Forestry & Biofuels

New England’s extensive forests could play a key role in climate change solutions due to their ability to sequester, or absorb, carbon and the alternative fuels their biomass can supply.  In partnership with the Maine Forest Service, ENE is engaged in a long-term effort to investigate how forest management strategies can be used to advance state and regional climate change action plans. ENE is working to find market solutions (and regulatory frameworks) that balance carbon storage potential and reduced GHG levels with profitability for landowners and forest health.

Forests also play an important part in renewable energy strategies for the region. Wood chips can be burned for electricity generation or converted to liquid fuels.

ENE is working with stakeholders to ensure that any initiatives to promote biofuel use:

• require the use of sustainably harvested wood for the bio-based fuels
• result in a net reduction of greenhouse gases
• do not lead to unintended consequences such as destruction of forest lands or increased food prices in other areas of the world

Forestry & Biofuels Projects