Orange County NC Website
and Orange counties, respectively. These <br />general estimates could be improved with <br />more site - specific analysis and information <br />Additional assessments of local conditions, <br />population density, distribution of wood, <br />competition from pulp mills, restoration <br />activities, and other factors would improve <br />the accuracy of these biomass resource <br />assessments. The following caveats should <br />be considered when interpreting the results <br />presented in this profile: <br />• The supply considered in this profile <br />includes only urban wood waste, logging <br />residues, and pulpwood. It excludes stumps <br />and waste from wood industries. <br />• Because only county -level data were <br />available, homogeneous distribution of <br />resources within counties is assumed. <br />Resource distribution within counties and <br />location of bioenergy generating facilities <br />will influence the actual economic <br />availability of woody biomass suitable for <br />energy generation. More detailed local <br />analysis might consider the distribution of <br />biomass resources within counties, <br />especially for site selection of bioenergy <br />facilities. <br />• The inclusion of other resources such as <br />mill wastes or thinnings from forest <br />management and habitat restoration would <br />increase available resources. <br />• This analysis is not intended to be a <br />definitive resource assessment but is rather <br />meant to provide a starting point for <br />discussions about the feasibility of using <br />wood for energy. Resources can be excluded <br />or added as more information becomes <br />available, and prices can be modified to <br />reflect local conditions. <br />• A rise in the price of petroleum would <br />increase the cost of the resources shown here, <br />as well as costs of conventional energy <br />sources like coal. <br />• Some assumptions made in this analysis <br />are subject to change. For example, large - <br />scale bioenergy development in the area <br />could increase competing demand for wood <br />resources. <br />• Rail transportation, which could <br />substantially reduce transportation costs and <br />increase the procurement area for biomass <br />resources, was not considered in this <br />analysis. <br />• Construction and operation of wood - fueled <br />power plants may have significant local <br />economic impacts. These impacts vary <br />widely among selected counties, depending <br />upon the makeup of the local economy. <br />• Wood fuel represents one of the largest <br />expenditures for a power plant and gives rise <br />to large impacts in the local forestry and <br />forestry services sectors. Other sectors of the <br />local economy are also impacted through the <br />indirect effects associated with purchased <br />supplies and employee household spending. <br />• Economic impacts of a 40 MW power plant <br />are greater than for a 20 MW plant, although <br />not in proportion to the power output, due to <br />economies of scale. For more information <br />about using wood to produce energy, visit <br />121t. : / /www.iri erfacesouitli.or /wood biomass <br />and read other fact sheets, community <br />economic profiles, and case studies from this <br />program, or I tt : / /www.forestbioerier riet/ <br />to access a number of other resources. <br />7 <br />