa, C.G.; 

Ottmar, R.; Peck, R.; Taratoot, M.; Torgersen, T.; 

Youngblood, A. 2003. Environmental effects and 

economics of mechanized logging for fuel reduction in northeastern Oregon mixed-conifer stands.

Western Journal of Applied Forestry. 18(4): 238-249.

Abstract: Fuel reduction by mechanical thinning and 

removal was studied in mixed-conifer stands in northeastern Oregon. A single-grip harvester was coupled 

with either a forwarder or a skyline yarding system; 

and operational economics, fuel reduction, stand damage, soil disturbance, effects on soil biota, and downwoody material were measured. 

Keywords: fire risk reduction, soil compaction, 

skyline yarding, forwarder, single-grip harvester

Geographic relevance: Oregon

• • • • •

McMichael, Marvin. 1979. Utilizing residue material in pulping. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 

28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 194-196.

Abstract: The pulp raw material shortage in 1973 and 

1974 provided incentives for using whole-tree chips at 

a number of pulp mills in the United States. From 1974 

to the time of this paper, pulp raw materials supplies 

returned to more acceptable levels, and as a result, 

whole-tree chips were being used only on a limited basis. However, at the time of this paper, energy shortages provided incentives for the utilization of whole-tree 

chips, and projects were underway in Montana, Idaho, 

and Washington to increase the demand for waste fuel. 

Keywords: residue utilization, pulping

Geographic relevance: Montana, Idaho, and 

Washington 

• • • • •
28 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

McMinn, James C.; Clark, Alexander, III. 1988. 

Predicting residuals by stand condition and type of 

harvest. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. 12(3): 

190-193.

Abstract: This paper describes how in mixed pinehardwood stands in central Georgia, the tonnage of 

all trees not designated for harvest accounted for 89 

percent of the variation in tonnage of standing residuals after conventional harvesting. Standing residuals 

weighed 5.4 to 29.3 tons per acre after conventional 

harvests, but an additional 2 to 13 tons of broken and 

uprooted material and 1 to 8 tons of hardwood tops hindered recovery. A whole-tree system, for which small 

stems were harvested first, recovered 16 to 43 tons per 

acre, which was 56 to 94 percent more material than 

would have been left standing after conventional harvest of the same areas.

Keywords: biomass, logging, whole-tree harvest

Geographic relevance: Central Georgia

• • • • •

McMinn, James C.; Clark, Alexander, III. 1989. 

Influence of whole-tree versus conventional harvesting on recoverable biomass in pine-hardwood 

mixtures. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the 

International Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1989 

June 5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 

32-43.

Abstract: Seven areas in Georgia were harvested with 

a conventional system and three with a whole-tree 

system. Pre- and post-harvest sampling of all standing woody biomass provided base data for estimating 

standing and downed residuals by initial stand conditions and harvest system. Relationships were developed 

to permit estimation of recoverable stand components.

Keywords: biomass, hardwood, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Central Georgia

• • • • •

Meyer, Vernon W. 1979. Harvesting efficiency: A 

historical perspective. In: Harvesting and utilization 

opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 

28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 67-76.

Abstract: This paper briefly describes the history of 

the logging industry in the United States. Specifically, 

harvesting technology and methods are discussed. 

Many significant and far-reaching changes have taken 

place in the logging industry since its inception in the 

mid-seventeenth century. But technological advances 

aimed at improved timber utilization have not come 

about quickly. It has been an incremental and continuous process.

Keywords: logging, harvesting, history

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Miller, D.; Straka, T.; Stokes, B.; Watson, W. 1987. 

Productivity and cost of conventional understory 

biomass harvesting systems. Forest Products Journal. 

37(5): 39-43.

Abstract: In this study, conventional harvesting equipment was tested for removing forest understory biomass 

for use as fuel. Two types of systems were tested: a onepass system and a two-pass system. In the one-pass system, 

the energywood and pulpwood were harvested simultaneously. In the two-pass system, the energywood was harvested in a first pass through the stand, and the pulpwood 

was harvested in a second pass. Equations were developed 

to estimate the cost per green ton of energywood. The twopass system exhibited high harvesting costs when biomass amounts were low, but costs moderated as biomass 

amounts increased. The one-pass system harvesting costs 

were not sensitive to the amount of energywood present.

Keywords: biomass, logging, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Southern United States 

(Alabama)

• • • • •

Mitchell, Dana L. 2005. Assessment of current technologies for communition of forest residues. ASAE Paper 

05-8024. St. Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural 

Engineers. 9 p.

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of existing 

literature related to the harvest, communition, and transport of forest residues. Past studies have investigated the 

systems associated with biomass harvesting. Researchers 

have explored whether to incorporate the biomass component with other forest product removals or to harvest it in 

a separate entry. Land managers do not have the tools to 

adequately assess the cost of biomass processing prior to 

treatments. Handling residue can be awkward due to the 

size and arrangement of the material. Dirt and rocks can 

contaminate residues and cause equipment repair problems or reduced utilization of the resource. These issues 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 29

coupled with the problems of comparing existing production studies lead to some of the reasons why land managers 

have difficulty assessing communition processing costs.

Keywords: biomass, chippers, grinders, production, 

communition, forest residues, fuel, chunks

Geographic relevance: Nondescript

• • • • •

Mitchell, Dana. 2008. Felling small trees with a 

drive-to-tree feller-buncher. Technical Release 08-R16. Rockville, MD: Forest Resources Association, Inc. 

2 p.

Abstract: Conventional forestry equipment is often used to harvest small-diameter trees. The typical 

ground-based logging operation is highly mechanized, 

with the most common operation using feller-bunchers, 

grapple skidders, and a chipper or grinder. But these 

machines may not be economical when used in precommercial or unmerchantable thinning operations 

in which the number of trees to be removed per acre 

is high but volume per tree is low. Published studies 

commonly find that feller-buncher productivity (tons 

per productive machine hour) is directly proportional 

to tree diameter. As tree diameters increase, the tons 

produced per hour increase, resulting in a lower cost 

per unit of wood produced.

Keywords: biomass, logging, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Mitchell, Dana; Ayala, Renee, comps. 2005. Biomass 

publications of the forest operations research unit: a 

synthesis. [CD-ROM]. Auburn, AL: U.S. Department 

of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research 

Station. Available: http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/

pubs/20138.

Abstract: The authors of this synthesis have implemented several studies over the years, and this CDROM is a compilation of these data into a usable format. The Executive Summary contains 10 primary 

research topic areas related to biomass: baling/bundling; biomass harvesting systems; biomass inventory’ 

chipping systems; drying, storing, transporting, and 

roll splitting; economic analysis; environmental effects; individual machines; proto-type machines; short 

rotation woody crop production.

Keywords: biomass, Southern Research Station, 

harvest cost

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Mitchell, Dana; Gallagher, Tom. 2007. Chipping 

whole trees for fuel chips: A production study. 

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry. 31(4): 176-180.

Abstract: This time-and-motion study determined the 

productivity and costs of an in-woods chipping operation to create biomass fuel from processing whole 

small-diameter trees. It was found that the cost of biomass chipping was comparable to other existing treatments such as cut-and-pile or mulching. Two different 

overstocked stands were studied with the same harvesting and chipping method.

Keywords: biomass, hogfuel, harvesting, production

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Mitchell, Dana; Klepac, John. 2008. Processing 

woody biomass with a modified horizontal grinder.

In: Proceedings of the 31st annual meeting of the council on forest engineering: Addressing forest engineering challenges for the future. 7 p.

Abstract: This study documents the production rate 

and cost of producing woody biomass chips for use in 

a power plant that has specific raw material handling 

requirements. None of the samples from machines met 

the specifications needed. A horizontal grinder was 

modified to replace the teeth on the drum with chipping 

blades in order to process whole-trees into biomass 

chips that met the power plant’s size specification. The 

time-and-motion study gathered data on whole-tree 

processing for short and long fiber chips. The average 

production rate ranged from 24.9 to 38.2 green tons per 

productive machine hour. A machine rate of $161.20 

per productive machine hour was calculated, resulting 

in a cost of $4.22 per green ton for producing the long 

fiber biomass chips.

Keywords: biomass, grinder, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Mitchell, Dana; Rummer, Bob. 2007. Processing 

woody debris biomass for co-milling with pulverized coal. In: American Society Agricultural and 

Biological Engineers 2007 annual international meeting; 2007 June 17-20; Minneapolis, MN. Paper No. 

078049. 6 p.

Abstract: This project proposed removing small-diameter stems and unmerchantable woody material from 

National Forest lands and delivering it to a coal-fired 

power plant in Alabama for energy conversion. The 

biomass fuel that was created in this project needed to 
30 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

meet unique criteria that differentiate fuel chips created for the power plant from typical fuel chips. The 

wood fuel was to be created from whole-tree chips and 

co-milled with coal. After further review, it was determined that a cutting action, as opposed to a shearing 

action, was needed to meet the raw material handling 

requirements within the plant. A specially equipped 

horizontal grinder was the final equipment choice.

Keywords: biomass, forest engineering, harvesting, 

logging, chipper, grinder

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Mitchell, Dana; Seixas, Fernando; Klepac, John. 

2008. Modified Precision-Husky progrind H-3045 

for chipping biomass. Forest Operations Review. 

10(4): 1-5.

Abstract: A specific size of whole-tree chip was needed to co-mill wood chips with coal. The specifications 

are stringent because chips must be mixed with coal, as 

opposed to a co-firing process. In a partnership involving several entities, a trial was conducted to determine 

if wood chips could be created in a one-step, in-woods 

process that would meet the stringent requirements of 

the power plant. Precision-Husky of Leeds, Alabama, 

volunteered to work with the partnership to manufacture a machine that would create the chips to the stringent specifications.

Keywords: biomass, grinder, logging cost

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Morris, G. 1999. The value of the benefits of U.S. 

biomass power. NREL/SR-570 27541. Golden, CO: 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 24 p.

Abstract: This report estimates the value of ancillary services provided by the U.S. biomass industry 

in order to inform policy makers on the viability of 

the biomass industry. Specifically, criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions, landfill capacity use, 

forest and watershed improvement, rural employment 

and economic development and energy diversity and 

security of the biomass industry are discussed in detail.

Keywords: biomass, greenhouse gas, forestry

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Nicholls, David. 2009. Wood energy in Alaska—

Case study evaluations of selected facilities. Gen. 

Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-793. Portland, OR: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Research Station. 33 p.

Abstract: This case study review considers successes 

and lessons learned from current wood energy systems 

in Alaska, and it also considers opportunities for future 

bioenergy development. Biomass resources in Alaska 

are extensive and diverse, comprising millions of acres 

of standing small-diameter trees, diseased or dead 

trees, and trees that have low-grade timber. Biomass 

products in Alaska that have potential for development 

are as diverse as wood pellets, cordwood (firewood), 

compost, wood-plastic composite products, and liquid 

fuels.

