TITLE:
Wood Pellet Co-Firing for Electric Generation Source of Income for Forest Based Low Income Communities in Alabama
AUTHORS:
Ellene Kebede, Gbenga Ojumu, Edinam Adozsii
KEYWORDS:
Wood Pellet; Electricity; Co-Firing; Coal; Input-Output; Forest Industry
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Energy Efficiency,
Vol.2 No.3,
August
2,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Alabama imports coal
from other states to generate electricity. This paper assessed the direct and
indirect economic impacts of wood pellet production to be co-fired with coal
for power generation in Alabama. Four sizes of wood pellet plants and regional
input-output models were used for the analysis. The results showed that the
economic impact increases with the size of the plant. Wood pellet production
will have a multiplier effect on the economy especially, forest-related
services, retail stores, the health service industry, and tax revenue for the
government. Domestic wood pellet production can reduce the use of imported
coal, allow the use of local woody biomass, and create economic activities in
Alabama’s rural communities. Policies that support the production of wood
pellet will serve to encourage the use of wood for power generation and support
the rural economies.