Hamilton hosting bio-fuel symposium
by JENNY HARRIS - Ravalli Republic
For the first time in the history of the Bitterroot Valley, a symposium discussing the bio-fuel industry will take place this Saturday.
Sponsored by the Big Sky Coalition in conjunction with the Bitterroot National Forests and Ravalli County Commissioners, the day-long event will host a variety of speakers and topics related to energy sources, development, air quality and bio-energy opportunities.
The symposium is slated to discuss and explore the potential transformation of wood wastes into ethanol and methanol and burning them, in hopes of creating steam to generate electricity and heat.
Big Sky Coalition Director Sonny LaSalle said while the symposium has taken a lot of planning, he’s excited for the potential discussion.
“I think, if anything, the day will start an education process,” LaSalle said. “It will be great to pick up the ball, move forward and create new opportunities. The valley is 70 percent national forest and there’s a potentially very large economic benefit for the county, regarding materials. We’re excited at least to get the discussion going between a variety of people.”
Recently formed, the Big Sky Coalition operates under a mission of viewing change in national forest management policies, a possible factor of large forest fires, they say. The group advocates reducing fuels by large-scale thinning on forest lands.
“Thinning results is a large production of biomass materials, that really could be put forth into a continuous flow of product,” LaSalle said. “There are a number of grants available from the United States Department of Energy, that could really help catapult this industry in the valley.”
LaSalle said on average, a possible 18 tons of biomass can be taken from one acre.
County Commissioner Greg Chilcott said on behalf of the Ravalli County Commission, “It’s really exciting for us,” Chilcott said. “I think it’s going to offer alternatives to smoke in the valley, burning fuels and air quality. We think a lot of good is going to come from this, regarding energy and air progress, we’re very excited.”
Speakers from the U.S. Forest Service, University of Washington, Montana Department of Commerce, Ravalli County Environmental Health Department and many businesses and entrepreneurs will be at the event.
The symposium will be held Saturday, March 1, at the First Interstate Event Center at Hamilton Fairgrounds, beginning promptly at 9 a.m. Timely attendance is requested at 8:30 a.m. as the day is jam-packed with presentations. Lunch is provided for purchase onsight from Grumpy’s Barbeque.
Reporter Jenny Harris can be reached at 363-3300 or at jharris@ravallirepublic.com
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