The Sun Grant Initiative is working with the Department of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Bioenergy Technologies Office to develop and implement a Regional Biomass Partnership to address barriers associated with the development of a sustainable and predictable supply of biomass feedstocks.
The joint DOE/USDA Billion Ton Study (2.8 MB pdf) establishes the resource base and future potential for a large-scale biorefinery industry. As the industry expands from grain ethanol to include cellulosic ethanol, it is expected that agriculture crop residues and forest residues will be the first to develop for biorefinery purposes. Energy crops will develop and become integrated into the agricultural cropping systems as the biorefining industry matures and creates a demand for those resources. Each Sun Grant Region has held a biomass workshop to address each region’s unique capacity to contribute to the goal of producing a billion tons of biomass feedstock. Collaborations among the regional partnerships will become critical in developing sustainable biomass production and crop rotation strategies for both existing and new biomass resources. Click for more information on the regional biomass workshops
The Feedstock Partnership has been charged by the DOE Office of Management and Budgets with three tasks; 1) biomass resource assessment, 2) biomass resource development, and 3) biomass resource education and outreach. The Feedstock Partnership is assembling national task teams to complete these OMB tasks.
For more information, see: Regional Biomass Feedstock Partnership Bibliography
Regional Feedstock Partnership — Cereal Residue Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — Corn Stover Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — CRP Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — Energycane Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — Switchgrass Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — Poplar Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — Willow Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — Miscanthus Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnsership — Sorghum Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — GIS — Southeast Biomass Atlas
Regional Feedstock Partnership — GIS — South Central Biomass Resource Assessment Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — GIS — North Central Biomass Resource Assessment Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — GIS — Northeast Biomass Resource Assessment Highlights
Regional Feedstock Partnership — GIS — Western Biomass Resource Assessment Highlights
Sun Grant BioWeb: An Online Resource for Bioenergy and Bioproducts
Regional Biomass Feedstock Partnership Executive Summary – March 2011 (0.5 MB)
Regional Biomass Feedstock Partnership Status Report – Feb. 2011
Regional Feedstock Partnership Directory