Keywords: Alaska, biomass, bioenergy, wood energy, 

renewable, cordwood, sawmill residues

Geographic relevance: Alaska

• • • • •

Nicholls, David L.; Monserud, Robert A.; Dykstra, 

Dennis P. 2008. A synthesis of biomass utilization 

for bioenergy production in the western United 

States. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-753. Portland, 

OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Pacific Northwest Research Station. 48 p.

Abstract: This study examines the use of woody 

residues, primarily from forest harvesting or wood 

products manufacturing operations, as a feedstock for 

direct-combustion bioenergy systems for electrical or 

thermal power applications. Opportunities for utilizing 

biomass for energy at several scales, with an emphasis 

on larger scale electrical power generation at standalone facilities and on smaller scale facilities such as 

governmental, educational, or other institutional facilities, are examined. Barriers that tend to inhibit bioenergy applications, including accessibility, terrain, harvesting costs, and capital costs, are identified and an 

evaluation of the role of government as a catalyst in 

stimulating new technologies and new uses of biomass 

material is conducted.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy, fuel hazard reduction, 

renewable energy, harvesting, forest products

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Nicholls, D.; Monserud, R.; Dykstra, D. 2008. 

Biomass utilization for bioenergy in the western 

United States. Forest Products Journal. 58(1/2): 6-16.

Abstract: This study examines the use of woody 

residues, primarily from forest harvesting or wood 

products manufacturing operations (and to a limited 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 31

degree from urban wood wastes), as a feedstock for 

direct-combustion bioenergy systems for electrical or 

thermal power applications. Opportunities for utilizing 

biomass for energy at several different scales, with an 

emphasis on larger scale electrical power generation 

at stand-alone facilities and on smaller scale facilities 

(thermal heating only) such as governmental, educational, or other institutional facilities, are examined.

Keywords: biomass, forest products, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

NREL. 1998. International and domestic market opportunities for biomass power, volumes I 

and II. NREL/SR-570-25492. Golden, CO: National 

Renewable Energy Laboratory. 155 p.

Abstract: This report examines the domestic and international markets for biopower. Domestic and foreign 

markets present fundamentally different challenges to 

private power developers. The domestic challenge lies 

in finding economically viable opportunities for biopower. These volumes contain an outline of the state of 

the U.S. biomass industry (at the time this report was 

written), a discussion of the policies affecting biomass 

development, a description of some demonstration 

projects, and a discussion of the future direction of the 

industry. The volumes then explore the relationship between biopower and the impending restructuring of the 

electric power industry. The U.S. market assessment 

concludes with a discussion of various technological 

applications of biomass power.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy, emerging market

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Page-Dumroese, Deborah S.; Jurgensen, Martin; 

Terry, Thomas. 2010. Maintaining soil productivity 

during forest or biomass-to-energy thinning harvests in the western United States. Western Journal 

of Applied Forestry. 25(1): 5-11.

Abstract: Forest biomass thinnings can potentially impact soil resources by altering soil physical, chemical, 

and/or biological properties. This paper provides basic 

recommendations and findings derived from standremoval studies to guide biomass thinnings for forest 

health, fuel reduction, or energy production. The focus of these recommendations is to reduce the impact 

of thinning operations on soil productivity and subsequent stand growth.

Keywords: thinning, best management practices 

(BMP), site productivity, soil management

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Pan, F.; Han, H.-S.; Johnson, L.R.; Elliot, W.J. 2008. 

Net energy output from harvesting small-diameter 

trees using a mechanized system. Forest Products 

Journal. 58(1/2): 25-30.

Abstract: This paper examines the efficiency of forest biomass used for energy. The study used net energy 

ratios to compare how much energy was consumed 

by mechanized harvesting systems of small-diameter 

trees that were transported and used for forest biomass 

energy to the amount of energy (in BTUs) the forest 

biomass produced. The overall conclusion showed that 

forest biomass energy had an encouraging net energy 

ratio compared to other biomass sources, however increases in miles traveled and diesel fuel costs can inhibit the use of forest biomass for energy.

Keywords: biomass, energy ratio, timber harvest, 

carbon

Geographic relevance: Arizona

• • • • •

Parhizkar, Omid; Smith, Robert L. 2008. 

Application of GIS to estimate the availability of 

Virginia’s biomass residues for bioenergy production. Forest Products Journal. 58(3): 71-76.

Abstract: Forest residues are widely dispersed across 

large geographical areas in Virginia, and there is little 

information on the location and the quantity of these 

materials. Geographic Information System (GIS) was 

used in this study to identify the availability of residues from wood manufacturers, landfills, and loggers. 

A graphical-mapping GIS program allowed for the location of biomass residue from those facilities and estimated the available biomass residue in each county in 

Virginia. Residue information was collected through a 

survey of primary and secondary wood manufacturers, 

landfills, and loggers in Virginia. It was then incorporated into a GIS so that locations and quantities of various residues could be plotted.

Keywords: biomass, forest residues, GIS

Geographic relevance: Virginia

• • • • •
32 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Patterson, David W.; Pelkki, Matthew H.; Steele, 

Phillip H. 2008. Productivity of the John Deere 

slash bundler in removing in-forest residues from 

pine harvest sites in the mid-South: Four case studies. Forest Products Journal. 58(7/8): 31-36.

Abstract: In the summer of 2006, the John Deere 

1490D slash bundler was brought to Arkansas so that 

four independent case studies could be conducted 

where no previous studies on the machine had been 

conducted in the South. The study sites were: a clear 

cut, a second thinning, and a first thinning harvested 

with conventional equipment. The fourth site was a 

thinning by cut-to-length equipment. The productivity rate of the machine ranged from 60 to 78 percent. 

Delays (for example, saw binding, materials handling, 

and twine spools collapse) were the main problem of 

the first three sites and movement was the major nonproductive element at the fourth site. The bundles can 

be economically produced (based on current markets) 

and they can be stored for seven to eight months.

Keywords: biomass, slash bundler

Geographic relevance: Arkansas

• • • • •

Patton-Mallory, Marcia; Nelson, Richard; Skog, 

Ken; Jenkins, Bryan; Parker, Nathan; Tittmann, 

Peter; Hart, Quinn; Gray, Ed; Schmidt, Anneliese; 

Gordon, Gayle. 2008. Strategic assessment of biofuels potential for the western U.S. In: Zalesny, Ronald 

S., Jr.; Mitchell, Rob; Richardson, Jim, eds. Biofuels, 

bioenergy, and bioproducts from sustainable agricultural and forest crops: Proceedings of the short rotation crops international conference; 2008 August 19-

20; Bloomington, MN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-31. 

Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 42.

Abstract: This is a short summary of an effort to address the technical feasibility of producing biofuels in 

the western United States. This paper contains spatially explicit biomass resource supply curves, a detailed 

transportation network model for the region, and costs 

for converting biomass to refined biofuels. This paper 

also presents biofuel supply curves that estimate potential future supplies of liquid fuels from biomass in 

the western United States as a function of market price.

Keywords: biofuels, agriculture residues, wood 

residues, thinnings, grease, herbaceous energy 

crops, biomass supply estimates, network analysis

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Perez-Verdin, Gustavo; Grebner, Donald L.; Sun, 

Changyou; Munn, Ian A.; Schultz, Emily B.; 

Matney, Thomas G. 2009. Woody biomass availability for bioethanol conversion in Mississippi.

Biomass and Bioenergy. 33(3): 492-503.

Abstract: This study evaluated woody biomass from 

logging residues, small-diameter trees, mill residues, 

and urban waste as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol 

conversion in Mississippi. Supply and cost of four 

woody biomass sources were derived from Forest 

Inventory Analysis information, a recent forest inventory conducted by the Mississippi Institute for Forest 

Inventory, and primary production costs. According 

to the authors’ analysis, about 4.0 million dry tons of 

woody biomass are available for production of up to 

1.2 billion liters of ethanol each year in Mississippi. 

The feedstock consists of 69 percent logging residues, 

21 percent small-diameter trees, 7 percent urban waste, 

and 3 percent mill residues. Of the total, 3.1 million dry 

tons (930 million liters of ethanol) can be produced for 

$34 per dry ton or less. Woody biomass from smalldiameter trees is more expensive than other sources of 

biomass. Transportation costs accounted for the majority of total production costs.

Keywords: logging residues, mill residues, 

Mississippi, production costs, small-diameter trees, 

urban waste

Geographic relevance: Mississippi

• • • • •

Perez-Verdin, Gustavo; Grebner, Donald L.; Munn, 

Ian A.; Sun, Changyou; Grado, Stephen C. 2008. 

Economic impacts of woody biomass utilization for 

bioenergy in Mississippi. Forest Products Journal. 

58(11): 75-83.

Abstract: This study examined the economic impacts 

of woody biomass utilization for bioenergy conversion 

in Mississippi. Analysis of economic impacts was organized around three groups of events: (1) recovery of 

logging and thinning residues, (2) electricity generation from co-firing systems, and (3) construction and 

operation of biofuel facilities. Results showed that the 

single activity of recovery of all available logging and 

thinning residues would create a considerable number 

of jobs and stimulate the rural economy with more resources coming to local industries and households. Due 

to construction and operation costs, economic impacts 

of biofuels were higher than biopower. However, biofuels reported the lowest employment and value-added 

multipliers of all three groups.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 33

Keywords: biomass, slash, bioenergy, economic 

development

Geographic relevance: Mississippi

• • • • •

Peterson, David L.; Johnson, Morris C.; Agee, 

James K.; Jain, Theresa B.; McKenzie, Donald; 

Reinhardt, Elizabeth D. 2005. Forest structure and 

fire hazard in dry forests of the western United 

States. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-628. Portland, 

OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Pacific Northwest Research Station. 30 p.

Abstract: This document synthesizes the relevant scientific knowledge that can assist fuel-treatment projects 

on national forests and other public lands and contribute to National Environmental Policy Act analyses and 

other assessments. It was intended to support sciencebased decisionmaking for fuel management in dry forests of the western United States at the scale of forest 

stands (about 1 to 200 acres). It highlights ecological 

principles that need to be considered when managing 

forest fuel and vegetation for specific conditions related to forest structure and fire hazard. It also provides 

quantitative and qualitative guidelines for planning and 

implementing fuel treatments through various silvicultural prescriptions and surface fuel treatments.

Keywords: crown fire, fire hazard, forest structure, 

fuel treatments, prescribed burning, silviculture, 

thinning

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Prestemon, Jeffrey P.; Abt, Karen Lee; Holmes, 

Thomas P. 2002. The economic impacts of firerelated biomass reduction on government lands. 

In: Baumgartner, D.M.; Johnson, L.R.; DePuit, E.J., 

comps. and eds. Proceedings: Small diameter timber: 

Resource management, manufacturing, and markets; 

2002 February 25-27; Spokane, WA. MISC0509. 

Pullman, WA: Washington State University 

Cooperative Extension. 268 p.

