Restoration: From Biomass Poplar Plantings to Conventional Ag

March 22, 2018

Presenters: Rich Shuren and Rick Stonex, GreenWood Resources

Watch the recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ivsl1xMUL4

View the slides here.

This webinar covered the objectives and methods for transitioning an established hybrid poplar biomass planting into a different agricultural system. Listeners learned from AHB’s experience restoring demonstration sites, and heard feedback from the landowners about their experience with AHB.

Developing test batches of ethanol and jet fuel, improving the conversion processes, and figuring out what to do with every part of the poplar tree makes for a better, more efficient system. So far, the results of the poplar studies are very encouraging!

The Final Step: Harvesting Hybrid Poplar for Renewable Bioenergy Feedstock

November 15, 2017

Presenters:  Rich Shuren¹ rich.shuren@gwrglobal.com, Tim Volk² tavolk@esf.edu, Brian Stanton¹, Rick Stonex¹, and Jesus Espinoza¹

Watch the recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a6LB9EuIZk

View the slides here.

GreenWood Resources recently harvested two, large- scale AHB hybrid poplar bioenergy demonstration farms that were planted in 2012 in Jefferson, Oregon and Hayden, Idaho. This was the second time that the farms were cut. The first cutting was in 2013 at the conclusion of the two-year, establishment cycle. Following that harvest, the stands were regenerated by coppice (i.e. re-sprouting from the stools), and grown for a second cycle of three years, before the trees were cut again in early 2017. The harvest operation utilized a New Holland FR 9080 forage harvester was fitted with a 130 FB coppice header, and was carried out in collaboration with The State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry with support from the U. S. Department of Energy.

This webinar presented the 1st and 2nd cycle harvests including results of time-and-motion studies, operating parameters of the New Holland 9080, details on field loading of the biomass, challenges encountered and opportunities for improving operating efficiencies, and harvesting costs.

¹GreenWood Resources
²The State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Partnering Trees and Microbes for Tackling Environmental Pollutants

October 18, 2017

Presenter: Dr. Sharon Doty, College of the Environment, University of Washington

Watch the recording at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id6U5DErVEI

Phytoremediation, the use of plants to clean up sites contaminated with pollutants, can be a cost-effective way to remove a wide range of toxic pollutants including solvents, pesticides, petroleum, and more. Sometimes the pollutant is too toxic, however, and this slows or stops the process. This problem can be overcome using effective plant-microbe partnerships. In this webinar, we will discuss the recent successful field trial of poplar tree phytoremediation with a natural TCE-degrading microbial endophyte.

The mission of the outreach program is to expand energy education in Latino communities. Our program talks about energy use in our homes and daily lives. We also discuss energy conservation and renewable energy alternatives, including biofuels produced from hybrid poplar trees.

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is the United States’ most significant federal legislation regarding renewable transportation fuels.