Page 25 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 2 - Spring 2023

the United States on everything from energy to automobiles to fashion and food,” Echols said. “California’s attitude about using biomass energy impacts the environmental community, who have an issue with burning wood chips. They prefer to chip them up or just leave the deadfall in the forest, which creates a fire hazard, and because they don’t like to do prescriptive burns, it makes it even more risky.”
Broader public opinion hasn’t stopped Georgia officials from prioritizing biomass. In July 2022, when the PSC approved Georgia Power’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), commissioners mandated that the company issue a request for proposals (RFP) to develop up to 140 megawatts of renewable energy using biomass. Shaw, who represents South Georgia on the commission, emphasized the importance of moving toward biomass to provide fuel diversity that leads to reliable energy sources and highlighted how the use of biomass would benefit the region’s timber industry.
“I see the benefits the forest industry has had on the Georgia economy. Our for- est resources are a renewable resource that is plentiful because of the leadership from the forest industry for many years,” Shaw said. “We are sitting on top of a resource that has enormous potential.”
T.A. DEFEO IS A FREELANCE WRITER WHO HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL BOOKS ABOUT RAILROADS. HE IS FOCUSED ON TELLING STORIES, WHETHER THEY ARE IN GEORGIA’S FORESTS, ALONG THE RAILS THAT CRISSCROSS THIS NATION OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN.
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