Abstract: This paper outlines a Joint Fire Science 

Program (JFSP) funded study A national study of the 

economic impacts of biomass removals to mitigate 

wildfire damages on Federal, State, and private lands. 

The study involves the treatment-product and cost 

information provided by the Fire and fire surrogates

study, another JFSP-funded research effort. This information is combined with timber inventory information 

across fire-prone regions of the United States to develop treatment supply schedules for fire-prone regions. 

Using GIS and other modeling techniques, this approach quantifies the small region and broad region 

supply responses to alternative scales of fire risk-related biomass reduction programs. Concurrently, information on timber product output was to be assembled 

to identify product demand relationships.

Keywords: biomass, JFSP, GIS

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Puttock, G. 1995. Estimating costs for integrated 

harvesting and related forest management activities. Biomass and Bioenergy. 8(2): 73-79.

Abstract: Often, the deciding factor in the economical recovery of wood fuel is its relationship with some 

other objective such as stand establishment, stand improvement, or forest access. The costs and benefits 

arising from these related management activities are 

discussed in this article. Two different approaches to 

estimating the cost of producing conventional products 

and fuel wood with integrated harvesting systems are 

also examined.

Keywords: forest energy, biomass, integrated 

harvesting, marginal cost, joint product cost

Geographic relevance: Canada, United Kingdom, 

northern Europe, and United States

• • • • •

Puttock, G. 1987. The economics of collecting and 

processing whole-tree chips and logging residues 

for energy. Forest Products Journal. 37(8): 15-20.

Abstract: In this study, the economics of collecting 

and processing whole-tree chips and logging residues 

(slash and residual timber) for energy use have been 

compared using data collected from four timber harvesting operations. Fuel produced from whole-tree 

chips is competitive with natural gas when hauling 

distances are 80 km or less. Whole-tree chips are a feasible substitute for oil when distances are less than 200 

km. Logging residues are an attractive alternative to oil 

at hauling distances of less than 100 km but cannot be 

competitive with the lower priced fossil fuels such as 

natural gas and coal.

Keywords: forest energy, biomass, integrated 

harvesting, marginal cost, joint product cost

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •
34 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Raymond, Crystal L.; Peterson, David L. 2005. Fuel 

treatments alter the effects of wildfire in a mixedevergreen forest, Oregon, USA. Canadian Journal of 

Forest Research. 35: 2981-2995.

Abstract: The authors quantify the relationship between fuels and fire severity using pre-fire surface and 

canopy fuel data and fire severity data after a wildfire. 

Modeled fire behavior showed that thinning reduced 

canopy fuels, thereby decreasing the potential for 

crown fire spread. The potential for crown fire initiation 

remained fairly constant despite reductions in ladder 

fuels because thinning increased surface fuels, which 

contributed to greater surface fire intensity. Thinning 

followed by underburning reduced canopy, ladder, and 

surface fuels, thereby decreasing surface fire intensity 

and crown fire potential. However, crown fire is not a 

prerequisite for high fire severity; damage to and mortality of overstory trees in the wildfire were extensive 

despite the absence of crown fire. Mortality was most 

severe in thinned treatments (80 to l00 percent), moderate in untreated stands (53 to 54 percent), and least 

severe in the thinned and underburned treatment (5 

percent). Thinned treatments had higher fine-fuel loading and more extensive crown scorch, suggesting that 

greater consumption of fine fuels contributed to higher 

tree mortality.

Keywords: biomass, fuel treatments, wildfire

Geographic relevance: Oregon

• • • • •

Rawlings, C.; Rummer, R.; Seeley, C.; Thomas, 

C.; Morrison, D.; Han, H.; Cheff, L.; Atkins, D.; 

Graham, D.; Windell, K. 2004. A study of how to decrease the costs of collecting, processing, and transporting slash. Montana Community Development 

Corporation. Missoula, MT. 21 p.

Abstract: This study compares the costs of various slash transportation systems and found a roll on/

off container system is not competitive with a regular 

highway chip van unless part of that distance is inaccessible to the chip van. The roll on/off container system allows for recovery of residue from difficult-toaccess locations. There are many variables to consider 

when determining the cost of hogfuel production, and 

a simple spreadsheet model has been developed to help 

evaluate those variables as users choose the best combination of options. 

Keywords: biomass, roll on/off container, hooklift 

truck, chip van

Geographic relevance: Western Montana

• • • • •

Robatcek, John G. 1979. The implications of improved residue utilization on timber sale activities. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities for 

forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: 

Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-30; 

Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, 

UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 

269-272.

Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to discuss some 

of the implications of improved residue utilization on 

timber sales activities. Improved residue utilization on 

timber sales requires new and innovative economic 

and practical approaches on timber sales. Varying uses, 

resource needs, and economic limitations complicate 

the land manager’s task of salvaging this material.

Keywords: residues, utilization, economics, 

complicate

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Roos, Anders; Graham, Robin L.; Hektor, Bo; 

Rakos, Christian. 1999. Critical factors to bioenergy implementation. Biomass and Bioenergy. 17: 

113-126.

Abstract: This paper contributes to the identification 

and analysis of barriers and drivers behind bioenergy 

market growth. It presents a framework for the analysis 

of both existing and projected bioenergy market potential using economic concepts and models from transaction cost theory and industrial organization. The framework can be used for assessments of the potential for 

market growth of different bioenergy systems by decision-makers in administration and industry. The framework is demonstrated with five cases of real bioenergy 

markets: pellet residential heating in the United States, 

bioenergy power in the United States, pellet residential 

heating in Sweden, biomass district heating in Sweden, 

and biomass district heating in Austria.

Keywords: bioenergy market, nontechnical barriers, 

energy policy

Geographic relevance: United States, Sweden and 

Austria

• • • • •

Rummer, Robert. 2004. Forest residues bundling 

project: new technology for residue removal. [CDROM]. 0451-2M25-MTDC. Missoula, MT: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Missoula 

Technology Development Center.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 35

Abstract: This CD-ROM provides an overview of biomass issues, a determination of where bundling works 

and does not, productivity and cost estimates, and an 

assessment of properties and quality of bundled biomass for energy production. The objective of this project was to examine the operational performance of the 

Timberjack 1490D Slash Bundler across a wide range 

of conditions found on typical western United States 

forests. The bundler operated for approximately two 

weeks at each location to develop a productive operating environment. Stand conditions were assessed pre 

and post-biomass collection. In addition, detailed data 

about productivity, soil disturbance, residual stand impacts, and bundle quality were recorded. 

Keywords: biomass, slash bundler

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Rummer, Bob; Klepac, John. 2003. Evaluation of 

roll-off trailers in small-diameter applications. In: 

Proceedings of the 2003 council of forest engineering 

26th annual conference. Bar Harbor, ME: University 

of Maine, New England Regional Council on Forest 

Engineering. 5 p.

Abstract: This project studied the performance and costs 

of an innovative wood transport system using roll-off pallet racks to facilitate handling of small-diameter thinning 

material. Elemental studies defined the transport cycles, 

and cost analysis compared the economics of the new system with conventional transport technology–a conventional five-axle logging truck with a shortwood trailer operating at 85 percent utilization and a conventional shortwood 

trailer system operating at 30 percent utilization.

Keywords: biomass, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: New Mexico

• • • • •

Sampson, George R. 1979. Evaluating in-woods 

chipping feasibility. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 

28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 159-167.

Abstract: This paper presents an evaluation of the 

test results and uses the results to predict the future of 

in-woods chipping. Economic analysis of data from a 

demonstration test showed that in-woods debarkingchipping was only marginally competitive with conventional methods of harvesting roundwood for pulp 

chips. The future for in-woods chipping appears to be 

whole-tree chipping. Cost of delivered chips may not 

be much different from conventional roundwood systems unless credits are taken for increased utilization 

and slash disposal.

Keywords: chipping machines, logging economics

Geographic relevance: Arizona and Colorado

• • • • •

Samson, R. Neil; Smith, Megan S.; Gann, Sara B. 

2001. Western forest health and biomass energy 

potential. Submitted to the Oregon Office of Energy. 

Alexandria, VA: The Samson Group, Inc. 53 p.

Abstract: This article discusses the need for a reduction of fuels in forest ecosystems in order to mitigate 

the risk of catastrophic wildfire and the ability of the 

biomass industry to play a role in managing this risk. 

Generally, this article concludes that significant opportunities exist to link forest health treatments and 

biomass energy production. Several obstacles to this 

are discussed, including the feasibility of biomass fuel 

delivery, the availability of viable biomass markets to 

forest managers at a reasonable distance, and security 

assurances for the initial investment in biomass production facilities. The coordination of land management and energy policy is discussed.

Keywords: biomass, biomass markets, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Western United States 

(Oregon)

• • • • •

Schnepf, Chris; Graham, Russell T.; Kegley, Sandy; 

Jain, Theresa B. 2009. Managing organic debris 

for forest health: Reconciling fire hazard, bark 

beetles, wildfire, and forest nutrition needs. Pacific 

Northwest Extension Publication 609. Moscow, ID: 

University of Idaho. 66 p.

Abstract: This publication outlines the role of forest 

organic debris (biomass) in inland northwest forests 

and provides general management strategies. It helps 

forest owners and those who work with them ask more 

effective questions in order to plan the best treatments 

strategy for each site and keep forests and wildlife 

more healthy and sustainable while keeping risks from 

fire and insects within acceptable limits.

Keywords: biomass, land management, wildfire, bark 

beetles

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •
36 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Schweitzer, Dennis L. 1979. An economist’s perspective of residues. In: Harvesting and utilization 

opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky 

Mountains: Symposium proceedings 1979; November 

28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. 

Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment 

Station: 273-279.

Abstract: As the values of wood products increase, 

there are more economic opportunities to utilize residues. This is true both for dead-and-down materials 

and for previously unharvested stands, which together 

make up the potential economic residues resource. This 

report describes how a variety of research efforts were 

developing the information and technology necessary 

to utilize these opportunities at the time of this report. 

The authors note that the key to minimizing future residues problems is to integrate residues considerations 

with overall forest resource planning.

Keywords: biomass, harvest, integrated harvest

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Scott, D. Andrew; Tiarks, Allan. 2008. Dualcropping loblolly pine for biomass energy and 

conventional wood products. Southern Journal of 

Applied Forestry. 32(1): 33-37.

Abstract: This study explores a dual-cropping system 

for southern pine bioenergy and solidwood products 

that began in 1982 in Louisiana. Direct-seeding pine in 

the interrows of a traditional pine plantation produced 

about 10.2 Mg per ha of biomass for energy at the age 

of five years but had no lasting effect on the planted 

pine height, diameter, or standing volume. The system is a viable method to produce both bioenergy and 

solidwood products. Herbaceous competition control 

and nitrogen fertilization likely would make the system 

even more productive and profitable.

Keywords: fertilization, phosphorus, competition, 

stand development

Geographic relevance: Louisiana

• • • • •

Sedjo, Roger A. 1997. The economics of forest-based 

biomass supply. Energy Policy. 25(6): 559-566.

