Projects
Renewable Energy Education Field Days: Renewable Energy Technologies
Practical, science-based information on implementing biomass-based renewable energy technologies on the land was provided to producers, landowners and land managers at the Renewable Energy Education Field Days Nov. 16-18, 2010, in Knoxville, Tenn.
The Field Days program was specifically designed to provide landowners
and land managers with the information resources they need to make decisions about implementing renewable energy technologies. The program offered multiple opportunities for interaction between Field Day participants and lecturers—experts from private industry, the academic community, NGOs and government agencies.
This Field Days program was a collaboration of Farm Foundation, NFP and five USDA agencies—Rural Development, the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The Field Days curriculum reflected the multiple issues involved in biomass-based energy production—from feedstock production and refinery conversion technologies to handling, storage, legal and financial issues. Speaker presentations are provided below as available.
Tuesday, Nov. 16
Opening Keynote Address
Sarah Bittleman, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, USDA
Session I – Biomass – Potential and Hurdles
Biofuel Demand
Chris Tindal, DASN Energy Office
An Agricultural Perspective on Biomass Production
Bob Perlack, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
A Forestry Perspective on Biomass Production
Robert Rummer, USDA Forest Service
Session II – Biomass Feedstock Production
Selection and Use of Native Grasses for Biomass Feedstocks
John Englert, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Jim Perdue, USDA Forest Service
Equipment needs for feedstock production
Ray Huhnke, Oklahoma State University
Session III – Harvesting, Handling, Transportation and Storage
Steve Searcy, Texas A&M University
James Larson, University of Tennessee
Wednesday, Nov. 17
Session IV – Biomass Conversion Processes: Options and Issues
Engineering and Science of Conversion Processes
Robert Brown, Iowa State University
Economics of conversion processes
Francis Epplin, Oklahoma State University
Session V – Marketing Options and Business Models
Contract agreements and business models
Kelly Tiller, Genera Energy
Marketing
John J. VanSickle, University of Florida
Biorefinery business models funded by USDA Rural Development
Tony Crooks, USDA Rural Development
Session VI – Case Study: DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol
The Biorefinery From Concept to Operation
Kyle Althoff, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol
Feedstock Production
Brad Black, Color Wheel Farm
Transport and Storage Logistics
Sam Jackson, Genera Energy
Market sources
John Yeager, Rogers Petroleum
Afternoon Tour: Color Wheel Farm, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol Plant, and Genera Biomass Innovation Park
Thursday, Nov. 18
Session VII – Financial and Legal Concerns
Harrison Pittman, National Agricultural Law Center
Ann Duignan, J.P. Morgan
Christopher Clark, University of Tennessee
Session VIII- Environmental Concerns
Brent Bailey, 25X’25 Alliance
National Water Use Implications of Biofuel Feedstock Production
Noel Gollehon, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA
Paul N. Argyropoulos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Session IX – Government Policies and Programs
Panel discussed government program options:
Bill Hagy, Special Assistant to the Secretary, Renewable Energy Policy, USDA Rural Development
Carmela Bailey, National Institute of Food and Agriculture,USDA Research Education & Economics
Stefanie Aschmann, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Robert Rummer, U.S. Forest Service
Valri Lightner, National Biomass Program Office, U.S. Department of Energy
11-05