Southern Forest Industry Braces for Bioenergy

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Emerging biomass markets will significantly strengthen demand for wood fiber in the South, driving prices higher for forest products as the United States turns to alternative fuels for energy, according to a study released Monday by Forest2Market.

The new demand will be fueled by wood-burning power companies that produce and sell electricity to public utilities, as well as an increasing amount of wood pellets that are exported to European energy markets. The development of new facilities that turn biomass into cellulosic ethanol for transportation fuel will also impact the forest products industry.

As a result, demand for wood fiber from these emerging markets is expected to climb from 2 million tons in 2008 to at least 13.5 million tons in 2020, according to Forest2Market, a provider of pricing information and analysis for forest products. However, the estimate is conservative, and it could be adjusted higher as more companies announce plans to build biomass facilities.

The new study, “Quantifying Forest Biomass Resources in the U.S. South,” is the first to analyze the impact of bioenergy markets on the forest products industry. The report quantifies the industry’s changing landscape, looking specifically at the effects of forest biomass on wood fiber supplies, demand and prices.

“The pace of the development of bioenergy markets and the resource requirements to feed them will disrupt the entire southern wood fiber market,” said Pete Stewart, president and founder of Forest2Market. “It will be much steeper and more disruptive than that of the OSB market over the last 15 years. We recommend that forest products companies begin planning for the future by establishing stronger relationships with their suppliers and creating more efficient transportation lines.”

Faced with rising oil prices, an international push for clean energy projects and a continued focus on reducing carbon emissions, federal and state governments have spent millions on biomass research and development. As a result, new energy markets are emerging that rely on southern forests for resources.

The primary supply for the growing demand is pulpwood and wood chips, and prices for pulpwood and chips are expected to rise. Secondary sources include construction and demolition debris, as well as leftover woody biomass from harvesting operations, such as tree limbs.

“We were beginning to see the effects of new energy markets in the delivered prices for pulpwood, chips and wood fuel in some areas in the South,” Stewart said. “We thought it was time to take a closer look, using the breadth and depth of our data, to determine what the competitive landscape for wood fiber might look like in 10 or 15 years.”

The study is based on Forest2Market’s unique database of transaction-level information gathered from millions of shipments to mills throughout the South. The study will help lay the groundwork for strategic decision making that traditional forest products and new bioenergy companies will need to survive in the future.

Based in Charlotte, N.C., Forest2Market has developed sophisticated analytical tools to accurately forecast timber prices in the U.S. South and Pacific Northwest. The company’s delivered price benchmark product is used by industry professionals to set timber prices for contracts, supply agreements and bids. The price information is more accurate because it is based on transaction-level data – not surveys. For more information, visit www.forest2market.com.

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Keep Georgia Beautiful Celebrates 30th Anniversary; Unveils New License Plate, Logo and Branding Initiative

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Keep Georgia Beautiful unveiled a special recycling-themed license plate, new logo and identity/branding initiative yesterday in celebration of its 30th anniversary. The ceremony was held at the New World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta during Keep America Beautiful's Midyear Affiliates Forum.

More than 200 leaders of environmental and community improvement organizations from Keep America Beautiful's national network of affiliates joined in the celebration, which was hosted by Coca-Cola Recycling and its President & CEO John Burgess, a Keep America Beautiful board member, as well as Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Enterprises.

"We would not be celebrating Keep Georgia Beautiful's 30th anniversary if Keep America Beautiful had not approached Governor George Busbee back in 1978 and suggested the establishment of the first Keep America Beautiful state affiliate," Phil Foil, deputy commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, stated during the anniversary reception.

Keep Georgia Beautiful (KGB), housed in the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), is a public-private partnership, allowing it to benefit from the resources of citizens in government, the corporate world, and community organizations. These connections aid in its mission to build and sustain community environmental activities and behaviors resulting in a more beautiful Georgia. Keep Georgia Beautiful became the first Keep America Beautiful statewide affiliate as Georgia Clean & Beautiful in 1978. Keep America Beautiful has since expanded its "Clean Community System" into a national network of nearly 1,000 affiliates and participating organizations.

The Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, which supports the mission of KGB and promotes private sector financial funding for environmental education, unveiled a special license plate in support of DCA's Away-from-Home recycling initiative. The new license plate will raise awareness of recycling and support the Foundation's education programs.

"We need 1,000 pre-orders by the end of the year, so all of you Georgia folks help us out," said Lisa White, materials manager of Atlanta-based SP Recycling and treasurer of the Foundation. "Let's make it happen!"

The Recycle 4 Georgia License Plate order form can be downloaded from www.keepgeorgiabeautiful.org.

In addition, in celebration of KGB's 30th anniversary, a new logo was created by GOTCHA Design, an Atlanta-based "green" design firm. Since receiving Master Vendor Status with the State of Georgia, GOTCHA has successfully worked on brand development for a wide variety of clients including the City of Snellville, Ga., the City of Kennesaw, Ga., the Georgia Urban Forest Council (GUFC), and other businesses and nonprofits.

The Midyear Affiliates Forum, which took place from July 30-August 1 at the Marriott Downtown Atlanta, was keynoted by the Honorable Shirley Franklin, mayor of Atlanta, who shared her vision for the long-term economic viability of Atlanta as a "best in class" sustainable city. In addition, the 2008 conference focused on an array of topics including how to conduct a waste audit in the workplace, building and implementing Keep America Beautiful's Cigarette Litter Prevention Program, rejuvenating the passion of public service, and the benefits of green building.

Coweta County Master Gardeners Present Spring Garden Gate Tour May 31

It’s warm, the garden centers and nurseries are bursting with color, and it’s that time of the year again when Coweta County’s Master Gardeners open their own gardens to the public. The Spring Garden Gate Tour will be held Saturday, May 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a catered lunch from noon until 2 p.m. Bring along your camera, a notepad, and ask questions. Master Gardeners will be available at each site to share their experience and gardening knowledge.

Three exceptional, mature gardens are on display this year in Newnan. They are outstanding after many years of transition and hard work. Each garden is a delightful journey with colors and textures that pull you along walkways and entertainment areas. Two of the gardens are across the road from each other, each an example of gardening on large properties. In historic Newnan, a city garden, tended by one of the most experienced master gardeners in this area, is filled with colorful blooms, textures and foliage.

Ticket prices are $20 with lunch included or single garden tours can be purchased at the individual gardens for $5 each. Lunch will be served in the Shade Garden at Country Gardens Farms and Nursery, 3728 Lower Fayetteville Rd. It will be catered by Making Memories.

Owners of Country Gardens, Mike and Judy Cunningham, are sponsoring the tour. You can call the garden center at 770-251-2673 or the Coweta County Extension Office at 770-254-2620
for ticket information. On the web, visit www.ugaextension.com/coweta or www.countrygardensfarm.com. Tickets are on sale at Country Gardens or the Extension Office, 275 Pine Rd., Newnan.

The proceeds from the tour help support the Coweta County Master Gardener Association and local University of Georgia Extension program projects such as 4-H, Junior Master Gardener, and the operation of an educational greenhouse.

The Association is a volunteer organization that promotes the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension programs. Master Gardeners provide horticultural information to the community in educational and beautification projects by using the research and resources of the University of Georgia.

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