Missouri Timber Price Trends July - September, 2008 Wood Increasingly More Attractive as Energy Source Synopsis of Chicago Tribune article "Interest Increases in Wood-Fired Electric Plants Amid Nationwide Push for Renewable Power" by Robert Mense of St. Charles, MO The Associated Press (10/9, Lindsay) reports, "The push for more power from renewable fuels has renewed interest in one of the oldest energy sources: wood." In 2007, "wood generated more net electricity in the U.S. than" solar and wind power combined. "New wood-burning electricity plants are again being proposed from Massachusetts to New Mexico as the nation finds itself in a third energy shock." According to the Department of Energy, as of January 2007, "there were 196 wood burning electricity plants in the" U.S., "including 72 with 40 megawatt capacity or larger." The AP notes, "The bulk of today's wood power comes from plants that mainly serve the onsite lumber or paper mills that supply their fuel." Developers point out there is no "need to cut down trees to power plants because there is a surplus of wood currently available," with "many proposed plants [planning] to use wood left over by routine activities such utility line clearing or from existing timber companies. Wood is also found on forest floors." To view the entire article, please go to http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-wood-po wer-plants,0,3102367.story [Back to Timber News Index ]