minnesota forest resources partnership
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2007 Governor’s Task Force on the Competitiveness of Minnesota’s Primary Forest Products Industry. Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership. Background. 2003 - Governor convenes Primary Forest Industry Task Force - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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2007 Governor’s Task Force on the Competitivenessof Minnesota’s Primary
Forest Products Industry
Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership
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Background
• 2003 - Governor convenes Primary Forest Industry Task Force
• Fall 2006 – Ainsworth lays off 410 workers in Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Cook. Hundreds of loggers, truckers and other businesses affected by layoffs.
• September 29, 2006 – Governor holds Timber Summit
• October 2006 – Governor convenes expanded Task Force
• December 2006 – Report of near-term recommendations delivered to Governor.
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2007 Background
• January 2007 – Governor reconvenes Task Force to develop long-term recommendations.
• July 2007 – Task Force recommendations presented to Governor.
• September 2007 – Governor meets with Task Force to discuss recommendations.
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Reconvened 2007 Task Force Charge
Develop long-term recommendations to retain
and increase the competitiveness of the primary forest products
industry
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2007 Task Force Members
Public Agencies: Mark Holsten – DNR Commissioner (Co-chair)Sandy Layman - IRR Commissioner (Co-chair)Mike Bull – Assistant Commissioner, CommerceBob Krepps – St. Louis County Land
Commissioner
Loggers: Tom McCabe – McCabe Forest Products (TPA)Rich Holm – Holm Logging & Trucking (ACLT)
Forest Industry: Kent Jacobson – AinsworthPete Aube – Potlatch Joe Maher – UPM Blandin PaperTom Collins – Saapi Fine Paper
Landowner: Craig Halla – Forest Capital Partners
University of Minnesota: Dr. Alan Ek – Dept of Forest Resources
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Task Force Process
4 meetings from February – May– Refined issues from 2006 report (added energy)– Developed vision and opportunities statements – Developed 16 long-term recommendations– Completed draft report to Governor
Report sent to Governor’s office in June
Report released in July
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Task Force Vision
A healthy, fully integrated forest products industry competing successfully in the dynamic global marketplace.
– Continues to attract investment– Utilizes an environmentally sustainable supply of
timber resources (state and county forests are critical)
– Fosters an efficient synergy between the forest and renewable energy sectors
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Important Opportunities
• Governor’s unique influence on forest policy and public awareness
• Renewable energy as an emerging strategic issue
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Long-term Recommendations
Forest Sector Policy
• Create forestry economy sub-cabinet consisting of DNR, IRR, DEED, MPCA, DOA, and Commerce which will:– Provide state agency policy coordination and
action– Oversee implementation of Task Force
recommendations
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Long-term Recommendations
Forest Resources Management
• Increase statewide annual timber harvest for all ownerships to 5.5 M cords by 2012
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Long-term Recommendations
Maintenance of Working Forestland Base
• Increase state investments in working forest conservation easements, financed in partnership with other funding sources.
• Expedite public and private land exchanges in effort to reduce the “checkerboard” forestland ownership pattern and increase management efficiency and access.
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Long-term Recommendations
Renewable Energy
• Direct NextGen Energy Board to:– Make existing forest product industry facilities a
priority for state cellulosic biofuels and bioenergy policies, incentives, and research.
– Ensure that current raw material supplies of established forest product firms are sustained and the existing use of biomass is enhanced.
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Long-term Recommendations
Renewable Energy (cont.)
– Provide capital incentives for high-value biomass utilization.
– Structure incentives to enable partnerships between electric utilities and forest products industry.
– Provide state investment in pilot scale projects at existing forest products facilities.
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Long-term Recommendations
Transportation
• Increase weight limits on local, state, and federal roads while protecting road and bridge infrastructure by adding axles and braking capability.
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Long-term Recommendations
Taxation
• Improve effectiveness of Sustainable Forestry Incentives Act (SFIA) and make MN forestland property tax policy more effective.
• Encourage forestland retention by adjusting current property tax classifications/rates to make them comparable to agricultural lands.
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Iron Range Resources Initiatives
• Convened the “Seizing Opportunities: Forestry and the BioEconomy” conference in late September.
• Hosting a Renewable Energy Roundtable discussion to discern opportunities and the best course of action for NE MN.
• Will aggressively pursue renewable energy pilot project if deemed appropriate.