Tours of biomass facilities offered
September 15, 2015
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will host two three-day
tours of community biomass facilities in eastern Alaska during October.
Extension Community Development agent Karen Petersen said the tours are designed for
representatives of communities considering biomass heating options.
“This gives them a chance to see a whole bunch of systems and to see them in operation,” she said.
Two tour options will be offered, a northbound tour Oct. 5-7 that begins in Anchorage and ends in Fairbanks, and an Oct. 8-10 southbound tour that starts in Fairbanks and ends in Anchorage. Participants in both tours will travel by van to the same facilities in Glennallen, Gulkana, Mentasta Lake, Tok, Tanacross and Delta Junction.
Petersen said participants will tour facilities that use woody and biomass fuel and provide heat to a variety of community and public buildings. Participants will inspect installed facilities and may interact with the operators. Several systems will be highlighted, she said, including facilities that burn cordwood, chips and pellets, a combined heat and power project and several pellet manufacturing facilities.
Representatives from Extension and tour co-sponsors Alaska Energy Authority and the U.S. Forest Service will accompany both tours to answer questions and provide additional information.
The tour costs $50, and interested parties may register at http://bit.ly/ces-workshops. Participants will pay for their own lodging and meals. For more information, contact Petersen at khpetersen@alaska.edu and 907-821-2681.
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Debbie Carter, School of Natural Resources and Extension information officer, 907-474-5406 or dscarter@alaska.edu.