Cersosimo Lumber Knows Wood Energy

Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-in-Chief, Timber Processing (2012)

Two of the primary articles in this issue are somewhat related: the announcement of our 2012 Man of the Year and the preview of our upcoming Bioenergy conference. For the first time we’ve selected two people as our “Man” of the Year, though they’re very connected. The father-son team of Butch and Michael Cersosimo continues to move Cersosimo Lumber into new opportunities from their base in Brattleboro, Vermont.

In addition to their always impressive sawmill operations, a recently completed project is the installation and startup of a chip mill, and an ongoing project is the establishment of a low pressure steam power plant at the Brattleboro operation. This year Cersosimo Lumber will begin supplying electricity to the power grid under Vermont’s Sustainably Priced Energy Development program, which encourages development of in-state renewable energy sources. As part of the conversion, Cersosimo will add an 800 kw turbine generator, replace the incoming power transformer and add a second transformer to convert the power that is made at the mill.

Wood-to-energy is very much what our upcoming Bioenergy Fuels & Products Conference & Expo is all about. The event, which is to be held February 28-29 at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, focuses on biomass power, wood pellets, biofuels and biomass feedstock and procurement. More than 40 speakers will address these issues and technologies, while 70 companies exhibit their equipment and services. We all know that wood-to-energy is the lifeline of many sawmills, and that’s why this conference would be a good one for you to attend. The conference will not only address traditional wood energy technologies, but will provide insight as to how the “new” wood energy investment boom is impacting technology developments and perhaps more importantly how it will re-shape the timber supply landscape and how forest landowners can be prepared and possibly take advantage.

The conference is hosted by Wood Bioenergy and Panel World magazines, which are sister publications to Timber Processing. The Bioenergy conference is immediately followed by another conference we’re doing—the Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo, also in Atlanta. You can sign up for one or both by visiting bioenergyshow.com. If you have problems or questions, send me an e-mail (rich@hattonbrown.com).

Meanwhile back to our Man of the Year selection. Can it really be 24 years since we named Duane Vaagen of Vaagen Brothers Lumber in Colville, Wash. as our first Man of the Year? The standard has remained the same: leadership in one’s own company, and leadership in the community and industry. Certainly the Cersosimos fall in line. While we receive numerous nominations for the award during the year, sometimes it’s a matter of one of our editors visiting an operation and realizing it’s Man of the Year material. Congratulations to Butch and Michael and all of the employees at Cersosimo Lumber.