Bark Beetle Information:
The mountain pine beetle infestation has devastated sections of forest in Colorado’s Third Congressional District.  While this epidemic is a course of nature, the dead trees left behind pose a risk to communities through falling or as fuel for forest fires. The links below provide information about bark beetles, how they spread, and how to protect valuable trees in your immediate area.

The United States Forest Service offers useful information about its efforts to fight the infestation:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/bark-beetle/

Colorado State University and Colorado State Forest Service’s website has information about the infestation, along with treatment options:

http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/mountain-pine-beetle.html

Links to videos about bark beetles:

www.nvwetlands.com/beetle/#videos

Biomass Information:
The large numbers of trees the beetles have killed can be used for fuel in a variety of ways. Below are links to several websites which explain how this deadwood could be used for fuel, and tax credits which may be available for those efforts:

How to implement a biomass system:

http://www.colorado.gov/energy/images/uploads/pdfs/Cashing_Chips.pdf

Cordwood systems, for small commercial buildings:

http://www.colorado.gov/energy/images/uploads/pdfs/UnderstandingCordwoodSystems.pdf

Examples of some biomass projects in Colorado, including several from the Third Congressional District:

http://www.colorado.gov/energy/index.php?/renewable/category/projects-in-colorado/

Tax Credit Information:

http://www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/taxCredit.html

http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=US43F&State=Federal&currentpageid=1&ee=0&re=1