I've come across the term 'Black Locust' a couple of times here before without actually wondering what species it was. Decided to look it up, and found out it grows here too, as an invasive species, we call it by its Latin name (Robinia).
Excellent wood for all kinds of constructions, a friend of mine uses complete trunks in his (exterior) projects; he burns it too, offcuts etc. , it provides nice heat. Burning anything that was cut green with less than 2 years of drying (properly stacked/exposed to wind) is basically no option here, although I can imagine in drier/windier climates things are quite different.