With energy prices rising, backers of so-called woody bioenergy are proposing an energy-hungry nation take a fresh look at harvesting tree trimmings, construction scrap and other wood classified as waste that's often sent to landfills.

They see huge potential in burning wood for heat and power and using chemical processes to create ethanol-based motor fuel -- enough to make a dent in the nation's dependence on fossil fuels, which are growing impractical because of their cost and environmental effects.

"Wood energy is on the minds of many folks across the country," said Virginia state forester Carl Garrison. "Is Virginia on the front edge of this concept? Probably not."

But Virginia is stepping up efforts.

A partnership among Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources, Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Forestry Association and forest management firms is hosting two conferences on the subject next month. Garrison is a keynote speaker.

The conference is intended for representatives of forest management and forest products companies, government officials, energy industry leaders and economic developers. It is also intended to attract landowners. More than 60 percent of Virginia is timber land and more than 90 percent is privately owned.

At the most basic level, tapping wood energy is as simple as burning a log in a fireplace -- a practice older than civilization.

On a higher level, Longwood University in Farmville burns sawdust to provide heat and hot water to residence halls and many campus buildings.

In a Midwest example, St. Paul, Minn., supplies hot-water heating to 170 downtown buildings and 300 homes derived from burning waste from its wood-products industries, tree trimmings and construction leftovers. A U.S. Forest Service report said the community has vastly reduced its former reliance on coal.

But those efforts fall short of a wood energy revolution. Garrison said most tree trimmings from city parks and private yards and scrap from construction sites are thrown away. Twigs and leaves left behind after a timber harvest rot on the ground.

"Let's try to use some of the waste products," he said.

Much work lies ahead in policy and technology development. Analysts don't fully understand the potential for pollution from large-scale wood waste combustion. Elected leaders have yet to offer tax incentives to put wood energy on par with other renewable energy strategies. And equipment makers are still devising kits to convert fossil-fuel heating systems to burn wood.

But advocates think they have a good story to tell.

"Wood could help solve the nation's energy woes," says the conference announcement.