Xcel Energy, along with the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence, are providing funding for a study to determine the viability of using sustainably managed waste wood as a biomass fuel. The wood, which would consist of brush or of fast-growing trees that don’t provide high-quality wood, could be grown by agricultural coops, harvested sustainably, and used to power Xcel’s French Island plant.

In an article posted on TradingMarkets.com,  David Donovan, Xcel’s manager of regulatory policy in Wisconsin, commented on the study:

“With the increasing demand for woody biomass for electric generation, Wisconsin’s agricultural cooperatives may play a key role in the creation of a reliable, long-term biomass aggregation system. Successful grower cooperatives could provide additional revenue sources for cooperative members and area communities, as well as promote sustainable forestry practices.”

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