Welcome to the
Forest Biomass Energy Life Cycle Assessment Project

This project will model the environmental, economic, and social costs and benefits of using biomass from forest thinning projects to generate electricity.

One approach for identifying and quantifying these costs and benefits is through a life cycle assessment. A life cycle assessment, or LCA, models the economic and environmental impacts associated with a product, process, or activity by identifying energy and materials used and wastes released to the environment. Decision makers can use LCA models to evaluate opportunities to modify these impacts. More information...

This research effort is funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research Program. The project is managed by the Pacific Southwest Research Station of the US Forest Service. This cooperative effort includes TSS Consultants, UC Davis Information Center for the Environment, UC Davis Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, TCW Economics, Future Resources Associates, University of Oregon Department of Wood Science and Engineering, University of Washington Design for Environment Lab, and the Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Contact: Dr. Mark Nechodom, Research Social Scientist, Sierra Nevada Research Center, Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service. 530-759-1706