Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program (CWEWIP)
Washington State Department of Corrections
Capital Planning and Development
PO Box 411112
Olympia, WA 98504
360-725-8213 https://www.doc.wa.gov/
The Larch Corrections Center Biomass Energy System will install a modern, efficient wood energy system at a correctional facility in the mountains of southwest Washington State to offset the use of fuel oil for heating and domestic hot water. Larch Corrections Center (Larch CC) currently uses about 74,000 gallons of fuel oil per year. A commercial production biomass boiler and fuel handling system will be installed concurrent with other energy efficiency upgrades, resulting in annual usage of only 2,470 gallons of fuel oil and 759 tons of locally sourced wood fuel. This project will reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 461 metric tonnes per year (91%), and will be the first of its kind among state facilities in Washington, providing a leading example for agencies pursuing State greenhouse gas reduction goals. The project will also provide a valuable market for local forest products industry byproducts, supporting the beneficial use of these by-products and reducing forest fire risk.
Project Goals:
Productively utilize locally sourced forest biomass to reduce heating costs while also supporting forest products and allied industries.
Improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk in the region by supporting and expanding the local market for forest management by-products and waste streams through DOC partnership with DNR and Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Advance DOC leadership in compliance with Washington State Executive Order #18-01 which directs State institutions to reduce fossil fuel use and resultant greenhouse gas emissions.
Increase Larch CC site resiliency through implementation of a redundant multi-fuel heating system.
Act as a model for future projects in the region, by demonstrating the social, environmental, and economic benefits of wood energy.
Project Objectives:
Replace Larch CC’s failing and inefficient hot water boiler system with a clean, modern, and efficient wood energy system which utilizes green wood chip fuel.
Reduce Larch CC’s heating operational costs by 44% and net greenhouse gas emissions by 91%.
Leverage State and Federal financial support for installation of wood energy equipment during a major capital improvement project of the overall district heating system. Combining these projects provides crucial cost savings which increases the impact of the WIG funding requested for the wood energy equipment.