Abstract: This paper undertakes a preliminary exploration into the economics of generating energy from 

forest-based biomass. The study assesses the feasibility 

of greatly expanding the share of total energy consumption in developed countries that could be economically 

satisfied by biomass without fiscal subsidy support 

given the technologies at the time of this report and 

with plausible potential technologies 10 years into the 

future. The study briefly considers the environmental 

effects of biomass usage compared with fossil fuels. 

Since wood has uses both as fuelwood for energy and 

as industrial wood for wood products, the comparative 

economics of these alternative uses are examined.

Keywords: forest economics, forest-based energy 

competitiveness of forest-based biomass

Geographic relevance: Worldwide

• • • • •

Silverstein, Robin P.; Loeffler, Dan; Jones, J. 

Greg; Calkin, Dave E.; Zuuring, Hans R.; Twer, 

Martin. 2006. Biomass utilization modeling on the 

Bitterroot National Forest. In: Andrews, Patricia L.; 

Butler, Bret W., comps. Fuels management—How to 

measure success: conference proceedings. 2006 March 

28-30; Portland, OR. Proc. RMRS-P-41. Fort Collins, 

CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Rocky Mountain Research Station: 673-688.

Abstract: The potential for biomass utilization to enhance the economics of treating hazardous forest fuels was examined on the Bitterroot National Forest 

and surrounding areas. Initial forest stand conditions 

were identified from Forest Inventory and Analysis 

data, and the Forest Vegetation Simulator was used to 

simulate stand growth and development and to estimate removed volumes. Harvest and haul cost models 

were used to estimate stump to mill costs. Temporal 

and spatial implications of utilization were examined 

to identify sustainable quantities and associated costs 

based on accessibility, haul distance, flow, and quantity 

of small-diameter material.

Keywords: biomass, harvest cost, GIS

Geographic relevance: Western Montana

• • • • •

Sirois, Donald L.; Ashmore, Colin. 1986. Design 

considerations for a roll crusher/splitter for woody 

biomass. In: Program and abstracts: Fourth southern 

biomass energy research conference; 1986 October 

7-9; Athens, GA. Research University of Georgia and 

TVA/Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program: 

33.

Abstract: The principal focus of biomass harvesting in 

the past has been the use of chipping systems to reduce 

a wide variety of woody materials down to small pieces 

for easier handling and transporting. However, chipping systems have several shortcomings that limit their 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 37

operational environments. For example, a conventional 

chipping system might not be applicable for harvesting small-diameter trees growing in powerline rightsof-ways and energywood plantations. An alternative 

to conventional methods of harvesting small-diameter 

trees for energy use is roll crushing/splitting. The concept involves the crushing and splitting of small-diameter stems to expedite field drying and to facilitate 

handling by producing a uniform material for baling or 

modulating.

Keywords: biomass, forest engineering

Geographic relevance: Nondescript

• • • • •

Sirois, Donald L.; Stokes, Bryce J. 1985. Preparation 

of wood for energy use. In: Proceedings of the 5th annual solar and biomass energy workshop; 1985 April 

23-25; Atlanta, GA. Tifton, GA: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Research Service: 173-174.

Abstract: This paper presents an overview of sources 

and forms of raw materials for wood energy use and 

the types of machines available to convert them to the 

desired form for boiler fuel. Both the fuel source, or 

raw material, and the combustion furnace dictate the 

requirements for the processing system. Because of the 

wide range of processing equipment available, systems 

can be designed to meet most wood burning boiler 

requirements.

Keywords: biomass, boiler, harvest system

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Skog, Kenneth E.; Barbour, James. 2006. 

Estimating woody biomass supply from thinning 

treatments to reduce fire hazard in the U.S. West.

In: Andrews, Patricia L.; Butler, Bret W., comps. Fuels 

management—How to measure success: conference 

proceedings. 2006 March 28-30; Portland, OR. Proc. 

RMRS-P-41. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research 

Station: 657-672.

Abstract: This paper identifies timberland areas in 12 

western states where thinning treatments (1) are judged 

to be needed to reduce fire hazard and (2) may “pay 

for themselves” at a scale to make investment in forest 

product processing a realistic option. A web-based tool, 

Fuel Treatment Evaluator 3.0, is used to select highfire-hazard timberland plots from the Forest Service 

Forest Inventory and Analysis Program database and 

provide results of simulated thinning treatments.

Keywords: fire, fire ecology, fuels management, 

woody biomass supply, thinning treatments, fire 

hazard, Fuel Treatment Evaluator 3.0, Forest 

Service Forest Inventory and Analysis Program 

(FIA), fuel treatment market model, FTM-West

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Skog, Kenneth E., Barbour, R. James; Abt, Karen 

L.; Bilek, E.M. (Ted); Burch, Frank; Fight, Roger 

D.; Hugget, Robert J.; Miles, Patrick D.; Reinhardt, 

Elizabeth D.; Shepperd, Wayne D. 2006. Evaluation 

of silvicultural treatments and biomass use for reducing fire hazard in western states. Res. Pap. FPLRP-634. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. 29 p.

Abstract: The purpose of this report was to begin to 

identify locations in the West where fire hazard reduction treatments have a potential to “pay for themselves” 

at a scale in order to, over a long enough time, make investment in additional forest product processing infrastructure a reality. Treatments analyzed would treat 7.2 

to 18.0 million acres, including 0.8 to 1.2 million acres 

of wildland urban interface area, and would provide 

169 to 640 million oven-dry tons of woody biomass 

(about 55 percent of biomass would be from sawlogs). 

Sixty to 70 percent of acres that were to be treated are 

in California, Idaho, and Montana.

Keywords: Hazardous fuel reduction, simulation, FIA 

data, biomass utilization, harvesting costs, western 

states

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Skog, Kenneth E.; Rummer, Robert; Jenkins, 

Bryan; Parker, Nathan; Tittman, Peter; Hart, 

Quinn; Nelson, Richard; Gray, Ed; Schmidt, 

Anneliese; Patton-Mallory, Marcia; Gayle, Gordon. 

2009. A strategic assessment of biofuels development 

in the Western States. In: McWilliams, Will; Moisen, 

Gretchen; Czaplewski, Ray, comps. Forest Inventory 

and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2008; October 21-

23 2008; Park City, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-56CD. Fort 

Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 13 p.

Abstract: This paper describes the methods used to estimate forest biomass supply curves and selected overall results of the analysis, including information on all 

forest and agricultural supply sources and maps that 

indicate the estimated location of biofuels plants using 

cellulosic feedstocks that would include forest biomass 
38 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

feedstocks. The model developed here included information on forest biomass supply curves by county (developed using USDA Forest Service FIA data), agricultural biomass supply curves, transportation networks, 

and capital and operating costs of selected conversion 

technologies. Results indicate biofuels could potentially 

provide between 5 and 10 percent of projected transportation fuel demand in western states with fuel price between $2.40 and $3.00 per gasoline gallon equivalence 

(GGE), excluding local distribution costs and taxes. At 

a target price of $2.40 per GGE, forest biomass could 

supply an estimated 11 million oven dry tons per year, or 

about 9 percent of total feedstock supplied.

Keywords: biofuels, agriculture residues, wood 

residues, thinnings, grease, herbaceous energy 

crops, biomass supply estimates, network analysis

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Smith, Douglas S. 1979. Legislation and policy influencing wood resource utilization. In: Harvesting 

and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the 

northern Rocky Mountains: Symposium proceedings 

1979; November 28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station: 281-284.

Abstract: The framework for harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues includes a number 

of long standing as well as recently enacted statutes. 

Air and water quality standards set forth in legislation 

also have an effect on utilization opportunities. A further emerging factor pertaining to the harvesting and 

utilization of the forest biomass is our land base and 

its availability. Around the time of this publication, the 

Senate enacted a number of bills dealing with timber 

economics.

Keywords: residues utilization, forest policy, 

legislation

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Snell, J.A. Kendall; Brown; James K. 1980. 

Handbook for predicting residue weights of Pacific 

Northwest conifers. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-103. 

Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range 

Experiment Station. 51 p.

Abstract: Procedures are given for estimating weights 

of potential residue from Douglas-fir and western 

hemlock. Preliminary estimates are given for six other 

species. Estimates are provided in pounds per tree and 

pounds per square foot of basal area for a 6- or 8-inch 

top. Estimates are also separated into less than 3 inches DBH and greater than or equal to 3 inches DBH. 

Tabular weigths include foliage, live and dead branchwood, and non-merchantable top.

Keywords: biomass, residue weights, conifers, 

weight tables

Geographic relevance: Western Oregon and Western 

Washington

• • • • •

Snider, G.; Daugherty, P.J.; Wood, D. 2006. The irrationality of continued fire suppression: An avoided cost analysis of fire hazard reduction treatments 

verses no treatment. Journal of Forestry. 104(8): 

431-437.

Abstract: This study shows that without large-scale 

implementation of fire hazard reduction treatments, 

the costs of uncharacteristic crown fires in southwest 

United States forests will continue to increase. The authors examined the economic rationality of continuing 

this policy of emphasizing fire suppression activities 

over restoration-based fire hazard reduction treatments. 

They also compared treatment plus fire suppression 

costs to the cost of fire suppression without treatments 

over 40 years for southwestern forests. This avoidedcost analysis estimates the amount one could invest in 

treatments to avoid the future cost of fire suppression.

Keywords: economics, restoration, avoided cost, fire, 

fire hazard reduction

Geographic relevance: Southwest United States

• • • • •

Stephenson, Everett H. 1989. Flail debarking: a historical perspective and review of current technology. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the International 

Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: 

Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1989 June 

5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 

162-169.

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the concept, development, and technology of flail debarkers.

Keywords: biomass, debarker

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 39

Stokes, Bryce J. 1992. Harvesting small trees and 

forest residues. Biomass and Bioenergy. 2(1-6): 

131-147.

Abstract: Eight countries collaborated and shared 

technical information on the harvesting of small 

trees and forest residues in a three-year program. 

Proceedings and reports from workshops and reviews 

are summarized in a review of activities and harvesting 

systems of the participating countries. Four databases 

were developed for harvesting and transportation of 

these materials.

Keywords: harvesting, residues, forest biomass, 

transportation, databases

Geographic relevance: Canada, Italy, New Zealand, 

Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, 

and United States

• • • • •

Stokes, Bryce J.; Frederick, Douglas J.; Curtin, 

Dennis T. 1986. Field trials of a short-rotation biomass feller buncher and selected harvesting systems. Biomass. 11(3): 185-204. Great Britain: Elsevier 

Applied Science Publishers, Ltd.

Abstract: Sycamore has high promise as a short-rotation 

fiber and energy species on better quality sites in the southeastern United States. There have been few studies on operational harvesting systems for hardwood plantations. A 

continuous-speed felling and bunching prototype machine 

was evaluated in harvesting a three-year-old, short-rotation sycamore plantation. A small tractor, grapple skidder, 

and large chipper were evaluated along with the prototype 

machine as complete harvesting systems. Prediction equations, production rates, and costs were developed for each 

component of the systems.

