By the end of this year it should be known if the Okanogan- Wenatchee National Forest has adequate resources to support a commercial biomass industry: "CLICK HERE" for Audio

That’s the message Forest Supervisor Becky Heath brought to the Chelan County Port District. Heath is part of a working group involving the Port, Chelan County and other stakeholders who’ve been studying the issue, and provided the Commissioners with an update on the continuing discussions. She says there are possible economic benefits for the Forest service as well as the communities whose timber industries have closed down.

Heath says from a forest and public health standpoint it would make more sense to recycle the biomass material for power generation than by the traditional method of prescribed burning.

The results of the state forest survey should be released in Mid-October.