November 15, 2024 3:20 a.m.

On Thursday, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that just over $5.4 million is coming to Oregon from the Inflation Reduction Act – the largest investment in clean energy and climate action ever – for hazardous fuels transportation projects across the state, including in Douglas County.

A joint release said the federal funding awarded by the U.S. Forest Service will reduce the risk of wildfires by moving hazardous fuels – smaller trees, live or dead brush, tree limbs and other natural debris – from national forests and grasslands to facilities for use in wood products and wood energy production.

Merkley said, “2024 was another record-breaking year for wildfires burning acres across our state, especially devastating to eastern Oregon. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to combat and help prevent these destructive fires”.

Wyden said, “Taking the offensive against wildfires with federal investments just like these are a must to reduce the risk of bigger and more destructive blazes threatening lives and property throughout Oregon”.

The awards are part of a $20 million effort by the Forest Service to fund 34 entities for 66 projects as part of its hazardous fuels transportation assistance program. The release said these funds provide economic benefits to the timber industry and local communities while supporting the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

There are eight projects selected in Oregon. That includes:

*$375,000 for the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe. The project will occur on Umpqua Tribal Lands adjacent to Forest Service lands in Oregon. It will include 65,000 tons of material on 1,000 acres. Wood processing would occur at multiple sites including Umpqua Indian Forest Products.