News & Innovation

With the state of Oregon facing key timber management issues concerning upcoming changes to its overall forest practices act and management of state forests, the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI) recently kicked off an educational outreach campaign that is running in April and May highlighting the importance of sustainable managed forests to both the environment and the economy…

Enviva, the world’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets, released its quarterly report in early May, and it rippled through the wood-to-energy ranks. “The plans and initiatives underway to improve productivity and costs across Enviva’s current asset platform continue to fall behind expectations,” commented John Keppler, Executive Chairman of the board. “While the board of directors remains convinced of management’s ability to deliver the originally forecasted operational and financial performance over time, it is clearly taking longer than expected…

Mercer had announced the launch of a program supporting forest owners in Germany, called “Growing Forests – Growing A Future.” Mercer Holz, the wood purchasing arm of Mercer, is committed to partnering with forest owners in Germany to sustain the longevity of their forests. Over the next few years, in a concrete step of solidarity, Mercer will provide participating forest owners across Germany with a careful selection of seedlings to help replenish their forests. This is one of the first company-sponsored large-scale tree planting endeavors within the German wood products industry…

City officials in Prineville and Crook County, Oregon are one step closer to building a biomass power plant in their central Oregon town after the U.S. Forest Service (FS) recently awarded a $1 million grant to the city and its Prineville Renewable Energy Project (PREP)…

The annual “Loggers and Haulers Day at the Legislature” was a success as 20 Idaho loggers made the trip to Boise for the March event sponsored by Associated Logging Contractors-Idaho. According to a report from ALC-Idaho President Mark Mahon, the group met with members of the Idaho Land Board, worked with the Idaho Dept. of Lands and Idaho Dept. of Transportation and also met with key officials including the speaker of the house, lieutenant governor and governor…

Bipartisan legislation to address truck driver shortages that includes a two-year refundable tax credit of up to $7,500 has been re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI)…