Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest: A System for Advanced Biofuels Production From Woody Biomass in the Pacific Northwest.

The overall goal of this project is to ready the Pacific Northwest for a 2015 introduction of a 100% infrastructure compatible biofuels industry that meets the region’s pro-rata share of RFS2 targets using sustainably grown regionally appropriate woody energy crops. The primary biomass source for this biofuels system will be poplar wood grown on industrial plantations and lands managed by small landowners. Biomass conversion to drop-in fuels will be done with a hybrid biochemical/thermochemical conversion process being developed by ZeaChem.  We are using an integrated program of research, extension and education to achieve this goal. Capstone activities for the project are the following:

• GreenWood Resources, the nation’s largest grower of hybrid poplar, will establish and operate four pilot scale energy farms managed with low-input silviculture. Supporting research will develop innovative technologies to produce poplar biofuel feedstock with minimal inputs of water, fertilizer, and chemicals while maintaining high biomass yields.
• ZeaChem Inc., a leading biorefinery developer, will modify its 10 ton(dry)/day biorefinery in Boardman, OR to produce multiple 8,000 gallon truckloads of bio-based gasoline and jet/diesel, which will be distributed to consumers on a test basis by Valero Corporation. Supporting research will results in new methods to measure and control critical bioconversion processes resulting in improved efficiencies and lower environmental impacts.
• A comprehensive sustainability assessment of the proposed biofuel production system.  This will include life cycle environmental assessment, in-depth economic analysis, and a comprehensive social impact assessment.
• Development and implementation of a comprehensive extension program designed to help landowners profit from growing biofuel feedstock. Outreach tools and materials will be available to extension professionals throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
• A comprehensive education program that includes K-12 materials and content on biofuels and bioenergy, community college curricula designed to train plantation personnel and biorefinery operators, a researched base biofuels minor program, and a professional master’s degree program which blends business with science.

This talk will provide an overview of the project and the accomplishments from the first year’s work. The benefits of a regional integrated approach to biofuel development will be a central theme of our presentation.