Biomass aid seen possible by Louisiana Legistature By James Ronald Skains State Senator Neil Riser of Columbia told the Piney Woods Journal, "It seems that our best opportunity to help the forest industry, and loggers in particular, at the present time is to look at t*he fledgling Biomass to Energy industry." "I'm convinced that we are on the cusp of developing a biomass to energy industry here in Louisiana and there are two things the legislature could do to help pave the way by leveling the playing field," Senator Riser explained. "We already have tax credits available for individuals and companies who install solar or wind energy systems to produce renewable energy," SAID Senator Riser, a former Piney Woods logger. "What I want to do is give renewable energy produced from biomass the same state tax credit level as solar and wind energy." Senator Gerald Long, who represents the 31st Senate District told the Journal, "I certainly believe that renewable energy produced from biomass should receive that same benefits as solar and wind energy.'' "Basically my entire Senate district is covered with trees in one form or another," Senator Long noted. "With the timber industry in such a slump, I think that making the tax credits available for biomass energy is nothing but fair." Individuals or companies who now install wind or solar renewable energy sources receive a state tax credit of 25% of the cost of installation. "I think that a state tax credit of 25% of the installation cost of biomass conversion units will help spur this new industry in Louisiana," stated Senator Riser, who represents the heavily forested 32nd Senatorial District. "The US Forest Service has a demonstration biomass energy conversion unit at the Winn Ranger District office west of Winnfield," Senator Riser pointed out. "They can produce electricity from wood chips to power the Ranger Station. Looking on the internet, you see the manufacturer of the US Forest Service biomass to energy conversion unit placing other units around the country in research and commercial applications, Senator Riser noted. "There are a number of other companies just about ready to come on the market with similar commercial biomass energy conversion equipment," Senator Riser, a Columbia, Louisiana-based businessman explained. "I think this tax incentive that wind and solar now have, will induce biomass to energy producers to come to Louisiana to take advantage of our tremendous renewable natural resources," he added. "Biomass includes not only trees, but also residue from agriculture such as corn stalks, baggase and cotton stalks. The LSU Ag Center has recently set up a Biofuels Institute to lead the charge here in Louisiana to develop bio-fuels and energy from our renewable natural resources." Senator Long's Senate district includes two ranger districts of the Kisatchie National Forest. "There is a lot of timber that is not suitable for lumber and paper mill chips that could be a source of biomass feedstock to produce renewable energy," Senator Long pointed out. "Using logging slash and first thinning material is certainly not in competition with our awmills or paper mills," Senator Long continued. "However, this would give both the loggers and landowners a financial boost." Parts of both Senate District 31 and 32 include appreciable amounts of farm land. Senator Long's district includes the Red River farmland area in Natchitoches, Grant and Red River parishes. "Louisiana has very diverse non-food crops that can be used for biomass conversion from wood chips to baggase, high fiber low-sugar cane, switch grass, corn stalks, cotton stalks and algae," Senator Riser emphasized. "The Audubon Sugar Institute is now affiliated with the LSU Ag Center Biofuels Institute working to find ways to economically use baggase and high fiber cane to produce renewable energy," Senator Riser pointed out. "This use of baggase for energy could keep these sugar mills operating twelve months a year instead of just three or four months as they operate now." Senate District 32 runs along the west side of the Mississippi River from north of Ferriday down to the south end of Avoyelles Parish where District 32 jumps the river to take in all of West Feliciana Parish. The huge River Bend nuclear power plant is located in West Feliciana Parish. The land mass of the 32nd district includes eleven Louisiana House of Representative districts including parts of Ouachita and Rapides Parishes. |