Jointly Optimizing Selection of Fuel Treatments and Siting of Forest Biomass-Based Energy Production Facilities for Landscape-Scale Fire Hazard Reduction

Landscape–scale fuel treatments for forest fire hazard reduction potentially produce large quantities of material suitable for biomass energy production. The analytic framework FIA BioSum addresses this situation by developing detailed data on forest conditions and production under alternative fuel treatment prescriptions, and computes haul costs to alternative sites at which forest biomass–based energy production facilities could be constructed. This research presents a joint–optimization approach that simultaneously selects acres to be treated by fuel treatment prescription and assigns bioenergy production facility locations and capacities. Effects of alternative fuel treatment policies on fuel treatment effectiveness, economic feasibility, material produced, generating capacity supported, and the location and capacity of assigned facilities are evaluated.