i_wmrc_2016a_2016-08-15t09:03:10z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 08/15/2016

09:03 AM -- Presentation by Colorado State Forest Service



Mike Lester, Director of Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), Madeleine West, Assistant Director for Parks, Wildlife and Lands, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Jason Lawhon, Forest and Fire Program Director, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), introduced themselves to the committee.



Mike Lester made a powerpoint presentation to the committee. The presentation focused on healthy forests, forest management, ways to improve effectiveness of wildfire mitigation efforts, other department wildfire programs, and the possibility of combining existing grant programs.





09:19 AM



Senator Roberts asked Director Lester to explain the CSFS structure and to explain to the committee what kinds of outreach the CSFS performs. Director Lester explained that the CSFS is part of Colorado State University and provides outreach through its various different staff, and is enhanced by its relationship with CSU.





09:24 AM



Senator Roberts asked Director Lester to talk about possible uses of biomass. Director Lester discussed several challenges regarding biomass usage including the cost of transporting material, high startup cost to establish processing facilities, and explained that biomass industries are most successful in places where there is a vibrant forest products industry. Senator Roberts and Director Lester continued to discuss biomass challenges and uses.





09:36 AM



Senator Baumgardner asked Director Lester whether the legislature should play a role in the establishment of small businesses in the biomass industry. They continued to discuss the issue of business creation and the state's role.





09:42 AM



Representative Buck asked Director Lester about collaborative participation between state, federal, and private businesses in the establishment of biomass facilities. They continued to discuss several funding mechanisms for the Gypsum Evergreen Clean Energy Plant.





09:44 AM



Senator Roberts asked Director Lester to compare Colorado's economic development in biomass industries to other western states.





09:48 AM



Assistant Director West discussed the department's perspective on combining the CSFS and DNR wildfire mitigation grant programs. The DNR believes that combining the programs will provide significant benefit.





09:56 AM



Representative Buck asked Assistant Director West about budgeting, and how much money remains in the the DNR grant fund. The committee members and panel members continued to discuss funding and budgeting. Senator Roberts asked the CSFS and DNR staff to prepare materials focused on the grant programs for the committee's next meeting.





10:15 AM



Mr. Lawhon discussed the idea of combining the DNR and CSFS grant programs.





10:17 AM



Senator Roberts asked Mr. Lawhon about TNC's willingness to do outreach on behalf of a possible combined grant program. Mr. Lawhon explained the TNC's current outreach efforts involving bringing different stakeholder groups together. Senator Roberts and Mr. Lawhon continued to discuss the possible combined grant program.