Exportation of woody biomass is certainly a possibility, but the added transportation (i.e. fossil fuel use) reduces the wood's value as a renewable resource. In our global marketplace, products are readily shipped around the world to the highest bidder (or from the lowest seller). As other countries continue to adjust to carbon tax systems and strive to meet strict greenhouse gas emission requirements, which are becoming more common due to international Protocol, they are increasing their demand for wood and may be willing to pay a high price. This pressure from the international market needs to be considered when communities think about meeting their local energy needs with woody biomass. In most cases, contracts can be designed to ensure that enough wood is available to meet the needs of the local power plant. In addition, when looking toward sustainability, we should aim to use local resources to meet local needs. The pelletization and shipping of wood works in some regions because of the large amount of wood resources, which makes wood relatively low cost, and the proximity of the wood and pellet mills to ports. This FAQ was adapted from Wood to Energy and used with permission.

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