The Klamath Tribes have recently announced plans to develop a biomass cogeneration facility on the former Crater Lake Mill Site that they recently acquired. The biomass facility is the “centerpiece” in what will become known as the Tribes’ “Giiwas Green Enterprise Park.” According to Joe Kirk, Chairman of the Klamath Tribes, “The Klamath Tribes have been researching opportunities in this field for the last four years. We ultimately chose a gasification technology that will take woody material from the forests, as well as other sources of feedstock, and convert it into synthetic “syn” gas. This will drive engines that will produce electricity for the local electrical grid and heat for local enterprises. The technology chosen emits no net carbon into the atmosphere.”

Chairman Kirk went on to say that the Klamath Tribes believe that converting biomass into electrical power is one of the most attractive strategies to reduce this country’s dependence on fossil fuels. In the first place, biomass is a “renewable” source of energy and is often left on the forest floor after thinning operations. Transforming it into electricity instead of burning it or letting it rot in the forest will reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. He pointed out that, “In addition to its merits as a clean renewable energy, biomass conversion is also a direct way of restoring the health of our forests.  It should help to stimulate forest land managers to thin overstocked tree stands and thereby reduce their vulnerability to wildfires and insect infestation. Healthy resilient forests are critical to helping adapt to and mitigate adverse effects of climate change.” 
 
The Tribes plan to eventually generate up to eight (8) megawatts of electricity.  They will bring on line, on an incremental basis, four biomass conversion units that will each produce an estimated two megawatts.  The biomass facility will employ state-of-the-art gasification technology with advanced thermal recovery.  The recovered heat will be used in the tribal forest products manufacturing facility and other enterprises being considered such as agricultural (greenhouse) ventures. Gasification technology thermally decomposes the feedstock material without combustion or emissions, converting roughly 90% of the biomass into gaseous products and the remaining 10% to a solid referred to as “char”, a carbon produquality soil amendment.

Jeff Mitchell, a member of the Tribal Council and the Chairman of the Tribes’ Biomass Committee, pointed out that the future viability of this facility will depend on having a predictable source of feedstock that is sufficient to operate at full capacity. Having four smaller units instead of one very large one will enable the Tribes to handle a range of different types of feedstock, from woody material from forests to solid waste that cities and counties usually dispose of as landfill. The adaptability of its technology will enable the Tribes to operate without having to rely on one kind or one source of feedstock. 
 
The Tribes are currently in discussions with public and private forest managers to secure commitments of a predictable supply of feedstock.   Both Deschutes and Klamath Counties are evaluating the feasibility of providing feedstock to the Tribes’ project as an alternative to their current waste disposal arrangements.
 
During the past two years, the Klamath Tribes’ exploration of biomass conversion as a source of local electricity has received an unexpected boost. IDRS, Inc, a national Indian organization, chose the Klamath Tribes to be one of five tribes in the west to participate in a national demonstration project entitled: Restoring Forests and Building Tribal Economies. It is funded by the Ford Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation and the Christensen Fund. IDRS has partnered with Community Energy Systems (CES), a leader in the development of community based biomass facilitated in rural and tribal communities This partnership has accelerated the development of the Klamath Tribes’ project by providing essential technical expertise and planning assistance, as well as help in mobilizing needed development and loan and capital investment funds.
 
The Klamath Tribes have also partnered with the Oregon Institute of Technology’s (OIT) Renewable Energy Center to bring OIT’s expertise to the development of both biomass and other renewable energy resources in the Klamath Basin and elsewhere.  The Tribes have also initiated discussions with Klamath County College and OIT to discuss the development of training and education programs that will create new employment options for Basin students. 
 
As part of their partnership building strategy, the Klamath Tribes are also initiating discussions with other major land owners and managers in the north Basin including The Nature Conservancy, the Forest Service, and other major private owners.  They want to identify cooperative strategies to accelerate urgently needed restoration activities on all the forests in the Basin and create a stable supply for emerging wood utilization enterprises.  With this joint focus on both forest restoration and economic development, the Tribes are taking a major step forward in restoring the economy and culture of the Klamath Tribes.

More information contact: 
Klamath Tribal Councilman, Jeff C. Mitchell, 541-891-5971
Klamath Tribal Councilman, Will Hatcher, 541-783-2219 ext. 142