The Klamath Tribes have recently announced plans to develop a biomass cogeneration
facility on the former Crater Lake Mill Site that they recently acquired. The biomass
facility is the “centerpiece” in what will become known as the Tribes’ “Giiwas Green
Enterprise Park.” According to Joe Kirk, Chairman of the Klamath Tribes, “The Klamath
Tribes have been researching opportunities in this field for the last four years. We
ultimately chose a gasification technology that will take woody material from the forests,
as well as other sources of feedstock, and convert it into synthetic “syn” gas. This will
drive engines that will produce electricity for the local electrical grid and heat for local
enterprises. The technology chosen emits no net carbon into the atmosphere.”
 
Chairman Kirk went on to say that the Klamath Tribes believe that converting biomass
into electrical power is one of the most attractive strategies to reduce this country’s
dependence on fossil fuels. In the first place, biomass is a “renewable” source of energy
and is often left on the forest floor after thinning operations. Transforming it into
electricity instead of burning it or letting it rot in the forest will reduce carbon emissions
that contribute to global warming. He pointed out that, “In addition to its merits as a clean
renewable energy, biomass conversion is also a direct way of restoring the health of our
forests.  It should help to stimulate forest land managers to thin overstocked tree stands
and thereby reduce their vulnerability to wildfires and insect infestation. Healthy resilient
forests are critical to helping adapt to and mitigate adverse effects of climate change.” 
 
The Tribes plan to eventually generate up to eight (8) megawatts of electricity.  They will
bring on line, on an incremental basis, four biomass conversion units that will each
produce an estimated two megawatts.  The biomass facility will employ state-of-the-art
gasification technology with advanced thermal recovery.  The recovered heat will be used
in the tribal forest products manufacturing facility and other enterprises being considered
such as agricultural (greenhouse) ventures. Gasification technology thermally
decomposes the feedstock material without combustion or emissions, converting roughly
90% of the biomass into gaseous products and the remaining 10% to a solid referred to as
“char”, a carbon produquality soil amendment.

Jeff Mitchell, a member of the Tribal Council and the Chairman of the Tribes’ Biomass
Committee, pointed out that the future viability of this facility will depend on having a
predictable source of feedstock that is sufficient to operate at full capacity. Having four
smaller units instead of one very large one will enable the Tribes to handle a range of
different types of feedstock, from woody material from forests to solid waste that cities
and counties usually dispose of as landfill. The adaptability of its technology will enable
the Tribes to operate without having to rely on one kind or one source of feedstock. 
 
The Tribes are currently in discussions with public and private forest managers to secure
commitments of a predictable supply of feedstock.   Both Deschutes and Klamath
Counties are evaluating the feasibility of providing feedstock to the Tribes’ project as an
alternative to their current waste disposal arrangements.
 
During the past two years, the Klamath Tribes’ exploration of biomass conversion as a
source of local electricity has received an unexpected boost. IDRS, Inc, a national Indian
organization, chose the Klamath Tribes to be one of five tribes in the west to participate
in a national demonstration project entitled: Restoring Forests and Building Tribal
Economies. It is funded by the Ford Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation and the
Christensen Fund. IDRS has partnered with Community Energy Systems (CES), a leader
in the development of community based biomass facilitated in rural and tribal
communities This partnership has accelerated the development of the Klamath Tribes’
project by providing essential technical expertise and planning assistance, as well as help
in mobilizing needed development and loan and capital investment funds.
 
The Klamath Tribes have also partnered with the Oregon Institute of Technology’s (OIT)
Renewable Energy Center to bring OIT’s expertise to the development of both biomass
and other renewable energy resources in the Klamath Basin and elsewhere.  The Tribes
have also initiated discussions with Klamath County College and OIT to discuss the
development of training and education programs that will create new employment
options for Basin students. 
 
As part of their partnership building strategy, the Klamath Tribes are also initiating
discussions with other major land owners and managers in the north Basin including The
Nature Conservancy, the Forest Service, and other major private owners.  They want to
identify cooperative strategies to accelerate urgently needed restoration activities on all
the forests in the Basin and create a stable supply for emerging wood utilization
enterprises.  With this joint focus on both forest restoration and economic development,
the Tribes are taking a major step forward in restoring the economy and culture of the
Klamath Tribes.

More information contact: 
Klamath Tribal Councilman, Jeff C. Mitchell, 541-891-5971
Klamath Tribal Councilman, Will Hatcher, 541-783-2219 ext. 142