Keywords: biomass, yield, production, harvesting

Geographic relevance: Southeast United States

• • • • •

Stokes, Bryce J.; McDonald, Timothy P.; Kelley, 

Tyrone. 1993. Transpirational drying and costs 

for transporting woody biomass—A preliminary 

review. In: Proceedings of IEA/BA task IX, activity 6: Transport and handling; 1994 May 16-25; New 

Brunswick, Canada. Aberdeen, United Kingdom: 

Aberdeen University: 76-91.

Abstract: High transport costs are a factor to consider in the use of forest residues for fuel. Costs can be 

reduced by increasing haul capacities, reducing high 

moisture contents, and improving trucking efficiency. 

The literature for transpirational drying and the economics of hauling woody biomass is summarized here. 

Some additional, unpublished roundwood and chip 

drying test results are also included.

Keywords: biomass, forest fuel, transportation

Geographic relevance: Worldwide

• • • • •

Stokes, Bryce J.; Sirois, Donald L. 1989. Recovery 

of forest residues in the southern United States. In: 

Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the International Energy 

Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting 

small trees and forest residues; 1989 June 5-7; Auburn, 

AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Southern Forest Experiment Station: 32-43.

Abstract: This paper describes how in the mid-1970s, 

accelerated price increases for petroleum products forced 

rapid exploration into and adoption of alternative energy 

sources. A viable option for the forest industry was the recovery of woody biomass from unmerchantable trees and 

logging residues. The authors note that several studies estimated that an abundance of such forest materials existed 

in the southeastern United States and how other research 

concentrated on economical methods of converting forest 

residues into energy for industrial uses.

Keywords: biomass, forest products

Geographic relevance: Southern United States

• • • • •

Stokes, Bryce J.; Sirois, D.L. 1986. Evaluation of 

chipper-forwarder biomass harvesting concept.

In: Proceedings of the southern forest biomass workshop; 1985 June 11-14; Gainesville, FL: University of 

Florida: 62-67.

Abstract: A chipper-forwarder system offers an alternative for biomass harvesting. Components are a small feller 

buncher for felling and bunching, and a chipper-forwarder 

that chips at the pile and transports the chips to roadside. In 

a case study on a mixed pine and hardwood site in Georgia 

after conventional harvesting, production rates and cost estimates for a prototype chipper-forwarder were developed. 

At forwarding distance of 153 meters, the cost of chipping 

and forwarding was estimated to be between $15 and $25 

per dry tone, depending on initial investment assumptions.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest, chipper

Geographic relevance: Georgia

• • • • •
40 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Stokes, B.J.; Sirois, D.L.; Woodfin, S.L. 1987. 

Preliminary evaluation of steel-roller round baler 

for woody biomass baling. In: Proceedings of the 9th 

annual meeting of the southern forest biomass workshop; 1987 June 8-11; Biloxi, MS. Mississippi State, 

MS: Mississippi State University, Department of 

Forestry: 167-174.

Abstract: A round hay baler with little modification 

was used to bale small-diameter, crushed trees. The 

trees had been crushed using a series of compression 

rollers. Bale cores had to be developed by hand before 

the baler became self-feeding. Windrowed material 

was packed off the ground by the baler system after a 

core had been developed.

Keywords: biomass, baler

Geographic relevance: Southeast United States

• • • • •

Stokes, Bryce J.; Watson, William F.; Savelle, I. 

Winston. 1985. Alternate biomass harvesting systems using conventional equipment. In: Saucier, 

Joseph R., ed. Proceedings of the 1984 southern forest 

biomass workshop; June 5-7; Athens, GA. Asheville, 

NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Southern Research Station: 111-114.

Abstract: Three harvesting methods were field tested 

in two stand types. Costs and stand utilization rates 

were developed for a conventional harvesting system 

without energywood recovery, a two-pass roundwood 

and energywood system, and a one-pass system that 

harvests roundwood and energywood. The systems 

harvested 20-acre test blocks in two pine pulpwood 

plantations and in a natural pine sawtimber stand. The 

one-pass method resulted in the least cost and better 

utilization of biomass residue.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Stokes, Bryce J.; Watson, William F.; Sirois, Donald 

L. 1987. Factors affecting power requirements 

for chipping whole trees. ASAE Paper 87-6012. 

St. Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural 

Engineers. 10 p.

Abstract: This study was performed to evaluate some 

of the factors that affect the power requirements for 

chipping whole-trees in the South for energywood. 

Results are presented for the effects of tree size, moisture content, and species on power requirements. Large 

and small in-woods disk chippers were used in field 

tests to determine the power requirements for chipping 

whole-trees. Hardwood and softwood species were 

evaluated over a range of diameter classes and moisture contents.

Keywords: power, chipper, whole-tree

Geographic relevance: Southern United States

• • • • •

Sturos, John A. 1979. Outlook and opportunity for 

whole-tree chip quality improvement. In: Harvesting 

and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the 

northern Rocky Mountains: Symposium proceedings 

1979; November 28-30; Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station: 147-158.

Abstract: Three processes were developed in the 

United States, one in Canada, and one in Finland for 

improving the quality of whole-tree and forest residue 

chips. They had potential application individually or in 

combination. Two of them were applied commercially 

by the pulp and paper industry. The author believed at 

the time of this report that application of these processes, coupled with integrated utilization of the various 

output wood, bark, and foliage fractions for fiber and 

energy products, would promote the recovery of more 

forest residues.

Keywords: bark removal, residues, biomass, 

utilization, foliage removal

Geographic relevance: United States, Canada, and 

Finland

• • • • •

Sturos, John A.; Thompson, Michael A. 1989. 

Harvesting small stems and residues in the Lake 

States. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the 

International Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1989 

June 5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 

108-117.

Abstract: This paper presents an overview of several 

harvesting machines and systems considered new at the 

time this paper was produced. The systems were being 

applied in the hopes of improving profitability from 

harvesting small stems and residues. Productivities 

and costs typical to the Lake States Region are also 

discussed.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 41

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Michigan, Wisconsin, and 

Minnesota

• • • • •

Ter-Mikaelian, Michael T.; Korzukhin, Michael 

D. 1997. Biomass equations for sixty-five North 

American tree species. Forest Ecology and 

Management. 97: 1-24.

Abstract: The paper presents a comprehensive review 

of the biomass equations for 65 North American tree 

species. All equations are of the form M = aDb, where 

M is the oven-dry weight of the biomass component of 

a tree (kg), D is DBH (cm), and a and b are parameters. 

Equations for the following tree components were included in the review: total aboveground biomass, stem 

wood, stem bark, total stem (wood and bark), foliage, 

and branches (wood and bark). A total of 803 equations are presented with the range of DBH values of 

the sample, sample size, coefficient of determination 

R2, standard error of the estimate, fitting method used 

to estimate the parameters a and b, correction factor 

for a bias introduced by logarithmic transformation of 

the data, site index and geographic location of the sampled stand(s), and a reference to the paper in which the 

equation (or the data) was published. The review is a 

unique source of equations that can be used to estimate 

tree biomass and/or to study the variation of biomass 

components for a tree species.

Keywords: above-ground biomass, stemwood 

biomass, bark biomass, foliage biomass, branch 

biomass, dry weight

Geographic relevance: North America

• • • • •

Thompson, Jason. 2003. Productivity of a tree 

length harvesting system thinning ponderosa pine 

in Northern Arizona. In: Proceedings of the 2003 

Council of Forest Engineering 26th annual conference. 

Bar Harbor, Maine: University of Maine, New England 

Regional Council on Forest Engineering. 5 p.

Abstract: A productivity study was performed on a 

tree length harvesting system thinning of a ponderosa pine stand in Flagstaff, Arizona, to investigate opportunities to lower the costs of fire hazard reduction 

treatments in overstocked stands. The harvesting system consisted of a Hydro-Ax 421 E rubber tired fellerbuncher with a shear head, a Caterpillar 528 grapple 

skidder, and a Denharco 4400 stroke delimber mounted on a Caterpillar 320C base. Detailed time study was 

used to gather productivity data for all machines in the 

harvesting system. This paper presents the results of 

the study, including a description of the stand, study 

methods, and productivity equations for each machine.

Keywords: biomass, thinning, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Arizona

• • • • •

USDA Forest Service. 2005. A strategic assessment 

of forest biomass and fuel reduction treatments in 

western states. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-149. 

Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 

17 p.

Abstract: This article assesses how forest biomass can 

be utilized with implementation of fuel reduction and 

ecosystem restoration objectives of the National Fire 

Plan in the western United States. Variables of both 

public and private forests are assessed in the West, including standing tree volume with additional data on 

stem, limb, and top volumes. Operational systems to 

conduct the treatments and their effects on the ecosystem as well as utilization opportunities and market implications are also discussed.

Keywords: assessment, biomass, fuel reduction, 

inventory

Geographic relevance: Western United States

• • • • •

Van Hooser, Dwane D. 1979. Resources evaluation 

and residue: where we’ve been and where we’re 

going. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities 

for forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: 

Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-30; 

Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, 

UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 

27-32.

Abstract: This paper outlines how Resources 

Evaluation has treated forest residue in the past and 

what changes were made at the time this paper was 

produced to more adequately address forest residue. 

This paper also presents a consideration of what changes will have to be made in to provide basic input into a 

forest residue decision model.

Keywords: forest inventory, utilization, residues

Geographic relevance: Rocky Mountain Region

• • • • •
42 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Van Rees, Ken C.J. 2008. Wood bioenergy systems in Canada. In: Zalesny, Ronald S., Jr.; Mitchell, 

Rob; Richardson, Jim, eds. Biofuels, bioenergy, and 

bioproducts from sustainable agricultural and forest 

crops: Proceedings of the short rotation crops international conference; 2008 August 19-20; Bloomington, 

MN. Proc. NRS-P-31. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern 

Research Station: 62.

Abstract: This paper discusses obstacles to woody biomass production in Canadian prairies. One of the firest 

obstacles for producer involvement in bioenergy systems 

is changing the farmer mindset that growing a crop for 

longer than one year is not an impediment to earning 

money. At one time or another, most farmers in the 

prairies have removed woody biomass on their farms 

to increase their capacity for growing crops and are reluctant to go back into “woody” systems. However, the 

newer generation of farmers may be less reluctant to 

do so because of an ability to take more risks, greater 

environmental consciousness, and better education.

Keywords: woody biomass, farmer perceptions, 

sustainability

Geographic relevance: Canada

• • • • •

Wade, Dale D. 1969. Estimating slash quantity from 

standing loblolly pine. Res. Note. SE-125. Asheville, 

NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 4 p.

Abstract: No significant differences were found between variances of two prediction equations for estimating loblolly pine crown weight from DBH. One 

equation was developed from trees on the Georgia 

Piedmont and the other from trees on the South 

Carolina Coastal Plain. An equation and table are presented for estimating loblolly pine slash weights from 

either cruise data or harvested cords per acre.

