02-07-2024: Thank you all who participated in the 2024 California Biomass Workshop. It was a huge success.
Solving the state's wood waste challenge to reduce wildfire, support rural economies and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045
California is in the grip of a wood waste crisis – one that is expected to become significantly worse as the state ramps up forest treatments in accordance with the Governor’s target to treat one million acres per year by 2025. IBank estimates that over 80% of these residues are left to degrade in place, masticated, or piled and burned, resulting in significant carbon and air pollution as well as an ongoing wildfire threat to communities. The goal of this workshop is to bring together stakeholders from around the state to address this vital resource management challenge in a manner that can drive rural and tribal economic development, non-combustion technology innovation and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
Preliminary Schedule
Wednesday,
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The Citizen Hotel
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8:00 a.m. |
Coffee and Networking |
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8:30 a.m. |
Attendees take seats |
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8:35 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions |
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8:45 a.m. |
Panel #1: Understanding the science behind forest treatments and biomass management in California Science and researcher panel that outlines California’s need for forest management, the biomass accumulation challenge and its resulting impact on ecosystem health, climate, air pollution and public health goals. |
| 9:40 a.m. | Keynote – Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources |
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10:05 a.m. |
Break – Coffee and Networking |
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10:25 a.m. |
Panel #2: Looking local: Community and tribal perspectives on the wood waste challenge Community, tribal and environmental justice panel that highlights a range of perspectives on the wood waste challenge and establishes considerations and parameters for stakeholders to consider as we explore solutions. |
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11:20 a.m. |
Panel #3: Exploring innovations in low-carbon and carbon-negative uses for wood waste Developer and technology provider panel that highlights non-combustion innovations including clean fuels, durable wood products and carbon removal as well as current barriers to market expansion. |
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12:15 p.m. |
Break – Lunch Keynote – Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Assembly Majority Leader |
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1:30 p.m. |
Panel #4: Evaluating the opportunities and guardrails for sustainable biomass: supply chains Environmental NGO and researcher panel that highlights principles for sustainable biomass sourcing and the potential for sustainably sourced biomass to support economy-wide decarbonization. |
| 2:25 p.m. |
Federal Agency Q&A – USFS and DOE Hear from Diana Craig, Acting Deputy Regional Forester in Region 5 from the US Forest Service, and Dr. Roger Aines, Senior Advisor for Carbon Dioxide Removal to the Under Secretary for Energy and Innovation at the US Department of Energy, on new programs and federal agency perspectives regarding California’s wood waste challenge. |
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2:50 p.m. |
Break – Coffee and Networking |
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3:15 p.m. |
Panel #5: Policy options to deliver a sustainable, equitable and large-scale wood waste bioeconomy in California Policy panel which seeks to identify relevant policy interventions which could deliver a sustainable, equitable and large-scale wood waste bioeconomy in California consistent with the state's climate and economic goals. |
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4:05 p.m. |
Conclusion/Wrap-up |
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4:15 p.m. |
Networking Reception |
| 6:00 p.m. | Reception Ends |
Sponsors
Event Organizers
Workshop Sponsors
