Exploring Woody Biomass Energy Options for Facilities in the 8 county New York City Watershed Region
August 2008

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Request for Applications

The Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) is currently seeking applications from public institutions and other facilities exceeding 50,000 ft sq. interested in exploring biomass heating options for their building(s). Studies will evaluate the potential for meeting a facility’s energy needs with available by-products of the region’s forest products manufacturing and forest management activities. Selected applicants will receive a detailed assessment of the economic, environmental and technical feasibility of retrofitting or replacing an existing boiler system to accommodate wood as a renewable fuel option.

This initiative follows in the footsteps of other efforts underway in New York and neighboring states like Vermont, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania where public schools, hospitals and similar facilities are making the switch to locally grown, carbon-neutral fuels. By employing modern, automated and efficient wood heating technology, some of these facilities are saving two to three times the amount they would be paying for oil, propane, and/or natural gas.

Selected applicants will receive an “engineer for a day” visit from an experienced biomass energy contractor hired by WAC to conduct the assessment. Free of charge and with no obligation from participants, the engineer will survey their facility and heating system and prepare a written report which will detail the technical and economic feasibility of integrating a biomass boiler system including:

• Options and estimated costs for installation of biomass system
• Projected savings (including a “payback through savings scenario”)
• Amount of biomass to be consumed annually
• Economic viability of the new system, contrasted with that of the old system
• The supply, availability and accessibility of raw material to fuel the system (including the amount and condition of material generated in the vicinity of the site, source of material, cost estimates of material purchase and delivery, and potential contractors that can deliver the biomass)
• Identified source(s) of funding for the retrofit or installation including state construction aid to education, energy service contracts (ESCos), carbon offset banks, and others
• Research of existing air quality regulations and implications for project
• Potential reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions as compared to existing energy source
• Number of community members served by facility and/or economic impact to community
• Support of and commitment to a future wood energy conversion project from the community (governing board, elected officials, partnering organizations, local businesses, etc.)

The average cost for each preliminary feasibility study of this kind is approximately $5,000 and total current funding available for these assessments is limited to $35,000. Therefore, the Council anticipates selecting several participants. Preference will be given to schools or other public buildings and institutions within a New York City watershed county (Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Putnam, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester). All project proposals must be received by the Watershed Agricultural Council no later than October 15, 2008 to be considered.