AUBURN, Wash./EWORLDWIRE/Sep. 11, 2006 --- Forest Concepts, LLC announced receipt of a two-year research and development contract from the USDA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. As woody biomass is a core element of U.S. strategy to replace imported oil and natural gas with renewable resources, through this contract, Forest Concepts will develop efficient, economical systems to collect and transport woody biomass obtained from small-scale fuels reduction projects (ranging from residential lots to 20 acre parcels) in the true wildland-urban intermix zone (WUI). The $296,000 Phase II contract (#2006-33610-17595) award follows successful characterization of materials and transportation alternatives during a 2005 USDA SBIR-funded project; it offers better understanding of methods to collect and transport woody biomass destined for bioenergy and biobased products. In January 2006 a Western Governors’ Association task force report concluded that 35 percent of the biomass available for power generation in the west must come from urban areas, and most of the material is woody biomass. The cost of biomass transport from urban and suburban areas to markets is a significant barrier to development of bioenergy and bio-products.
Forest Concept’s specific objective is to enable more of the material to be diverted to value-added uses including energy, biorefineries, and engineered wood products. The results should be readily applied to most urban-source greenwood, storm debris, and land clearing biomass.
According to Jim Dooley, founder of Forest Concepts and chief technology officer, "At Forest Concepts, we meet the challenge of potential suppliers of urban woody biomass to economically recover and transport the material from residential neighborhoods, urban centers and suburban landscapes to distant users. We have systems, equipment, technology, and business development specialists with the expertise necessary to create a biomass recovery and logistics system that works efficiently and economically."
During 2005/2006, Forest Concepts completed the USDA-funded study of the current situation in the western U.S., and conceptual evaluation of potential improvements. Two surveys and a number of site visits were conducted with community wildfire protection organizations in Washington, Oregon and California. While very little woody biomass is recovered for use today, the company uncovered some very promising applicable technologies that could be adapted and optimized in the context of biomass collection from urban and suburban landscapes.
About Forest Concepts, L.L.C.
Established in 1998, privately-held Forest Concepts, LLC is a forest products company with a new way of thinking about the industry and markets for wood-based materials. Products and technologies created during the past eight years enable renewal of forest communities through value-added utilization of small diameter woody materials. Jim Dooley and the company are nationally recognized leaders in the commercialization of new uses for smallwood and biomass that is available as a co-product of forest management and wildfire protection. The company develops and manufactures erosion control such as WoodStraw(TM), specialized smallwood structures and related materials for habitat enhancement, threatened and endangered species protection, environmental restoration, green building, and landscape markets.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements related to Forest Concept’s products and its other research and development programs. These forward-looking statements are based upon Forest Concept’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Forest Concept’s actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which apply only as of the date of the press release. Forest Concepts expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
CONTACT:
Forest Concepts, L.L.C.
Michael C. Perry, CEO
Investor and Media Relations
253.333.9663
Mcp0917@msn.com
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