Loggers can give us biofuel data for free

In the Nov. 10 Bee was an article about “UI and MSU to research using dead trees as biofuels.” They will be receiving a $10 million grant to study how to do this.

A U of I project leader said, “It’s very exciting, because we’re going to take something that’s basically a waste and turn it into a resource. “

A lot of people I know have been doing that for years on their own. Can you believe this? While they’re sitting on their rears in a warm, comfortable, clean office, chatting it all up, maybe taking an occasional hike in the woods with their cans of spray paint, the guys who really know how to “use dead trees” are out in the timber working their rears off in all kinds of weather — heat and dust, rain or snow.

Ten million dollars — that’s our tax dollars at work? I’m sick of all the squandering of our hard-earned money. Why don’t they just ask an old logger how to take care of trees? He doesn’t use language like bioenergy resource, biomass and viable renewable resource, but he knows about stumpage, board feet, what trees will make poles or logs, which are good for lumber and what would go for fuel or pulp.

He can give them the right information for free. But that would be too simple.

EVALYN FINNEY

Sandpoint