Two Alaska communities were awarded Forest Service Wood Innovation trants: the Haines Borough and the Hydaburg School District. The goal of the grants is to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood product markets through the United States.
The Haines Borough was awarded $250,000 for the design of a wood-fueled district heating system, which will heat the borough’s school, swimming pool, vocational and technical school and other public facilities.
This installation will potentially displace the burning of 80,000 gallons of heating fuel per year and save the borough as much as $3 million over the life of the project. It should result in a net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 1.8 million pounds per year, according to a news release. The wood chip fuel will be sourced from sustainably managed local forests, creating local jobs and keeping energy money circulating through the local economy. The total project cost is estimated to be $1.5 million, with a $1.2 million construction grant from the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund in conjunction with the $250,000 grant.
The Hydaburg School District was awarded $150,000 for the design of a cordwood-fueled heating system that will provide heat to the school and greenhouse. The system will heat a greenhouse that will provide fresh vegetables for the school lunch program. The installation will potentially displace the burning of 24,600 gallons of heating fuel per year.
Like the Haines Borough school, wood fuel for the system will be sourced from the surrounding forest, create jobs for local residents and students supplying cordwood and stoking the boilers as well as working in the greenhouse.
There will be a net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of approximately 550,000 pounds per year, the release stated. The total project cost is estimated to be $892,000, with a $621,000 construction grant from the Alaska Renewable Energy Fund in conjunction with the $150,000 Wood Innovations grant.