Keywords: biomass, slash quantity, loblolly pine

Geographic relevance: Southeast United States 

(Georgia and South Carolina)

• • • • •

Watson, W.F.; Miller, D.E.; Stokes, B.J.; Broussard, 

M.L. 1987. Energy budget for an energywood 

harvesting system. Proceedings of the southern forest biomass workshop; 1986 June 16-19; Knoxville, 

TN. Muscle Shoals, AL: Tennessee Valley Authority: 

113-116.

Abstract: The fuel and energy requirements for alternative energywood harvesting operations were determined from field operations. Comparisons were 

made among the total energy requirements, including 

transportation for conventional operation and one- and 

two-pass energywood operations. The two-pass energywood operation required more energy per green 

ton than the other operations. Transportation required 

twice the energy as did the woods operations.

Keywords: biomass, bioenergy, fuel consumption, 

transportation

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Watson, W.F.; Ragan, J.R.; Straka, T.J.; Stokes, 

B.J. 1987. Economic analysis of potential fuelwood sources. In: Proceedings of the 1986 Society of 

American Foresters national convention; 1986 October 

5-8; Birmingham, AL. Bethesda, MD: Society of 

American Foresters: 339-342.

Abstract: This paper compares fuelwood produced 

from logging residues and energy plantations on the 

basis of potential for production and expected costs at 

the various levels of production. Prospects for improving the production of fuelwood for each source are also 

examined.

Keywords: biomass, logging residue, bioenergy

Geographic relevance: Southern United States

• • • • •

Watson, W.F.; Sabo, Robert F.; Stokes, B.J. 1986. 

Productivity of in-woods chippers processing understory biomass. Proceedings of the council on forest 

engineering; 1986 September 29-October 2; Mobile, 

AL. Auburn, AL: Auburn University: 69-72.

Abstract: This paper presents productivity and cost 

per ton predictions for two in-woods chippers (Norbark 

20 and 27) where DBH, species groups, and moisture 

content were varied.

Keywords: transpirational drying, chipper

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Watson, Billy; Stokes, Bryce. 1994. Cost and utilization of above ground biomass in thinning systems.

In: Proceedings of the meeting on advanced technology in forest operations: Applied technology in action; 

1994 July 24-29; Portland/Corvallis, OR. Corvallis, 

OR: Oregon State University: 192-201.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 43

Abstract: Cost and utilization were compared for a 

thinning operation that removed the stems as roundwood with a flail chipper operation. The flail chipper 

operation recovered an additional 4.2 tons of acceptable chips per acre, which resulted in a higher return 

to the site. There was little difference in the cost of 

acceptable chips delivered to the digester between the 

two methods of thinning.

Keywords: flail delimbing, debarking, woodlands 

chipping, logging costs, thinning

Geographic relevance: Louisiana

• • • • •

Watson, William F.; Stokes, Bryce J. 1989. 

Harvesting small stems—A southern USA perspective. In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the 

International Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1989 

June 5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 

131-139.

Abstract: Operations that harvest small stems using conventional equipment are discussed. A typical 

operation consisted of rubber-tired feller-bunchers 

with shear heads, rubber-tired grapple skidders, and 

in-woods chippers. The systems harvested the small 

stems either in a pre-harvest, post-harvest, or integrated-harvest method. The unused forest biomass offered 

forest products firms an easy substitute for the fossil 

fuels being utilized at that time.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest, logging system

Geographic relevance: Southern United States 

(Alabama)

• • • • •

Watson, W.F.; Stokes, B.J.; Savelle, I.W. 1986. 

Comparisons of two methods of harvesting biomass 

for energy. Forest Products Journal. 36(4): 63-68.

Abstract: This study focused on two harvesting methods for utilizing understory biomass that were tested 

against a conventional harvesting method to determine 

relative costs. The conventional harvesting method removed all pine 6 inches DBH and larger and hardwood 

sawlogs as tree length logs. The two intensive harvesting methods were a one-pass and a two-pass method. 

In the one-pass method, all material 1 inch DBH and 

larger was simultaneously harvested. With the twopass method, the energywood (same description as in 

the one-pass) was harvested in a first pass through the 

stand, and the commercial-sized wood being removed 

as tree length logs was harvested in a second pass.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Windell, Keith; Bradshaw, Sunni. 2000. Understory 

biomass reduction methods and equipment catalog. Tech. Rep. 0051-2826-MTDC. Missoula, MT: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Missoula Technology and Development Center. 

156 p.

Abstract: This report contains the results of numerous 

interviews, a field survey, and a literature search and 

discusses fuel reduction equipment and methods that 

have been tried in the past, those that are currently being used, and those that may warrant consideration in 

the future. There is also a catalog of equipment suitable 

to treat landscape areas before prescribed burns.

Keywords: biomass, collection, disposal, Douglas-fir, 

fuel treatment, handling, management, ponderosa 

pine, prescribed fire, residues, thinning

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Withycombe, Richard. 1979. Applications of a 

cost model to northern Rocky Mountain residues. In: Harvesting and utilization opportunities 

for forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: 

Symposium proceedings 1979; November 28-30; 

Missoula, MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, 

UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 

45-54.

Abstract: Whatever decisions are to be made concerning the possible use of forest residues, questions 

always arise about the costs of collecting and transporting them to a place where they might be used. The 

residue cost model consists of a series of seven tables, 

which allow the estimation of the collection costs of 

the types of residues common to the northern Rocky 

Mountains. The cost tables were developed from published studies of both conventional logging and residue 

collection.

Keywords: biomass, residue collection, residue 

utilization

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •
44 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Withycombe, Richard. 1979. Wood product and 

market trends influencing residue utilization. In: 

Harvesting and utilization opportunities for forest residues in the northern Rocky Mountains: Symposium 

proceedings 1979; November 28-30; Missoula, 

MT. Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR-INT-110. Ogden, UT: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 

285-288.

Abstract: The potential markets for forest residues can 

be classified into four primary categories. This paper 

deals with each of these categories separately, and attempts to indicate some of the major influences that are 

expected to change the trend of forest residue utilization for each of the potential uses. Of the four major 

potential uses for forest residues, none offer any immediate prospects for large scale use. We can expect cyclical demand for residues to supplement the material 

supply to the pulp and paper industry. The rising cost 

of energy could generate the greatest potential demand 

for residues.

Keywords: biomass, residues utilization, residue 

markets

Geographic relevance: Northern Rocky Mountains

• • • • •

Woodfin, Sammy; Frederick, Doug; Stokes, Bryce. 

1987. Selected harvesting machines for short rotation intensive culture biomass plantations. ASAE 

Paper 87-1567. St. Joseph, MI: American Society of 

Agricultural Engineers. 18 p.

Abstract: Numerous harvesting machines were evaluated in a series of annual tests on stands of different 

ages. Several different machines were used to harvest sycamore research plots in south Alabama. The 

machines varied from manually operated devices 

and conventional forestry equipment to sophisticated 

prototypes. This paper documents the results of these 

evaluations as well as a rationale for the evolving development of short rotation intensive culture harvesting equipment. Field tests showed a system consisting 

of the Hyd-Mech FB-7 and extraction machines to be 

the least costly.

Keywords: forest engineering, harvesting machinery, 

woodlots

Geographic relevance: Alabama

• • • • •

Wright, Clinton S.; Vihnanek, Robert E. 2009. 

Estimating the biomass of hand-piled fuels for 

smoke management planning. Joint Fire Science 

Program: Project #07-2-1-57. Boise, Idaho. Available: 

http://www.firescience.gov.

Abstract: Dimensions, volume, and biomass were 

measured for 121 hand-constructed piles composed 

primarily of coniferous and shrub/hardwood material 

at sites in Washington and California. Equations using 

pile dimensions, shape, and type allow users to accurately estimate the biomass of hand piles. Equations 

for estimating true pile volume from simple geometric shapes and measurements of pile dimensions were 

also developed to assist users who require estimates of 

pile volume for regulatory reporting. Biomass and volume estimation equations are being programmed into a 

web-based calculator to allow users to estimate either 

value from pile dimensions.

Keywords: biomass, smoke management, pile-burn

Geographic relevance: Washington and California

• • • • •

Wynsma, B.; Aubuchon, R.; Len, D.; Daugherty, 

M.; Gee, E. 2007. Woody biomass utilization desk 

guide. 2400-Forest Management. Washington, 

DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

National Technology and Development Program. 84 p.

Abstract: This paper was intended to be a reference 

guide to local land managers regarding locating and 

collaborating with biomass stakeholders. This document offers suggestions on how to use current National 

Environmental Policy Act planning tools to start up and 

maintain a biomass-utilization program and how to use 

cost-effective sale preparation techniques, including 

the preparation of timber sale, stewardship, and service 

contracts to provide increased supplies of biomass. The 

viability of offsetting the costs of hazardous fuels and 

restoration treatments by utilizing small-diameter trees 

and other biomass is also discussed.

Keywords: biomass, NEPA, land management, 

timber sale

Geographic relevance: United States

• • • • •

Yepsen, Rhodes. 2008. Forest thinning strategies for 

biomass utilization. BioCycle. 49(12): 32-36.

Abstract: This study looks at several projects that are 

testing new equipment and management practices that 

treat slash as a marketable commodity. Projects are often combined with research on profitability and best 

practices to educate loggers to utilize slash from their 

operations and to promote use of woody biomass.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest, bioenergy, slash
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 45

Geographic relevance: Montana

• • • • •

Young, T.M.; Ostermeier, D.M.; Mulach, R.W.; 

Thomas, J.D.; Brooks, R.T., Jr. 1989. A simulation 

of harvesting systems for economic supply models. 

In: Stokes, B.J., ed. Proceedings of the International 

Energy Agency, task VI, activity 3 symposium: 

Harvesting small trees and forest residues; 1989 June 

5-7; Auburn, AL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station: 

170-183.

Abstract: A harvesting simulation model was developed to estimate average total costs of whole-tree chip 

harvesting as a function of equipment configurations 

and stand characteristics. The harvesting simulation 

model was part of a larger economic model used to 

estimate the economic availability of whole-tree chips 

for 62 potential energy plants in southeastern United 

States. The harvesting model described in this paper 

was used to select a balanced harvesting system for 45 

possible stand types.

Keywords: biomass, timber harvest, harvest cost

Geographic relevance: Southeast United States

• • • • •

Young, Timothy M.; Ostermeier, David M.; Thomas, 

J. Daniel; Brooks, Robert T. 1991. The economic 

availability of woody biomass for the southeastern 

United States. Bioresource Technology. 37: 7-15.

Abstract: In this paper, a deterministic model was developed to estimate the average total cost of producing 

whole-tree chips for energy production. The model estimated harvest, transportation, stumpage costs, and total costs for 62 potential plant sites in southeast United 

States. The model used a spatial analytical component 

and GIS to locate potential sites.

