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Northeast Agricultural Biomass Heating Seminar
March 21, 10 am - 5 pm
An all-day focus on the technical and commercial opportunities and challenges to the wider use of agricultural biomass in heating applications is being offered as a complement to the Northeast Biomass Heating Expo 2012.
The seminar will take place at the same location as the Expo, the City Center in Saratoga Springs, NY, on March 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Speakers will address current information on agronomics, densification, combustion, emissions and economics. The emphasis is on generating “local heat” from grasses, agricultural residues and other non-woody biomass crops.
The cost of this extra event is $29 for those attending the full Expo, and $49 for those attending only the one-day seminar. Space is limited, so please sign up early. Click here to register.
Agricultural Biomass Program Information
The program summary for the Agricultural Biomass Heating Seminar is now available! Browse the schedule below to review this “Field to Financials” event featuring leading researchers and emerging businesses in the Northeast agricultural biomass energy sector.
Note: the program is subject to change and will be updated accordingly.
Wednesday, March 21
9:00 AM Registration & Networking
10:00 AM Opening Plenary
Welcome & opening remarks
Chris Wright, US Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory - Download .PDF
Keynote Address: “Developing Grass and Ag Biomass as a Viable Heating Fuel for the Northeast”
11:00 AM Networking & Refreshment Break
11:15 AM Morning Panel
Ag Biomass Crop Performance Characteristics
This panel will address a range of agronomic and fuel performance characteristics from the region’s agricultural biomass crops.
- Paul Salon, USDA-NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center - download .PDF
- Jerry Cherney, Cornell University - download .PDF
12:15 PM Buffet Lunch
1:00 PM Afternoon Panel I
Processing Ag Biomass
The panelists will highlight their respective densification systems; mobile and stationary, and address logistics issues as commercial producers of agri-biomass fuel.
2:00 PM Afternoon Panel II
Combustion & Emissions
Case studies will give examples of successful ag biomass or multi-fuel heating systems. The session concludes with the results from current NYSERDA funded grass combustion research.
- Gerry Ruestow, Catskill Grass Energy Project - download .PDF
- Mike Newtown, SUNY Canton - download .PDF
- Jerry Cherney, Cornell University - download .PDF
3:15 PM Networking & Refreshment Break
3:30 PM Afternoon Panel III
Cost of Production
Hear from two examples of different cost & breakeven scenarios for Ag Biomass enterprises
- John Bootle, Renewable Energy Resources - download .PDF
- Timothy Volk, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry - download .PDF
4:15 – 5:15 Closing Plenary Discussion
Developing the Market for Agricultural Biomass in the Northeast
AG Event Sponsors
- Catskill Bioenergy Project
www.ccedelaware.org/Agriculture-Natural-Resources/CatskillGrassBioenergy.aspx
- Cornell Cooperative Extension
www.cce.cornell.edu - Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station
www.cuaes.cornell.edu
- Ernst Conservation Seeds
www.ernstseed.com
- Farm Credit East
www.farmcrediteast.com
- New York Farm Bureau
www.nyfb.org
- Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
www.vsjf.org/
AG Seminar Organizing Committee
- Dan Arnett - Ernst Biomass
- Sid Bosworth - UVM Extension
- Alice Brumbach - New York Biomass Energy Alliance
- Dan Conable - NY Biomass Energy Alliance & Cato Analytics LLC
- Gerry Reustow - Fermata Consulting
- Jon Montan - St. Lawrence County Planning Office
- Andrew Plant - University of Maine Extension
- Netaka White - Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Pre-Conference Tour
March 21, 1 pm - 6 pm
• ACT Bioenergy - boiler manufacturing facility, (Schenectady)
• Troy Boiler Works - engineering and boiler manufacturing facility (Troy)
• Chiptec boiler installation- Hartford School (north of Saratoga)
The cost of this extra event is $50. Space is limited, so please sign up early. Click here to register.
