Golden State Natural Resources partners with second labor union on Forest Resiliency Project

Golden State Natural Resources has partnered with a second labor union in the construction of proposed project facilities in Lassen and Tuolumne counties and the Port of Stockton.

The Nor Cal Carpenters Union will provide a skilled workforce essential for timely construction of the facilities.

“We understand that a skilled workforce is vital to the reliable construction of our project,” said GSNR Board Chair and Inyo County Supervisor Matt Kingsley. “Working with the Nor Cal Carpenters Union, we are committing to quality construction while supporting local labor.”

Under these agreements, GSNR has committed to ensuring that members of the Nor Cal Carpenters Union will perform the construction work for the project. In return, the union has pledged to facilitate the availability of the skilled labor necessary to meet project timelines and standards.

“This partnership is a significant step forward for our members and the local community,” said Jay Bradshaw, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Nor Cal Carpenters Union. “We are dedicated to working alongside GSNR to ensure that our skilled members are engaged, benefiting both the workforce and the region.”

GSNR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation, established by rural counties in California, to address the urgent issue of catastrophic fires resulting from overgrown and undermanaged forests. To tackle the wildfire crisis, researchers along with state and federal policy call for an increase in proactive fuel reduction projects to improve forest health and resiliency. Yet, limited outlets for this overgrown biomass create a significant hurdle to implementation.

GSNR’s Forest Resiliency Project 
GSNR’s proposed project aims to enhance the resilience of California’s forestlands against catastrophic wildfires by sustainably collecting and processing excess biomass into wood pellets for renewable energy generation, serving as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels like coal. The initiative involves establishing two wood pellet processing facilities: one in the foothills of the Central Sierra Nevada in Tuolumne County and another in the Modoc Plateau of Lassen County.

The finished pellets will be transported by rail to the Port of Stockton for international distribution.

Currently, the project is undergoing an environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act to identify, evaluate, and mitigate any potential impacts. A key component of this process is the release of a Draft Environmental Impact Report, which allows for public review and comment on the report’s adequacy before its finalization. The DEIR is currently available for review at goldenstatenaturalresources.com/deir.