Keywords: woody biomass, energy production, 

deterministic model, economic availability, average 

total cost.

Geographic relevance: Southeast United States

• • • • •

Young, Timothy M.; Perdue, James H.; Hartsell, 

Andy; Abt, Robert C.; Hodges, Donald; Rials, 

Timothy G. 2009. A real-time web-based optimal Biomass Site Assessment Tool (BioSAT): 

Module 1. An economic assessment of mill residues 

for the southern U.S. In: McWilliams, Will; Moisen, 

Gretchen; Czaplewski, Ray, comps. Forest Inventory 

and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2008; October 21-23; 

Park City, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-56CD. Fort Collins, 

CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Rocky Mountain Research Station. 22 p.

Abstract: In this paper, optimal locations for biomass 

facilities that use mill residues are identified for 13 

southern U.S. states using the Biomass Site Assessment 

Tool (BioSAT) model. The top 20 areas identified in the 

study region are located in south Mississippi, southeast 

Georgia, southeast Oklahoma, southwest Alabama, 

and east Texas. Costs in these areas range from $25 to 

$38 per dry ton for up to 1.5 million annual dry tons. 

Additional research on BioSAT is forthcoming for 33 

U.S. states. These studies will include more types of 

woody and agricultural biomass (for example, logging 

residues, pulpwood, and corn stover). Additional cost 

models for transportation such as truck combinations 

with rail and barge will be components of BioSAT.

Keywords: biomass, economic availability, siting 

model, BioSAT, mill residues

Geographic relevance: Southern and eastern United 

States

• • • • •

Zalesny, Ronald S., Jr.; Mitchell, Rob; Richardson, 

Jim, eds. 2008. Biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts from sustainable agricultural and forest crops: 

Proceedings of the short rotation crops international conference. Proc. NRS-P-31. Newtown Square, 

PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Northern Research Station. 76 p.

Abstract: There is a substantial global need for development of biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts systems and technologies that can economically and sustainably produce short rotation crops across multiple 

temporal and spatial scales. Topic areas in these proceedings were biological and environmental; and economic and policy implications of sustainable biofuels, 

bioenergy, and bioproducts. Presentations addressed 

anatomy, breeding, genetics, physiology, ecosystem 

services, phytotechnologies, and production systems, 

as well as conversion technologies, costs and operational feasibility, environmental impacts and review, 

social factors, policy issues, and regional logistics.

Keywords: biodiesel, biodiversity, biomass, 

conservation, crop improvement, ethanol, 

lignocellulosics, productivity, sustainability, yield

Geographic relevance: United States
46 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Forest Products Industry Research Program, 

Bureau of Business and Economic Research, 

The University of Montana—Missoula

Annotation: The Forest Products Industry Research 

Program monitors industry operations in Montana, 

Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and 

Wyoming, as well as the Pacific Coast states of Alaska, 

California, Oregon, and Washington. Research focuses 

on the forest products industry’s size, diversity, and 

economic impacts, providing quantitative evaluations 

of timber sources and use as raw material. Additionally, 

mill production and sales; utilization of mill residues; 

associated employment and payrolls; and the industry’s role in regional, State, and local economies are 

evaluated.

Available: http://www.bber.umt.edu.

Contact: Todd Morgan: todd.morgan@business.umt.

edu

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

National Forestry Association and National 

Woodland Owners Association (LogPrice.com)

Annotation: This website provides internet links to 

log prices for all 50 states.

Available: http://www.logprice.com.

Contact: info@logprice.com

Last updated: February 2009

• • • • •

Oregon Department of Forestry

Annotation: This website provides species-specific 

sawlog prices by quarter for Oregon.

Available: http://oregon.gov/ODF/STATE_

FORESTS/TIMBER_SALES/logpage.shtml.

Contact: Dan Corgan: dcorgan@odf.state.or.us

Last updated: January 2009

• • • • •

Timber Mart-South

Annotation: Timber Mart-South publishes quarterly 

and annual reports used by private companies, consultants, landowners, and others to assess market prices 

in the southern United States. Timber Mart-South has 

been surveying and reporting timber prices since 1976 

and market news since 1996. Quarterly news and prices are available by subscription or by individual issue 

to provide information on timber market changes in the 

southern United States as well as average prices in 22 

areas of the southeastern timber markets. 

Available: http://www.tmart-south.com/tmart/index.

html.

Contact: Tom Harris: harris@warnell.uga.edu, 

tmart@uga.edu

Last updated: Quarterly

• • • • •

USDA Forest Service Northern Region, Forest 

and Rangeland Appraisal Information

Annotation: The Northern Region timber sale summary reports and regional accomplishments are available 

on this website. Many of the reports are available on a 

quarterly basis and are usually posted 20 working days 

after quarter end.

Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/forest_range/

timber_reports/timbersales.shtml.

Contact: USFS Northern Region: 406-329-3511

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

USDA Forest Service Southern Research 

Station Timber Prices on the Web

Annotation: This website contains internet links to 

timber prices, timber selling guidelines, stumpage prices, and/or delivered log prices for many states.

Available: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/econ/data/

prices.

Contact: Jeff Prestemon: jprestemon@fs.fed.us

Last updated: July 2008

• • • • •

Section 3: Log and Mill Residue Price Information
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 47

WoodPlanet

Annotation: WoodPlanet helps buyers find suppliers 

and get price quotes and at the same time allows sellers to move inventory and develop new relationships 

with buyers. Sourcing Service is a free service that allows buyers to locate suppliers and get price quotes 

quickly and efficiently. Suppliers may take advantage 

of a range of free and paid services. WoodPlanet gives 

sellers of wood products new opportunities to move inventory and develop relationships with buyers.

Available: http://www.woodplanet.com/woodplanet_

home.cfm.

Contact: info@woodplanet.com, marketing@

woodplanet.com, support@woodplanet.com

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

Wood Industry Sourcebook Website

Annotation: This website provides information and 

tools to forestry entrepreneurs to help them develop 

new businesses, sustain existing enterprises, and develop business skills that will be necessary to become 

sustainable enterprises in southwest United States forests. The site also serves as a reference to community 

collaborative organizations that are striving to develop new economic development strategies revolving 

around forestry resources in their area. Similarly, economic development agencies may use this site as a decisionmaking tool. It may also be used to provide technical transfer opportunities that promote the science of 

healthy forest ecosystems and acceptable practices for 

reducing hazardous forest fuels.

Available: http://www.littlecolorado.net/

EntSourcebook/WoodIndustry.htm.

Contact: Herb Hopper: herbert.hopper@rcdnet.net

Last updated: Continuous
48 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Biomass Power Association (BPA)

Annotation: BPA is a member-driven organization 

with the goal of increasing the use of biomass power 

and creating new jobs and opportunities in the biomass 

industry. BPA works to expand and advance the use 

of clean, renewable biomass power and represents 80 

biomass power plants in 20 states across the United 

States. Members include: local owners and operators 

of existing biomass facilities, suppliers, and plant developers. The BPA website contains links to biomassrelated news, maps of biomass facility locations, biomass power projects, and biomass-related policy news 

and updates.

Available: http://www.usabiomass.org/index.php.

Contact: media@biomasspowerassociation.com

Last updated: 2009

• • • • •

California Biomass Energy Alliance

Annotation: This website provides internet links to location and contact information for 29 biomass-fueled 

power plant facilities in California as well as information related to the approximately 80 biomass power 

plants located in 19 states.

Available: http://www.calbiomass.org/index.html.

Contact: calbiomass@reesechambers.com

Last updated: Unknown

• • • • •

Database of State Incentives for Renewable 

Energy (DSIRE)

Annotation: The DSIRE website provides a fast and 

convenient method for accessing a wide variety of 

information about renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives as well as regulatory policies administered by Federal and State agencies, utilities, and 

local organizations. DSIRE tracks financial incentives 

for energy efficiency upgrades, purchases of energy efficient products and systems, and construction of new 

energy efficient buildings.

Available: http://www.dsireusa.org.

Contact: http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/

GenericContacts.cfm?CurrentPageID=13

Last updated: February 2009

• • • • •

Fuels for Schools

Annotation: Fuels for Schools is a collaboration of 

USDA Forest Service and Idaho, Montana, Nevada, 

North Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah State Foresters. It 

is a Federal and State partnership to promote and encourage the use of wood biomass as renewable energy 

in public and private buildings to facilitate the removal of hazardous fuels from forest lands. This website 

contains links to financing, funding opportunities, and 

contacts.

Available: http://www.fuelsforschools.info.

Contacts:

Idaho: ffsidaho@adelphia.net,

Nevada: jperock@forestry.nv.gov,

Utah: geoffmcnaughton@utah.gov,

Bitterroot Resource Conservation and Development 

program: bitterrootrcd@cybernet1.com,

Montana: afarr@mt.gov,

North Dakota: thomas.claeys@ndsu.edu,

Wyoming: dperko@state.wy.us,

Other states: http://www.fuelsforschools.info/pdf/

National_State_Forest_Biomass_Contacts.pdf

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

Montana Manufacturers Information System 

(MMIS)

Annotation: The MMIS brings Montana Manufacturers 

electronically closer to each other by providing detailed 

and up-to-date information about each manufacturer’s 

products, processes, and capabilities. Manufacturers 

and decision-makers can use the MMIS to potentially 

identify new markets, sources of materials, supplies, 

and services; pursue opportunities to supply products 

and services now being purchased out of state; locate 

Section 4: Biomass Utilization Facility Locations
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 49

potential partners for cooperative production, marketing, buying, and shipping; and analyze the condition 

and outlook of Montana’s manufacturing industries.

Available: http://www.mmis.umt.edu.

GIS shapefile of Montana mill locations 

available at: http://www.mmis.umt.edu/IndList.

asp?indcode=1000&Name=Wood,%20paper,%20

furniture.

Contact: MMIS@business.umt.edu

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

Biomass Maps

Annotation: These maps illustrate the biomass resources available in the United States by county. 

Biomass feedstock data are analyzed both statistically 

and graphically using GIS. The following feedstock 

categories are evaluated: crop residues; forest residues; 

primary and secondary mill residues; urban wood 

waste; and methane emissions from manure management, landfills, and domestic wastewater treatment.

Available: http://www.nrel.gov/gis/biomass.html.

Contact: http://www.nrel.gov/gis/webmaster.html

Last updated: October 2009

• • • • •

USDA Forest Service Southern Research 

Station, U.S. Wood-Using Mill Locations

Annotation: This dataset is based on information collected by mill data managers in Forest Inventory and 

Analysis Units as well as collaborators in the Texas 

Forest Service, the Forest Products Laboratory, and 

the Focused Science Delivery Program of the Pacific 

Northwest Research Station. The data describe wooddemanding mills of the Continental United States. Data 

are restricted to primary wood processors–those that 

purchase logs or chips. Secondary processors of wood 

such as paper mills that buy market pulp or rely entirely on recycled fiber are excluded.

Available: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/econ/data/

mills.

