Last week we talked about the resurgence of coolness of reforestation. Could it be.. that at least in areas away from the mental baggage of the timber wars’ “timber industry are bad guys” worldview, that forest products might be cool again? Not only cool in the trendy sense, but cool in the climate mitigation sense.
According to themselves, RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) does this kind of work:
We identify the interventions and work to scale transformative change in the global energy system to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 50% by 2030.
Now if you were to hear about forest products being climate solutions from, say, AFRC, as in another AFRC podcast, this one with Dr. Nate Anderson, one of my favorite Rocky Mountain Station researchers, you might think “those folks are biased.”
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Why is Dr. Anderson one of my faves? He’s into the nitty-gritty of pursuing the Holy Grail of Dry Forests- finding practical uses for small diameter material from fuel treatment thinnings. There have been entrepreneurs, scientists and many, many, others working on this for at least 40 years, and they need research support to make these uses economically viable. You’ve got to give them credit, these folks are not deterred by many years of difficulties, trials and failures, and keep on keepin’ on, as they say.
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But it’s hard to say that RMI is biased. Looking more broadly, trees die for many reasons and finding something to do with them, other than burning them (and adding to PM2.5 pollution), and at the same time, storing the carbon, seems like a good idea. And we love our Canadian sisters and brothers, but jobs here for our folks, and the taxes they pay, are good also, and conceivably building material could be cheaper without the tariffs in our longstanding and renegotiated Canadian Lumber Agreements. Although I don’t know if Mass Timber is included in the agreement (that’s the kind of stuff forest economists know.)
Report
From Wildfire to Wealth
Growing resilient forest economies in Colorado’s wildfire-prone communities
Colorado is facing more frequent wildfires, a shortage of affordable housing, and limited high-quality job opportunities in rural areas. Businesses that process small-diameter trees (9 inches or less) from wildfire mitigation efforts into mass timber, a class of high performance wood building products, could help tackle these issues while also reducing carbon emissions from the construction sector, which is the state’s third-largest source of pollution.
Challenges to developing a mass timber industry in Colorado include supply uncertainties from federally managed forests and a limited logging and milling infrastructure. However, growing demand for sustainable building materials and updated building codes present significant opportunities for businesses and communities if these obstacles can be addressed.
The study recommends a phased strategy for wood product businesses:
- Rightsize Now (2–3 years): Increase log supply to existing mills and launch small-scale operations producing nail-laminated timber, dowel-laminated timber, and cross-laminated timber. This approach can quickly boost wood product output, strengthen local businesses, and prepare for future growth.
- Plan for Scale (5–10 years): As timber supply expands, scale up to high-volume production of cross-laminated timber, glue-laminated timber, wood fiber insulation, and other advanced products using automated techniques, unlocking new business opportunities and adding value to forest residues.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Gates Family Foundation, Mighty Arrow Foundation, National Forest Foundation, and the United States Forest Service for their generous support. Their contributions have been instrumental in our efforts to efficiently and accurately gather the relevant information for this report. We also acknowledge and appreciate the valuable collaboration of the Colorado Mass Timber Coalition for their tireless work in advancing this initiative.
Well that’s a non-starter; Colorado’s timber utilization is in the toilet due to industry heading to greener pastures. I guess the Montrose Mill is the only “big” mill left in the State. A couple of smaller mills, including the mill in the San Luis Valley, but most of the pellet mills have also adiosed! Several firewooders are active, but how much firewood do ya really need?
I’ve mentioned earlier the payment, that’s right, payment, of $3,900/acre for treating lodgepole, but even that doesn’t include slash treatments. From what I saw, hundreds, to maybe thousands of cords of firewood decked and curing in the High Country sun. If it’s not clearcuts, I question what the heck the silvicultural objective might even be……
I certainly hope for more industry coming into the State, but I remain pessimistic on reality! With Weyerhaeuser unloading half a billion dollars in Arkansas for a new glue-lam plant, they know where demonstrated supply is not contingent on the winds and whims of political shenanigans…….
As a survivor of 4-FRI prognostication, you can lead a horse to water but ya can’t economically make jet fuel from slash!
Jim, There are actually three small mills in the San Luis Valley and a house log mill. One on the west side, one on the east side, one to the north in Saguache, and one, the house log operation, in the south. There is a small sawmill in Creede, where I live, but the owner is older and it has become just a firewood operation, but the infrastructure is still there. There is also a small operation just over the Divide in Pagosa Springs helping the San Juan National Forest meet some of their fire mitigation targets. Seems like I have seen a small operation near Dolores too. That is just in my little part of the state, so I would guess there are many more. But, like I think you are suggesting, I agree, it is going to take some financial help and incentive to move towards making laminated products with small diameter material.
I have a special place in my heart (and career) for these smaller operators! Good old hard work and customer satisfaction goes a long way in keeping these operators busy.. I forgot about the house log mill; they ought to handle some of those “billions” of dead spruce before they are too far gone.
Good to hear there are many more of these folks. Richard Drake has a small mill in Moffat (SLV) that I buy from, on occasion….