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material being found as well as fines being collected in their dust collection system. One interesting note was that the soil amendment company paid for the installation of the dust collection system in order to secure the fiber supply, with Commercial paying them back with grindings over time.
- Joe Flood, MEAJM, stressed that wood waste markets may change over time, and opportunities can change as businesses grow, for example, by being able to invest in a grinder. He noted that wood waste markets can be “really city specific.” Even a 30 mile distance can make or break the viability of a particular wood waste opportunity.
- Nick Korn,Rotochopper, Inc., noted that the West Coast has extremely high disposal costs compared to the rest of the country, thus enhancing the business case for a grinder. He remarked that a decade ago there were 70 biomass power plants in California. They were an important outlet for fiber. Today, only one-third of them remain in operation. Responding to a question about grant availability, Korn encouraged attendees to check out the Carl Moyer Program offered by the South Coast AQMD (Air Quality Management District). It is a program aimed at providing incentives to help businesses shift from diesel to cleaner technologies such as electric power. Some other AQMDs may also have
incentives in place to help with a shift to electric grinders from diesel.
- Rodney Wadel of R&R Pallet (Kansas) told the audience he has worked to develop an outlet for his wood waste with dairies. His customers have totally gotten away from wheat straw. The dried wood fiber bedding lasts three times as long as straw and it is cheaper. Additionally, the pricing is stable throughout the year. He encouraged attendees from California to look at the dairy industry as a fiber opportunity. He observed that there are a lot of dairies in the state.
Grady Marshall - Captive Insurance: Risks and Benefits
- A captive is an insurance company that insures the risks of its owner, affiliates, or a group of companies. It issues policies, collects premiums, and pays claims and is subject to all rules/regulations of insurance companies. Most companies are not familiar with the risks and benefits associated with creating or joining a captive insurance company.
- Captive insurance can empower companies to gain complete control over their insurance costs, leading to better risk management, transparency, and stable costs.
Captive plans have seen tremendous growth. According to recent statistics, 90% of Fortune 1000 companies have some form of captive plan in place.
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