The landowner breakfast was sponsored by The Union of Concerned Scientists and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and held in cooperation with NC Woodlands.
The objectives for the breakfast were to identify prospective allies in the effort to develop biomass markets through renewable energy policy. We also wanted to give NC Woodlands and SACE recognition for their roles in NC and the SE.
Our agenda consisted of NC Woodlands' Director Steven Whitfield welcoming us and sharing the importance of landowner and forest leader involvement in renewable energy policy advocacy, using the conversations with Gov. Easely as an example of how critical landowners and leaders can be.
NC State Extension Bob Bardon played a video of a Piedmont landowner explaining his interest in biomass markets as a way to clean up landings after a harvest.
Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-NC) explained current policy in Washington and his personal interest in biomass markets.
Ben Larson from UCS described the importance of recruiting forest owners in renewable electricity standard campaign, the size of the biomass market it would create, and prospects for the RES in the next congress.
About 35 attended the breakfast.
For outcomes, we will be able to contact most of the attendees, who gave us their contact information, and recruit them as advocates for renewable energy legislation.