Nevada Jobs Converting Hazardous Forest Fuels into Green Energy

The Division of Forestry in Nevada's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been awarded Nevada's first stimulus funded grant. The $1.3 million forest protection and green energy project already underway has created 26 jobs and saved three others, all in Lincoln County, which has an unemployment rate well above the national average. The undertaking will reduce hazardous fuel loads by removing encroaching Juniper and Pinyon trees (both highly flammable), improving forest ecosystems, helping prevent forest fires, and creating biomass for use as green energy. Work is taking place in or along Beaver Dam, Spring Valley and Echo Canyon State Parks, as well as along parts of Highway 93 and State Route 319.

The project began on March, 30, 2009 and the Nevada Division of Forestry has so far cleared 287.7 acres and produced 3,767 cubic yards of biomass. The biomass is being used as mulch and green energy, with 2,700 cubic yards being used as green energy at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City, and 1,067 cubic yards chipped and spread on site as mulch.

Read more on the project.