Wood to Energy High School Curriculum

1. Wood to Energy High School Curriculum Lauren McDonell, University of Florida School of Forest Resources & Conservation

2. Overview Using wood for energy: the basics The Wood to Energy Outreach Program The Florida High School Curriculum Your questions and ideas

3. Wood can be: • Used to produce heat, power, electricity, and transportation fuels • Collected from a variety of sources • Transported by truck or rail • Converted using one of several methods (burning, gasification, Bio-oil, microbial digestion into ethanol) • Used to fuel a municipal power plant, individual industry, an institution, automobile • Cofired, used to supplement coal or other fuels

4. Potential sources of woody biomass • Urban Waste Wood • Yard trimmings • Storm damage • Land-clearing debris • Forestry Residues • Thinning for forest health, wildfire risk reduction • Branches from harvesting • Wood grown for energy

5. Why wood? • Wood is renewable • Useful way to process “waste wood” • Can produce lower levels of sulfur, nitrogen, and heavy metals such as mercury • Carbon neutral • Creates local jobs • Can help keep land in forests

6. The reality is… • Wood isn’t a silver bullet • Wood won’t work everywhere • As with all sources of energy, there are advantages and disadvantages to using wood • In some communities, wood may be part of a suite of options to successfully meet growing energy needs + + +

7. Many factors to consider Environmental Habitat change Air quality Water quality Soil fertility Sustainable mgmt Social Values Aesthetics Recreation Sense of place Economic Local jobs Cost of electricity Cost of facility Supply of wood

8. What does this have to do with education? Ultimately, woody biomass use for power generation requires public support. The public is extremely unknowledgeable about energy in general, and woody biomass specifically. • Public support can keep projects alive • Lack of public support can destroy projects • Public participation can improve project design • Public agencies need public support • The public needs to know the pro’s and con’s of woody biomass use • Some level of engagement in the decision-making process

9. Energy illiteracy • 12% of Americans can pass a basic energy quiz (NEETF, 2002) • Our respondents: 54% “not at all knowledgeable” about using wood for energy • 5% “very knowledgeable” (Monroe et al.,2007)

10. This means Public education and outreach is essential to a successful woody biomass program • To increase awareness about using wood; • To increase understanding of advantages, disadvantages, and opportunities; • To foster public engagement in community decisions about land use, energy, and growth.

11. Public perceptions research • Wood is not considered a renewable energy resource • Solar and wind are the only “good” energy sources • Wood is perceived to be “dirtier” than natural gas • People are familiar with wildfires and campfires

12. In general • Local forests and air quality are important • Waste wood is okay • Burning wood increases CO2 • Healthy forests have no management • Foresters, environmental groups, and extension agents are reliable sources of information

13. Wood to EnergyOutreach Program • Biomass Ambassador Guide • Outreach Guide • 16 Fact Sheets • 14 Case Studies • 13 Economic Profiles • Presentations • CD, Web site: www.interfacesouth.org/woodybiomass All outreach materials were designed based on public perceptions research, expert reviews, and pilot tests.

14. Partners U.S. Forest Service Centers for Urban and Interface Forestry Cooperative agreements with: • University of Florida, School of Forest Resources & Conservation • Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) • Also involved: UF Food & Resource Economics, Ag Engineering, Southern Region Cooperative Extension, and private consulting firms

15. Program scope Southern region Wildland-urban interface (WUI) Using wood for electricity, heat, and power Engaging communities in understanding and discussing energy opportunities

16. New Project:Develop a high school curriculum on woody biomass

17. Educational opportunities • Complex issue, multiple perspectives • Public involvement is helpful • Lack of knowledge • Need for energy education • Many questions for students to understand and consider

18. Why a woody biomass curriculum? High school students are an appropriate audience for exploring questions about locally available, sustainable energy resources Teacher interest in science lab/curriculum related to bioenergy 25 x 25 education priority

19. The opportunity Adapt Wood to Energy Outreach Program materials for high school students Create an integrated science and social studies curriculum package to help students gain knowledge and develop critical thinking skills about a local, renewable energy resource

20. Curriculum objectives Increase knowledge about using wood for energy Enable students to investigate and quantify local resources Encourage critical thinking about renewable energy resources

21. Theme: Should our community consider using wood for energy?

22. The process Students generate questions based on the theme Work through questions and issues regarding using wood for energy Each lesson will help them answer questions with background information, data, and activities specific to their community

23. Sample questions • What energy sources do we currently use and how much? • How does wood become energy? • What are the costs and benefits of current sources of energy? • What are the costs and benefits of using wood for energy? • How much wood is available in my community?

24. Curriculum ideas What sources of energy does my city or county currently use? How much? • Webquest: student energy audit • Investigate energy consumption by source • Predict future energy consumption trends • Guest speaker: local utility representative • Current event assignment: energy in the news

25. More curriculum ideas How does wood become energy? • Background PowerPoint presentation: What in the World is Woody Biomass? • Lab activity: “Using the energy in wood to heat water” • Extra: field trip to wood pellet plant or power plant

26. More curriculum ideas What are the costs and benefits of using wood for energy? • Community forum role play • Fact vs. opinion • Correlation vs. causation • Attitudes/values assessment • Guest speaker: forester/energy consultant

27. More curriculum ideas How much wood is available in my community? • Webquest directs students to resources to collect information • Calculate data using “Do-It-Yourself Supply Curve” • Culminating product: persuasive essay to a county commissioner/utility representative

28. So what are your ideas for a curriculum?

29. Summary Lack of public knowledge about energy High school students will soon be making decisions regarding energy sources Students generate questions, think critically, build skills, and identify the advantages and disadvantages of using wood for energy in their community

30. “In the coming decades, the public will more frequently be called upon to understand complex environmental issues, assess risk, evaluate proposed environmental plans, and understand how individual decisions affect the environment at local and global scales.” National Science Foundation Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education

31. Questions?For more information or to request handouts:Lauren McDonell at mcdonell@ufl.eduor visitwww.interfacesouth.org/woodybiomass