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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Oregon Department of Forestry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>NEWS RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Forest Biomass Work Group meets March 8 in Salem<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>February 24, 2011<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Contact: Kevin Weeks (503) 945-7427<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A workgroup of representatives from state government, forest industries, renewable energy development and the environmental community will meet in Salem on March 8 to discuss the role of Oregon’s forests in providing energy production from wood.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The Forest Biomass Work Group will meet on Tuesday March 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administration Building (Tillamook meeting room) of the Oregon Department of Forestry complex, 2600 State Street in Salem. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The tentative agenda for the meeting includes presentations regarding renewable energy systems, current Oregon biomass energy opportunities, biomass grant or loan programs available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and reports from teams working on three issues: carbon neutrality of forest biomass, developing family wage jobs in Oregon from renewable energy and potential incentives for developing forest biomass energy facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Members of the public are invited to participate in the meeting. The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Questions about accessibility or special accommodations for the meeting can be directed to the Oregon Department of Forestry at (503) 945-7427.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Additional information about the Oregon Department of Forestry is available on ODF’s web site, <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/ODF">www.oregon.gov/ODF</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>###<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Kevin Weeks<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>ODF Agency Affairs Office<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>(503) 945-7427<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>