Georgia Forestry Commission and Georgia Tech seek $10.9M for forest-innovation pilots, mass-timber push

Georgia Forestry Commission officials and Georgia Tech researchers told the Senate that state seed funding could help develop high‑value forest products and new markets for sawmills and forest landowners.

Johnny Sabo of the Forestry Commission and Carson Meredith of Georgia Tech described a Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative that would fund pilot plants and a technology-business hub. Meredith said the pilots — intended to produce conversion-grade biochar and specialty solvents at about 30–40 pounds per day — would validate processes and help attract private investment for larger commercial plants.

Why it matters: presenters argued that higher-value forest products and mass timber markets could help stabilize wood markets after pulp and paper closures, keep sawmill residuals moving and reduce risks such as southern pine beetle or catastrophic wildfire by maintaining market demand.

Key ask and composition: the combined request between Georgia Tech and the Forestry Commission was cited as $10.9 million to include pilot facilities, a business/technology hub and workforce training. Sabo also highlighted other forestry budget items in the FY26 package — operational funds for a recently acquired helicopter ($107,000), capital support for tractor replacement (a $12 million annual plan; the House left $10 million) and pass-through funding for county programs.

Feedstock, economics and regulatory constraints: committee members asked whether pilots would accept roundwood or primarily residuals; Meredith and Sabo said initial feedstock would be chips/residuals because federal renewable fuel standards restrict using raw roundwood for some fuel pathways. Presenters estimated a minimum purchase price target for chips of roughly $30/ton as a price that could make plants viable, and emphasized pilots must be sited near feedstock sources to be operationally feasible.

Next steps and requests: presenters said pilots would be staffed initially by Georgia Tech students and research staff and later turned over to trained local operators; they offered to provide the committee with a detailed breakdown of the $10.9 million request, siting options and workforce plans. Senators asked for more specificity on locations, staffing costs and the feedstock supply chain before approving capital support.

No formal committee action was taken during the hearing; presenters agreed to follow up with supplemental materials and cost breakdowns.