News: Biomass Energy Workshop 7/31/2013, USDA-NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center

Biomass energy workshop with tour, demonstrations and presentations from Cornell University, SUNY Morrisville, Private Industry and NRCS. Presentations on establishment methods and sustainability on marginal land, contract planting and harvesting and utilization of biomass for thermochemical and lignocellulosic conversion and pelletization.

Perennial Biofeedstock Energy Tour and Presentations

USDA-NRCS BIG FLATS PLANT MATERIALS CENTER

Wednesday, July 31^st 2013

9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Registration:   9:30 – 10:00

Presenters during the field tour: 10:00 – 12:30

Paul Salon-USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Specialist, Biomass Projects at the Big Flats PMC.

Julie Hansen - Cornell Plant Breeding and Genetics Department, Research Associate: Summary NYFVI Bioenergy Grass Cultivar Study.

Alan Taylor- Cornell Department of Horticulture, Geneva, Professor: Switchgrass Seeding Rate and Seed Treatment Study.

Brian Richards- Cornell Dept. of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Senior Research Associate: Sustainable Development of Perennial Grass Bioenergy on Marginal Soils of New York.

Eric Fabio - Cornell Horticulture/Plant Breeding and Genetics Departments, Graduate Student: Willow Breeding Project.

Gary Bergstrom - Cornell Dept. of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Professor: Biology and Management of Switchgrass Smut.

Lunch & Demonstrations: 12:30 – 1:30:   Ben Ballard - SUNY Morrisville, Director, Renewable Energy Training Center, Assistant Professor: Demonstration of small-scale biomass gasification and power generation (20kWe).

Presentations: 1:30 – 3:30

1:30-    Jerry Horton - Sweet Water Energy, Inc. Founder & Director: The Successful Lignocellulosic Conversion of Perennial and Annual Crops into Sustainable Sugars, Utilization of Waste Stream and the Future of Process in New York and Globally. http://www.sweetwater.us/

2:00-    Ben Ballard- SUNY Morrisville, Director, Renewable Energy Training Center, Assistant Professor: Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Near Term Practical Applications.

2:30-    Tom Schwartz- First Source Bioproducts LLC. Vice President Marketing:Turn Key Operations of Establishing, Managing, Harvesting and Supplying Native Grasses across the Nation.

3:00-    Calvin Ernst- President of Ernst Conservation Seeds: Lesson Learned from the Start Up of a Large Pelletizing Facility.

3:30-    Adjourn

Please register using Register Now! Button below.  Please bring $12.00 to cover the cost of lunch and refreshments.

Contact Paul Salon, paul.salon@ny.usda.gov (607-562-8404) for further information and to let us know of special needs.

Directions: Take Route 17 (I 86) to Exit 48 (East Corning/Route 352). Follow Route 352 east for 1.5 miles.   PMC entrance is on the left.

3.5 CCA credits pending approval

  The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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