NATIONAL FIRE PLAN

1. Bitterroot Valley NATIONAL FIRE PLAN Implementation Bio-Mass Energy – Fully Integrated Solutions for the West’s Forests and Darby’s Community FUELS-for-SCHOOLS The US Forest Service in partnership with the Bitter Root RC&D, the USFS Forest Products Lab and Darby Schools is in the process of designing and installing a completely automated biomass heating system specifically designed to burn chipped forest waste that will be integrated into the existing public school campus in Darby, Montana. WHY? From Thinning to Chipping • Contributes to reduction in fuels on forested lands by providing a market for wood products that are currently noncommercial, while helping private landowners and public land managers offset their costs. • Has potential to cut Darby School’s fuel bill in half. • May add local jobs associated with creating and transporting wood chips. • Provides a local (rather than foreign) and renewable (rather than fossil) fuel source. • Releases only 3% of the methane and particulates associated with burning slash piles, only 5% of the carbon monoxide and about a third of the nitrous oxides. Chipping to Burning Burning to Darby Schools Fuel Bill Reduction Contact Information: Nan Christianson, Bitterroot N.F. 1801 N First St, Hamilton, MT 59840 406-363-7113 nchristianson@fs.fed.us www.bitterrootrcd.org USFS Bitterroot National Forest – State & Private ForestryMontana Dept. Natural Resource & Conservation Bitter Root Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc.