�ֻ�ֱ�� Greenhouse Handbook Story Reaches Over 500 News Outlets Nationwide

In April during the 2017 �ֻ�ֱ�� Wood Energy Conference, the Biomass Greenhouse Handbook was officially released to the public. A subsequent tour of biomass-heated greenhouses in Southeast Island School District (SISD) on Prince of Wales Island showcased some of the handbook’s featured installations, and more importantly showed that a little determination can lead to an amazing success story.

The success story of SISD and the new Biomass Greenhouse Handbook took on a life of its own with the help of Anchorage Associated Press journalist Rachel D’Oro. The news exceeded expectations of the biomass working group. �ֻ�ֱ�� Energy Authority’s Devany Plentovich noted that the story had reached over 523 individual news outlets nationwide.

D’Oro’s story told how a school district used a change in heating from expensive, imported diesel fuel to heating with locally available wood resources spurred the growth of a local aquaponics greenhouse industry, and ultimately the starting point of the handbook.

Michael Shephard of United States Forest Service in Anchorage says of the news attention, “It is not a surprise at all given that people embrace the idea of vibrant rural communities, childhood nutrition, enhanced educational opportunities, saving public money, and food/energy security. This was emblematic of this Associated Press story being picked up by over 500 news organizations across the country.”

The Biomass Greenhouse Handbook was the result of a year of research into �ֻ�ֱ��’s successful biomass-heated greenhouse installations. The handbook, commissioned by the �ֻ�ֱ�� Energy Authority and funded by the United States Forest Service and the State of �ֻ�ֱ��, was produced by the Cold Climate Housing Research Center with project partners the �ֻ�ֱ��, REAP, Grow Southeast, and the Southeast Island School District.

The Biomass Greenhouse Handbook can be found .

Coffman Cove Student stands with hydroponic lettuce during a tour of the SISD greenhouses. Photo by A. Byrd/ACEP.