Extension Role in Building Capacity
For Wood Energy Policy Education:
A Case Study
National Extension Energy Conference
Seattle, WA
Jonathan Kays
Extension Specialist-Natural Resources
University of Maryland Extension
&
Chair, MD Wood Energy Coalition
Public Issues Education(PIE)
“educational programs that have the objective of
enhancing the society’s capacity to understand and
address issues of widespread concern”
- From PIE: The Cooperative Extension System’s Role in Addressing Public Issues
 PIE typically involve disagreement & controversy.
 Extension professionals reluctant to engage
Why Engage in PIE?
Public policy education is Extension’s “path to political
support.” (Boyle & Mucahy, 1993)
Question: How do we enter this venue of PIE and
increase the likelihood of successful involvement?
…and avoid the downsides.
Key Roles for Public Issues Educators
(Patton & Blaine, 2001)
Type 1 –
Private
Problems
Content
Expert
Process
Expert
Provide
information
None
Type 2 – Explain to
public officials and
public various
public solutions.
Type 3 – Public
involvement from
the beginning. Public
forum and
discussion.
Facilitate public
deliberation
Frame the issue in
public terms.
Facilitate public
deliberation.
Analyze proposed
solutions
Conduct issue
research & analysis
Public Issue: Increasing the adoption of
commercial wood energy systems in MD?
 Potential conflicts & controversy?
 Perception of wood as a dirty fuel by policymakers,
citizens, and others.
 Clean wood burning technology not understood
 Not viewed as renewable energy
 Sustainability
 Updating air quality regulations
 Energy saving & project financing
 Pulp industry concerns
What is Woody Biomass?
 Native forests
 Short rotation woody crops
(SRWC)
 Sawmill residue
 Urban wood waste – tree
removals, land clearing
Why the
MD Wood Energy Coalition?
 Previous efforts failed.
 Started in April 2010 by UM Extension and DNR
Forest Service. UME took leading role.
 Representatives of MDE, MEA, DNR, DBED, UME,
non-profits (Alliance for Green Heat, Pinchot
Institute, MD Forests Assoc., SAF) and wood-based
industry started meeting every month.
Maryland Wood Energy Coalition
Organized April 2010
Objectives:
 Committed to increasing the adoption of high
efficiency, low emission wood energy
technologies that meets Maryland air quality
standards.
 Best achieved through:
 small to medium-sized commercial and institutional
applications for government, schools, and businesses
 residential thermal applications.
Wood Energy Applications
 Single family houses - Firewood and wood pellets
 Help most citizens reduce energy costs
 Wood provides 85% of renewable residential energy
 Business & Institutional – Wood chips
 Schools, town halls, village centres, etc.
 District heating of villages, towns, communities
 Combined heat and power - “CHP “
 Forest related industries – ongoing
 Large scale projects for regional distribution
 Cofiring & large scale electric generation
A Prospectus For Advancing Biomass
Thermal Energy In Maryland
Developed By the
Maryland Wood Energy Coalition
Specific policy recommendations on Page 2 & 3
20-page research based document
Released Feb. 2, 2012
Available at: www.extension.umd.edu/woodland
Cost: $6000
Wood as a Heating Fuel
 Renewable – Sustainable – Carbon Neutral
 Stable fuel price. No contingency funds
 Energy savings substantial. Other investments
 Does not rely on incentives
 Clean burning technology widely available
 Helps low & middle class
Other Considerations…
 Wood from local sources for energy security
 Contribute to local economic development and
infrastructure
 Northeast study – for every $1 spent on fuel oil for heating,
only about 22% remains in the local economy.
Where Was Maryland
Regarding Biomass Use in
2012?
 Maryland has 7 wood energy facilities – 6 sawmills
and 1 prison. Prison enjoys 63% fuel cost reduction.
 Advanced, clean and efficient wood energy
technologies was readily available
 Regulations prohibited use of biomass
 Maryland years behind other states in NE
Forums to engage & educate
policymakers, regulators &
industry
 Two statewide wood energy conferences in
November 2012 & October 2013.
