California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE)

This report summarizes efforts by Winrock International, WM Beaty and Associates, and other Shasta County, California partners to implement hazardous fuel reduction/biomass energy pilot activities in WESTCARB Phase II (2006-10). Wildfire is a significant source of GHG emissions in California and throughout the WESTCARB region. WESTCARB developed methodologies to evaluate, validate and demonstrate the potential of reducing hazardous biomass for biomass energy to contribute to GHG mitigation and adaptation. The report describes hazardous fuel reduction pilot activities on private lands in Shasta County; pre- and post-treatment measurements to quantify forest carbon impacted by treatment and/or fire; and analysis of data from these pilots to determine the net GHG impact of the fuel reduction treatments.