Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance.

SUMMARY: The US faces the urgent grand challenge of rapidly developing and attaining a secure domestic supply of both carbon-based transportation fuels and related chemicals for polymers/materials/intermediate chemicals at the scale and cost needed to compete favorably with the petrochemical industry. The Northwest is well positioned to deliver such bio- based aviation fuels and chemicals within five years. Thus, the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA): A New Vista for Green Fuels, Chemicals, and Environmentally Preferred Products (EPPs) has been created to address and develop regional sustainable solutions for aviation fuel and key petrochemical replacements from sustainable woody-based resources in the Pacific Northwest. In addressing this regional and national grand challenge, NARA links the major research institutions in the Pacific Northwest and tribal colleges, with our industrial partners, as well as various federal laboratories. The approach taken involves feedstock development, sustainable forest production, new methodologies to identify the most promising plant lines/forest residuals and their subsequent conversions into aviation fuel/petrochemicals at scale and cost needed. A significant effort is also directed towards training the next generation of both leaders and workers needed for the emerging green economy, particularly in rural areas, as well as in helping educate our regional population at all levels in sustainable bioenergy.   

GOALS: The goals of the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA) are to: (1) develop a sustainable path to jet fuel from softwood feedstock resources; (2) develop valuable lignin co-products from softwood feedstock resources; (3) develop pilot supply chain coalitions; (4) stimulate rural economic development; and (5) develop comprehensive biofuels literacy from K-12 through university level.