Contact: Jeffrey Prestemon: jprestemon@fs.fed.us

Last updated: October 2008

• • • • •

Wood Supply Research Institute (WSRI)

Annotation: The WSRI is a joint project of professional loggers, forest landowners, wood consuming 

mills, educators, and manufacturers that facilitates and 

funds research to promote and improve efficiency in 

the wood supply system. WSRI identifies and documents the structure and performance of the wood supply system and identifies opportunities for improvement; investigates ways to operate more efficiently 

and cost-effectively; communicates research findings 

directly to WSRI members; and publishes key findings 

to benefit the entire forest products industry.

Available: http://www.forestresources.org/WSRI.

Contact: Tom Reed: tom.reed@plumcreek.com

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

Wood2Energy

Annotation: This project accomplishes two primary 

objectives related to the state of the science in wood 

to energy research and industry: providing a complete 

literature review on the state of the science and developing a database of wood to energy related industries 

in the United States and Canada. The database is an 

important tool for the further development and expansion of wood to energy markets. The development of 

this knowledge base enables stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds to understand the current demand 

of wood for use as an energy source. This information 

also allows stakeholders to conduct analyses for a variety of purposes, including new market development.

Available: http://www.wood2energy.org.

Contact: Sam Jackson: bioenergy@utk.edu

Last updated: Continuous
50 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC)

Annotation: The BERC mission is to assist communities, colleges and universities, State and local governments, businesses, utilities, schools, and others in 

making the most of their local energy resources. BERC 

further strives to achieve a healthier environment, 

strengthen local economies, and increase energy security across the United States through the development 

of sustainable biomass energy systems at the community scale. BERC’s particular focus is on the use of 

woody biomass and other pelletizable biomass fuels.

Available: http://www.biomasscenter.org.

Contact: http://www.biomasscenter.org/contact.html

Last updated: Unknown

• • • • •

Biomass Energy Foundation

Annotation: This website contains discussions of new 

developments in liquid fuels from biomass (especially 

Biodiesel and methanol), WoodGas stoves, and now 

BioChar and Charcoal. Site sponsors are interested in 

and knowledgeable about all aspects of biomass energy but particularly in high temperature conversion and 

pyrolysis and gasification that can produce heat, power, and fuels. The site is used for research, consulting, 

publishing, and travel activities in the field of biomass 

and gasification, and the Foundation is able and willing 

to sponsor projects related to these purposes.

Available: http://www.woodgas.com/index.htm.

Contact: Tom Reed: TomBReed@comcast.net

Last updated: September 2005

• • • • •

Forest Guild

Annotation: The Forest Guild website contains a substantial library of biomass-related publications. Research publications include syntheses of existing literature that were 

written in order to answer policy questions. The Forest 

Guild practices and promotes ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry as a means of sustaining the integrity of forest ecosystems and the human 

communities dependent upon them. The Guild engages in 

education, training, policy analysis, research, and advocacy to foster excellence in stewardship, support practicing 

foresters and allied professionals, and engage a broader 

community in the challenges of forest conservation and 

management.

Available: http://www.forestguild.org.

Contact: info@forestguild.org; Howard Gross: 

howard@forestguild.org

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

Fire Research and Management Exchange 

System (FRAMES)

Annotation: FRAMES is an Internet-based database that 

contains a library of data, documents, projects, tools, and 

web pages to support fire management and research. The 

goal of FRAMES is to provide a systematic method of exchanging information and transferring technology among 

wildland fire researchers, managers, and other stakeholders in order to make wildland fire documents, data, tools, 

and other information resources easy to find, access, distribute, compare, and use.

Available: http://frames.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt.

Data Requirements: Vary by selection

Contact: Greg Gollberg: gollberg@uidaho.edu

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

Landscape Fire and Resource Management 

Planning Tools Project (LANDFIRE)

Annotation: LANDFIRE is an ongoing research project 

and database that contains geospatial data products that 

describe existing vegetation composition and structure, 

potential vegetation, surface and canopy fuel characteristics, historical fire regimes, and fire regime condition 

class. LANDFIRE provides fire and land managers with 

the information required to identify lands with wildland 

fuel build-up and to facilitate the prioritization, implementation, reporting, and monitoring of landscape fuel treatments. These data may be used during specific wildland 

fire incidents to increase firefighter safety, pre-position 

Section 5: Ancillary Biomass Information
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010. 51

resources, and evaluate fire behavior under a variety of 

weather conditions.

Available: http://www.landfire.gov/index.php.

Data requirements: Extensive. LANDFIRE is 

creating spatial data layers that include: all layers 

required to run fire modeling applications such 

as FARSITE and FlamMap, Existing Vegetation 

Type, Canopy Height, Biophysical Setting, 

Environmental Site Potential, Fire Regime 

Condition Class, and fire effects layers.

Contact: helpdesk@landfire.gov

Last updated: Continuous

• • • • •

National Association of Conservation Districts 

Woody Biomass Utilization Desk Guide

Annotation: This Guide is designed for use by Resource 

Conservation and Development and Extension professionals throughout the United States. The Woody Biomass 

Desk Guide and Toolkit provides an overview of woody 

biomass production and utilization in the United States, 

tips on how to provide effective outreach for clientele, and 

educational handouts to share with audiences. The purpose of this guide is to equip natural resource professionals and outreach specialists with the information and tools 

needed to increase awareness of the use of woody biomass 

for energy in the United States.

Available: http://nacdnet.org/resources/guides/

biomass.

Contact: Sarah Ashton: sashton@warnell.uga.edu

Last updated: Online publication

• • • • •

National Biofuels Action Plan

Annotation: This document describes current United 

States national fuel challenges in the context of increased renewable energy production. The following 

is the Congressionally created Biomass Research and 

Development Board’s mandate: “to coordinate programs within and among departments and agencies of 

the Federal Government for the purpose of promoting the use of bio-based fuels and bio-based products 

by (1) maximizing the benefits deriving from Federal 

grants and assistance; and (2) bringing coherence to 

Federal strategic planning.” The Board’s Action Plan 

is described in seven topical areas: sustainability, feedstock production, feedstock logistics, conversion science and technology, distribution infrastructure, blending, and environment, health and safety.

Available: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/

pdfs/nbap.pdf.

Contact: Department of Energy: (202) 586-9220; 

USDA Rural Development: (202) 720-4581

• • • • •

State Bioenergy Primer

Annotation: This State Bioenergy Primer is designed 

to bring many resources together that discuss biomass/

bioenergy and provide useful, targeted information that 

will enable a state decision-maker to determine if he/

she wants or needs more details. The primer offers succinct descriptions of biomass feedstocks, conversion 

technologies, and benefits/challenges of promoting 

bioenergy. It includes a step-wise framework, resources, and tools for determining the availability of feedstocks, assessing potential markets for biomass, and 

identifying opportunities for action at the state level. 

The primer also describes financial, policy, regulatory, 

technology, and informational strategies for encouraging investment in bioenergy projects and advancing 

bioenergy goals.

Available: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/

documents/bioenergy.pdf.

Contact: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

EPA 430-R-09-024, National Renewable Energy 

Laboratory, NREL/TP-6A2-44688

• • • • •

USDA Forest Service Southern Research 

Station Biomass Publications from the Forest 

Operations Research Unit: A Synthesis

Annotation: The Forest Operations Research Unit at 

the Southern Research Station has been studying biomass-related topics since 1977. This CD-ROM aids the 

reader by organizing these publications in one easy-touse CD-ROM. Included on the CD-ROM are an executive summary, two bibliographies, individual publications, and a keyword listing. The types of publications 

on the CD-ROM consist of presentation reports, published reports, portions of books, and master’s theses.

Available: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gv/pubs/biomass_

cd.

Data requirements: Vary by selection

Contact: Dana Mitchell: danamitchell@fs.fed.us

Last updated: 2008

• • • • •
52 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-244WWW. 2010.

USDA Forest Service Woody Biomass 

Utilization Website

Annotation: The Woody Biomass Utilization Team is 

an interdisciplinary team that promotes and facilitates 

the planning and delivery of an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to the recovery and utilization of 

woody biomass from ecological restoration and hazardous fuels reduction work. Field coordinators have 

been designated at each of the National Forest Regions 

and Research Stations to coordinate woody biomass 

utilization efforts throughout the Forest Service.

Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/woodybiomass/index.

shtml.

State biomass supply links: http://www.fs.fed.us/

woodybiomass/strategy/supply.shtml

Contact: woody_biomass@fs.fed.us

Forest Service Woody Biomass and Bioenergy 

Contacts: http://www.fs.fed.us/woodybiomass/

contact/fscontacts.shtml

Last updated: June 2009

• • • • •

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy Biomass Program

Annotation: The Biomass Program primarily facilitates out-of-state and regional partnerships through cooperation with the National Biomass State and Regional 

Partnerships, which consists of five regional organizations: Coalition of Northeastern Governors Policy 

Research Center, Council of Great Lakes Governors, 

Southern States Energy Board, Western Governors’ 

Association, and U.S. Department of Energy’s Western 

Regional Office. Information resources include listings 

and links to United States state and regional biomass 

energy programs and information for industry, consumers, researchers, policy-makers, and students.

Available: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/

state_regional.html.

Contacts:

Great Lakes Regional Biomass Energy Program: 

http://www.cglg.org/biomass,

Northeast Regional Biomass Energy Program: 

http://www.nrbp.org,

Pacific Regional Biomass Energy Program: http://

www.pacificbiomass.org,

Southeast Regional Biomass Energy Program: 

http://www.serbep.org,

Western Regional Biomass Energy Program: http://

www.westgov.org/wga/initiatives/biomass

Last updated: February 2009
Federal Recycling Program Printed on Recycled Paper

The Rocky Mountain Research Station develops scientific information 

and technology to improve management, protection, and use of the 

forests and rangelands. Research is designed to meet the needs of 

the National Forest managers, Federal and State agencies, public and 

private organizations, academic institutions, industry, and individuals. 

Studies accelerate solutions to problems involving ecosystems, range, 

forests, water recreation, fire, resource inventory, land reclamation, 

community sustainability, forest engineering technology, multiple use 

economics, wildlife and fish habitat, and forest insects and diseases. 

Studies are conducted cooperatively, and applications may be found 

worldwide.

Station Headquarters

Rocky Mountain Research Station

240 W Prospect Road

Fort Collins, CO 80526

(970)498-1100

Research Locations

Flagstaff, Arizona Reno, Nevada

Fort Collins, Colorado Albuquerque, New Mexico

Boise, Idaho Rapid City, South Dakota

Moscow, Idaho Logan, Utah

Bozeman, Montana Ogden, Utah

Missoula, Montana Provo, Utah

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its 

prorams and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, 

and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, religion, sexual 

orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because of all or 

part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. 

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities 

who require alternative means for communication of program information 

(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center 

at (202)720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write 

to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., 

Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800)795-3272 (voice) or (202)720-6382 

(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

Rocky

 Mountain

 Research Station