Energy Use

In 2008, we met 75 percent of our operations' energy needs through the use of renewable and carbon-neutral biomass fuels such as wood residuals and other organic byproducts. Much of the fuel we use in our cellulose fibers mills is consumed in boilers to generate high-pressure steam, which is used to generate electric power and heat. The latter is used to soften and separate wood fibers from each other and to dry pulp and paper.

Boilers can run on fossil fuels, but they can also use biomass—for example, bark and lignin—that is a byproduct of making pulp. Biomass fuel from sustainably managed forests is considered to have a neutral effect on greenhouse gases in the atmosphere because the regenerating forest absorbs the carbon dioxide released by burning the fuel.

In 2008, biomass fuel generated:

• 76 percent of our power in our cellulose fibers mills
• 63 percent of our energy supply at our wood products facilities

During 2008, Weyerhaeuser entered into several transactions involving the sale of "Green Tags." A "Green Tag" is a renewable energy certificate representing the environmental attributes associated with generating energy from renewable sources, including biomass fuel. The energy associated with the sale of these renewable energy credits is about 1 percent of the total biomass energy used by the company.

We continue to pursue other alternatives to fossil fuels. For example, our Grande Prairie, Alberta, cellulose fibers mill increased its use of hydrogen to replace natural gas for its lime kiln, resulting in a further reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Increasing the use of biomass-based fuels and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels will reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.