The Rough Cut
by Christine McGowan,
Network Coordinator
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Dear Network Friends,
We’re back! March is here, with all the madness that only a 21st century pandemic can bring. While there really is light at the end of the COVID tunnel, I know we’re all getting weary of a socially-distanced life. Hang in there – spring is almost upon us and vaccinations are coming in fast!
But spring also means major action in the woods. With temps rising into the 40s and 50s this week, we figured it was time for a maple sugar fix with this feature on a Vermont maple producer who mixes sustainable forestry with amazing taste. Check out their story here.
Heating season is definitely not over, and drying season is 365 days per year at Allard Lumber in Brattleboro, so they decided to combine these two energy-intensive jobs into one energy-efficient process with a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system that uses their sawmill residue to provide heat and power their kilns. Learn more about Allard's local, renewable CHP system here.
In the absence of in-person meetings, the Vermont Forest Industry Network has been plugging away on two projects we will bring to fruition this spring: the first is a Forest Economy Career Pathways Guide that showcases the variety of careers with wood that can be found in and around Vermont. As soon as it’s ready, we’ll share it with you all, and get it into the hands of students, parents, and guidance counselors around Vermont.
The second project is helping Northern Vermont University and Do North Co-Working in Lyndonville develop a business plan for an exciting new forest products business accelerator program they are developing. We’re tapping the great minds in forestry in our region and beyond to discover how a forest economy-specific business accelerator program can best meet the needs of our industry. If you have thoughts on this, send me an email!
Finally, the Vermont Forest Products Association is conducting a survey of members and non-members in the forest products industry to help them plan for the future. They are seeking feedback and ideas from industry members. Please click here to take the survey. The deadline to complete the survey is March 31.
And if you haven’t done it already, go dig out your muck boots, because Mud Season is coming.
Stay safe out there,
-Christine
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Dispatch from the Forest
Network News and Beyond
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The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation has updated its website with the latest information about wood heat rebates and incentives. If you, your business, or anyone you know could benefit from any of the rebates and tax credits currently available for replacing fossil fuel with wood heat, find all the information on FPR's website here.
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Leaders of the McNeil Generating Station in Burlington recently provided commentary in VT Digger about the biomass electric plant's role in addressing Vermont's clean energy and climate strategies. The piece delves into the connection between sustainable forest management, biomass energy utilization and climate change. They note that the plant's current district energy proposal "would improve efficiency at McNeil and reduce commercial-sector thermal greenhouse gas emissions in Burlington by more than 11.5 percent, the single biggest emissions-reduction opportunity in that sector in Burlington." Read the full commentary here.
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The Overstory
Our industry has a story to tell, so settle in and enjoy some good news from around the Network. Have an idea for a feature? Let us know!
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When the water pump on Allard Lumber’s boiler went a few years back, Trevor Allard finally had the excuse he needed to begin building the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system that he had been considering for years. “I couldn’t justify throwing out a good boiler,” said Allard, “but the CHP system promised efficiency, and therefore savings, that I wanted to invest in other parts of the mill.” Read the full story here.
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As the maple industry has modernized, many producers have moved to steam evaporators. But Josh Seidman, steward of Rugged Ridge Forest, missed the deep, coplex flavor of the syrup he had helped produce on a friend’s family farm during college, which was boiled over a wood fire. Check out the story of his wood-fired maple syrup here.
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COVID-19 Resources
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Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) Quick Response Support for Working Lands Businesses: COVID-19 Resources.
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Upcoming Events
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March 17 - Webinar on Invasive Plant Control; Chittenden County Forester Ethan Tapper. Event details here.
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March 31 - Vermont Green Building Network Celebration (online). Details here.
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April 9 - May 14 - VMEC's Process Improvement and Quality Fundamentals. Details here.
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Vermont Forest Industry Network Steering Committee
Trevor Allard, Allard Lumber; Liz Gleason, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board; Dave Frank, Sunwood Biomass; Paul Frederick, VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation; Charlie Hancock, North Woods Forestry; Lucas Jenson, Treehouse Hardwoods and Mill Shop and Vermont Wood Works Council; Ricky McLain, Woodworks; Michael Rainville, Maple Landmark; Joe Short, Northern Forest Center; Tim Tierney, VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development; Allan Thompson, Consulting Forester
Network Coordinator: Christine McGowan, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
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