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How long can local wood resources be expected to supply a wood-fired facility?

Last Updated: December 15, 2009

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A properly sized and designed wood-fired facility that considered the sustainable supply of the available resource should not run out of fuel unless other market pressures or local policy and regulation changes affect the availability. A properly designed facility will match the size of the facility to the available resource within a reasonable haul radius of the facility. Generally speaking the maximum haul distance is 30 to 50 miles. To go farther out means the facility's business model must be able to absorb higher transportation costs. If the facility is oversized with respect to the available resource then the answer to the question will be 'not very long'. However, if the facility is properly sized to the available resource then both the resource and the facility will be sustainable over the long run.

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