OLYMPIA, Wash. - After a forest is logged, the debris left behind is a problem. It just sits there, like kindling, waiting for a spark. For years it's been gathered for control burns - a complete waste.
On Thursday, Washington state leaders rolled out the equipment that convert that process into valuable energy and, according to them, hundreds of family wage green jobs.
State leaders, forestry officials and a private company showed off the new bailing machine that will be part of a new series of biomass refineries that will use modern clean burning techniques to create electricity.
The first project under the alliance with the Areva and Duke Energy companies will be a proposed 55 megawatt facility in Mason County. The wood debris will be harvested from local private forest land.
State leaders say 125 green jobs will be created at the facility and in the woods with another 150 local jobs anticipated.
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