News ARchives
NEW eXtension Resources
NEWBio's eXtension Resource Website has added four important items that will be of interest and assistance to those working in the biomass and bioenergy fields.-
NEWBio Milestone: Rockview Biomass Harvest Makes Strides
NEWBio's Rockview, PA 2012 experimental willow planting had its first harvest this past January. The project's investigation into the sustainable production of woody biomass and warmseason grasses is featured in a March 9th Penn State Today article by Jeff Mulhollem. The article focuses on the mechanics and benefits of perennial biomass crops in terms of ecosystem services, biomass energy potential, and the development of a regional bioeconomy for the Northeast U.S. The Business of Biomass - Case Studies of Commercial Success
NEWBio is creating informative and concise write-ups showcasing Northeast U.S. businesses successfully engaging in the "business of biomass" and contributing to the development of the renewable bioenergy and bioproducts supply chain.-
ESF Issues Popular Shrub Willow Rural Development Brochure
SUNY ESF's Opportunities for Rural Development and a Sustainable Environment is proving to be a popular download. The brochure details the features of shrub willow as an alternative crop for renewable energy, green products and environmental services. Check out this brochure and other resources on ESF's "The Willow Project at SUNY-ESF" website: www.esf.edu/willow. -
DOE Highlights SUNY ESF & New Holland Harvesting Technology Work
Director blogs on new harvesting technologies that are making biofuels more competitive in the marketplace. Jonathan Male describes five projects that developed innovative equipment with DOE funding. SUNY ESF and corporate partner NEW Holland are featured along with AGCO Corporation, FDC Enterprises, TennEra, and Auburn University. Images and infographics link to summaries of each project. -
Coppiced Commercial Shrub Willow Crops Leafing Out in Northern NY State
Justin Heavey and Timothy Volk (from SUNY ESF) provides an update on 800 acres of commercial shrub willow crops. -
Expanded Production and Harvesting of Willow Biomass Crops in New York State
SUNY ESF details willow planting and harvesting production in NY after a full year of operations. -
Developments in Switchgrass Breeding
Stacy Bonos, Rutgers University, provides insight into her switchgrass feedstock development and the challenges that remain for the infant bioenergy industry. -
Willow in Poland: Lessons Learned from an Entrepreneur
NEWBio researchers experiment with the shrub willow lifecycle, through feedstock improvement and plantings on marginal soils.. -
Wood-Based Energy in the Northern Forests A New Release for the Emerging Bioenergy Economy
NEWBio team members Michael Jacobson and Daniel Ciolkosz (both at Penn State) edited this volume described by the publisher as the "first comprehensive overview of wood-based bioenergy in the northern hardwood forests of the eastern United States." -
Perennial Feedstock Focus: Shrub Willow
NEWBio researchers experiment with the shrub willow lifecycle, through feedstock improvement and plantings on marginal soils.. -
Secondary Educator Training: Opening Their Eyes to the Future
The NEWBio Bioenergy and Bioproducts Education program provides high school educators short-term development experiences to take back to their classrooms. -
NEWBio Quarterly Progress Report: January 1, 2014 through March 31, 2014
NEWBio's progress report documents the consortium's activities and accomplishments for the quarter. -
NEWBio Quarterly Progress Report: October 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013
NEWBio's progress report documents the consortium's activities and accomplishments for the quarter. -
NEWBio Posts First Year Annual Report
Activities for NEWBio's first year are detailed in the annual report, including project outputs and outcomes, accomplishments by task area, and a comprehensive listing of publications. -
NEWBio Education Program: Undergraduate Bioenergy Scholars Recount Summer Experiences
NEWBio's inaugural class of summer bioenergy scholars discuss their experiences mentoring with researchers at project universities and USDA laboratories. -
The Business of Biomass: NEWBio Bioenergy Symposium Held
Over 100 people attended the NEWBio Bioenergy Symposium on August 16th. The symposium, next in Penn State's 2013 short course series on "the Business of Biomass" was held on the University Park campus. Members of the public and industry and government officials joined the NEWBio project team and industry speakers (at right, Dante Bonaquist from Praxair Inc) for a day of information and discussions that culminated in project poster presentations and a reception. Pictures and more. -
Penn State Launches Online Professional Master's Degree in Renewable Energy and Sustainable Systems
The new program will consist of 32 credits built around core courses with bioenergy, wind energy, solar energy and sustainability management and policy options. It is designed to prepare professionals to lead the transformation from fossil fuels to a renewable, sustainable basis of operation. It will be delivered through Penn State World Campus. Read more about the degree program, admissions and program requirements. University Bulletin (RESS) -
NEWBio Featured at Ag Progress Days
Visitors to Ag Progress Days (August 13, 14, 15) found an array of energy events to entertain and enlighten. Each day at noon, the NEWBio project team hosted a one-hour "Short Rotation Woody Crops for Biomass" tour of its willow and poplar demonstration plot at the Rock Springs facility. The tour discussed types of species, how these crops contribute to biomass feedstock, why they are promoted for marginal planting sites, and production as an alternative income opportunity to help provide sustainable energy supplies. On August 15, a series of NEWBio presentations culminated in the tour. Topics included an introduction to the NEWBio project, followed by short segments on switchgrass, miscanthus and hybrid willow and their use as field crops. -
SUNY-ESF Launches Outreach/Training Program for Commercial-Scale Willow Biomass Production
The biomass energy supply chain in New York will soon reap additional rewards from SUNY-ESF's extensive research and experimentation with shrub willow production. The university received additional funding from NYSERDA through Governor Cuomo's Regional Council Initiative to advance an outreach and training program to benefit multiple stakeholders and further support the biomass industry as it ramps up to commercial-scale production. Tim Volk, Senior Research Associate at SUNY-ESF and NEWBio researcher, described the Willow Shrub Biomass energy project for Syracuse News Channel 9. Watch video. -
NEWBio Quarterly Progress Report: July 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013
NEWBio's progress report documents the consortium's activities and accomplishments for the quarter. -
NEWBio Quarterly Progress Report: April 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013
NEWBio's progress report documents the consortium's activities and accomplishments for the quarter. -
NEWBio Quarterly Progress Report: January 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013
NEWBio's progress report documents the consortium's activities and accomplishments for the quarter. - NEWBio Quarterly Progress Report: August 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012
NEWBio's first progress report documents the consortium's activities and accomplishments from project start-up on August 1 through December 31, 2012. Eight thrusts provide details of initial research, extension and education efforts: Human Systems; Feedstock Improvement; Harvest, Preprocessing, and Logistics of Integrated Biomass Supply Chains; System Performance and Sustainability; Safety and Health in Biomass Feedstock Production and Processing Operations; Extension; Education; and Stakeholder Involvement and Program Evaluation. Appendices include a project timeline, a membership table and external advisory board listing, and several fact sheets. - NEWBio Webinar Series
The NEWBio Northeast Bioenergy Webinar Series held its first webinar for the spring 2013 series on January 29th. Scott Coye-Huhn, Senior Vice President for Corporate Development and Legal Officer for Aloterra Energy, presented. Aloterra is one of NEWBio's industry partners, and currently has approximately 18,000 acres of miscanthus in four states under cultivation. Aloterra will be instrumental in contributing to the NEWBio vision for a robust and scalable bioenergy industry. - NEWBio Biomass Short Courses
The NEWBio Bioenergy Short Course Series is on the topic "The Business of Biomass" for 2013. Topics and schedules for upcoming events as well as presentations as available from past events are archived online.