[SustainableTompkins] Poplars for fuel

[bosak at ibiblio.org]

The recent posting of an article about the genome of the black
cottonwood (a kind of poplar) raises a question about poplars in
general.

It's been suggested to me that a person who heats with wood might
be wise to plant a stand of fast-growing poplars.  Apparently you
can get seeds or seedlings (I'm not clear on which) locally, I
think from CU or from County Extension, for about 25 dollars a
thousand.

On the other hand, I've also heard that poplar wood is not the
greatest for heating.  I'm talking about just cutting them up and
feeding the billets to a fireplace insert, not cellulosic
conversion or anything like that.

Does anyone have experience with growing poplars for fuel in this
area, or pointers to the advisability of this approach in our
growing region?  Given their rate of growth, it sounds like a
great idea, but I haven't heard of a lot of people around here
doing this.

Jon