Four proposed projects to use woody biomass from area forests to heat northeastern Oregon schools and local government buildings will receive grants totaling $57,250, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) announced this week.

The grant recipients include:

• Wisewood Inc, Grant County

• Integrated Biomass Resources LLC, Wallowa

• Wallowa Resources Community Solutions Inc., Enterprise

• Pine Eagle School District, Halfway

Wisewood Inc. will be awarded $20,000 to determine if it would be more cost-effective for several facilities to upgrade their old fossil fuel heating systems or to convert to biomass systems in Grant County. The buildings include the county courthouse, sheriff’s office and jail, and Humbolt and Seneca elementary schools. If the study indicates the conversion would be feasible, 350-400 tons of locally produced biomass pellet fuel would replace the 45,000 gallons of fuel oil consumed annually.

Integrated Biomass Resources LLC (IBR) will receive an $18,500 grant to help fund the design and engineering of manufacturing components for a heat delivery system to provide the most efficient handling, drying and classification of wood chips used for fuel. Consultants will work with IBR staff to identify the equipment and system best suited to process the biomass material that from local forests.

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