Figure 1 shows before and  after photos of a site that was thinned to reduce the risk of fire. Most Woody Biomass Utilization Activities Are Implemented by the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and the Interior, and Include Grants, Research, and Education

Most of the federal government’s woody biomass utilization efforts are  being undertaken by USDA, DOE, and Interior. Research and Development

Forest Service researchers are conducting research into a variety of woody  biomass issues. The Forest Service also conducts extensive research into uses for woody  biomass, primarily at its Forest Products Laboratory. Formal coordination between agencies occurs  through both the Woody Biomass Utilization Group and the Biomass  Research and Development Board, although most agency officials we  spoke with emphasized informal communication—through telephone  discussions, e-mails, participation in conferences, and other means—rather  than these groups as the primary vehicle for interagency coordination. To  coordinate internal activities, both DOE and Interior have formal  mechanisms—DOE coordinates its activities through the Office of Energy  Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), while both Interior and BLM  have appointed officials to lead their woody biomass efforts; further,  Interior’s woody biomass policy and BLM’s woody biomass strategy guide  these organizations’ efforts. In contrast, the Forest Service—the USDA  agency with the most woody biomass activities—has not assigned  responsibility for coordinating its woody biomass activities, potentially  leading to fragmentation of effort and diluting the impact of these  activities. Most Officials Cited Economic Obstacles to Woody Biomass Utilization, and While Agencies Generally Targeted These Obstacles, Some Officials Believe Additional Steps beyond the Agencies’ Authority Are Needed

Agency officials cited two principal obstacles to increasing the use of  woody biomass:  the difficulty in using woody biomass cost-effectively— particularly the obstacles posed by the high cost of harvesting and  transporting woody biomass—and the lack of a reliable supply of the  material. Many officials, however, told us that their agencies are  limited in their ability to fully address these obstacles and that additional  steps—such as subsidies and tax credits—beyond the agencies’ authority  to implement are needed. Federal agencies are targeting their activities  toward overcoming this and other obstacles—for example, by providing  technical assistance and grant funds to businesses facing economic  challenges in using woody biomass. Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

The objectives of our review were to determine (1) which federal agencies  are involved in efforts to promote the use of woody biomass, and the  actions they are undertaking; (2) how these federal agencies coordinate  their activities related to woody biomass; and (3) what these agencies see  as the primary obstacles to increasing the use of woody biomass and the  extent to which they are addressing these obstacles. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Bureau of Land Management.
Why GAO Did This Study

In an effort to reduce the risk of wildland fires, many federal land managers--including the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)--are placing greater emphasis on thinning forests and rangelands to help reduce the buildup of potentially hazardous fuels. These thinning efforts generate considerable quantities of woody material, including many smaller trees, limbs, and brush--referred to as woody biomass--that currently have little or no commercial value. GAO was asked to determine (1) which federal agencies are involved in efforts to promote the use of woody biomass, and actions they are undertaking; (2) how these agencies are coordinating their activities; and (3) what agencies see as obstacles to increasing the use of woody biomass, and the extent to which they are addressing these obstacles.

What GAO Found

Most woody biomass utilization activities are implemented by the Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Energy (DOE), and the Interior, and include awarding grants to businesses, schools, Indian tribes, and others; conducting research; and providing education. Most of USDA's woody biomass utilization activities are undertaken by the Forest Service and include grants for woody biomass utilization, research into the use of woody biomass in wood products, and education on potential uses for woody biomass. DOE's woody biomass activities focus on research into using the material for renewable energy, while Interior's efforts consist primarily of education and outreach. Other agencies also provide technical assistance or fund research activities. Federal agencies coordinate their woody biomass activities through formal and informal mechanisms. Although the agencies have established two interagency groups to coordinate their activities, most officials we spoke with emphasized informal communication--through e-mails, participation in conferences, and other means--as the primary vehicle for interagency coordination. To coordinate activities within their agencies, DOE and Interior have formal mechanisms--DOE coordinates its activities through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, while Interior and BLM have appointed officials to oversee, and have issued guidance on, their woody biomass activities. In contrast, while the Forest Service recently issued a woody biomass policy, it has not assigned responsibility for overseeing and coordinating its various woody biomass activities, potentially leading to fragmented efforts and diluting the impact of these activities. The obstacles to using woody biomass cited most often by agency officials were the difficulty of using woody biomass cost-effectively and the lack of a reliable supply of the material; agency activities generally are targeted toward addressing these obstacles. Some officials told us their agencies are limited in their ability to address these obstacles and that incentives--such as subsidies and tax credits--beyond the agencies' authority are needed. However, others disagreed with this approach for a variety of reasons.