 Engaged Governors energy advisor
 Two-day tour of wood energy facilities in PA
Feb/Mar 2013 & 2014
 Gamechanger for regulators
 Biomass Boot Camp – Feb 2015
 UME Residential heating workshops & research
Advancing Wood Energy in MD Conference
Nov 2012 - Request For Coalition’s Priorities From Governor’s
Energy Advisor
1) Update MDE air emission regulations
2) Establish thermal renewable energy credits as an
incentive. Part of Renewable Portfolio Standard
(RPS)
• Required Legislation
3) Establish a residential Wood Grant Program
 MD Energy Administration action
4) Public agencies & facilities to lead the way
 Dept Gov Services key agency
Role of Extension in The Mix
 Extension provides leadership, vision, facilitation,
direction, some technical expertise.
 Extension provides policy education based on
research.
 Pull together the pieces. Help make informed decisions
 Allow agencies, nonprofits, and industry to do the
lobbying and heavy lifting to change policy in
Annapolis
Major Barrier Overcome April 28, 2014
Prohibition on Use of Wood Biomass in
Commercial Boilers since 1972
 Needed regs for systems under 10
million Btu
 New regulations establish emission
limits for biomass boilers and open way
for projects.
 Praised by other states
Thermal REC Bill Failed - RECENT
 Established separate thermal tier in state Renewable
Portfolio Standards
 Provide Renewable Energy Credits for thermal energy
 Wood biomass and geothermal eligible
MD Energy Administration
Wood & Pellet Stove Grant Program
 $50K Pilot program September 2012
– February 2013 - 58 grants.
 Programs made ongoing – since
March 2013 – over 1000 grants
 Rebate of $700 for pellet stoves and
$500 for wood stoves
Alliance for Green Heat responsible for this effort
The Vision For Commercial Uses
Create a whole new industry!
A few benefits:
 Jobs.
 Better management.
 Wealth retention.
 Energy independence.
 Energy security/reliability.
24
Wood Energy Projects Paid by
Fuel Cost Compared to Fossil Fuels
If wood chips cost $40/ton, then you could pay no
more than…
$0.57/therm
$0.80/gal
$.50/gal
$0.023/kWh
Natural Gas
#2 Oil
Propane
Electric
$
Good project have 5-10 year payback!
25
Who Is Poised to Undertake Institutional
Biomass Projects?
Universities
Public Schools
Military Bases
Government
Districts
Poultry Houses
Office & Retail
Complexes
Prisons
Penn Valley School Project - 2011
Penn, PA (near State College, PA)
 High & Elementary school – 255,000 sq. ft
 Fuel bill for oil & electric – heat and hot water
 $610K per year
 Cost savings $250K
 Payback 5 years
Chip storage
Evangelical Community Hospital
Lewiston, PA
 350,000 sq. ft plus
 System: 500 hp steam boiler
 Cost: $5 million
 Grants: $1.25 million
 Fuel savings: $600K plus
 Payback period: 6-8 years
PA Wood Energy Tour – Gamechanger
Look! No Smoke!
Ebenshades Greenhouse,PA
Hospitals
Schools
Coalition’s Four Priorities Addressed
May 2014
1) Update MDE air emission regulations
DONE!
2) Establish thermal energy credits as an incentive
MAYBE!
 Legislation failed in 2014, passed in 2105
3) Provide sustained support for the Maryland Wood
Grant Program
 $50K pilot program by MEA extended indefinately
DONE!
4) Public agencies & facilities to lead the way
 Dept. Gov. Service promoting biomass as a fuel IN PROGRESS!
Moving Forward
Strategy
 Need MD projects - MEA providing funds for
feasibility studies
 Challenge public facilities to lead the way – UM?
 Education for target audiences – engineers, architects
 UME Residential wood energy program
 Partner with UME Healthy Homes program
 Initiate transfer of UME role to industry
Lessons Learned
 Negative perception of wood must be addressed
 Agencies & policymakers must be educated prior to




legislation to remove barriers
Policy education with credible partners
UME can provide key leadership and vision and is
valued by new partners.
Different partners address appropriate issues
Significant impacts for UME
Questions?
Look! No
Smoke!
Jonathan Kays
Extension Specialist Natural Resources
301-432-2767 x323
[email protected]
www.extension.umd.edu/woodland