The economic availability of woody biomass feedstocks in the Northeast

Abstract

The viability of bioenergy projects and policies depends in part on the economic availability (supplies and prices) of biomass feedstocks. The Northeast USA is poised with significant woody biomass resources, largely available from forest lands and urban wood waste. Further, the Northeast has great potential to augment feedstock supplies with short-rotation woody crops. Based on the results from a national agricultural simulation model, by the year 2030, the Northeast USA could potentially provide between 4.3 and 25.5 million dry Mg year-1 at farmgate prices of $22 and $88 dry Mg-1, respectively. These supplies represent between 9 and 14 % of total woody biomass supplies that might be available in the lower 48 states.