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AHB Newsletter – Volume 2, No. 3 [Fall 2013]

Editor’s Notes

Summer and early fall have been busy at the Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest (AHB) demonstration sites. This issue covers activities and events at the four poplar demonstration sites including harvest of poplar, wildlife research, and field tours led by the AHB Extension Team. The Oregon and Idaho sites were planted in spring 2012 and were harvested after two growing seasons in September 2013. Measuring the environmental impacts, especially on local wildlife, is an important component of the sustainability research. The Oregon and Idaho sites are providing good indication of how poplar bioenergy farms can benefit local wildlife. Finally, the Extension Team has led field tours at three of four sites for policy makers, local landowners, and extension educators. A final tour for the year will be held at the Clarksburg, CA site on November 4th. As the Pacific Northwest fall rains make us all feel like staying indoors, AHB is starting webinars in November. Stay tuned!

Patricia Townsend, Ph.D.
Regional Extension Specialist and Educator
Washington State University
patricia.townsend@wsu.edu

Harvesting Poplar to Fuel Green Energy

The Jefferson, Oregon and Hayden, Idaho demonstration sites were both harvested at the end of September and early October 2013 respectively. The trees grew rapidly at both sites and were ready for the first harvest after only two growing seasons.
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A bird sitting on a poplar tree's branch

Wildlife in Poplar Bioenergy Demonstration Sites

Poplar trees are known to provide good habitat for many kinds of wildlife. In the past, deer, elk, and bird populations have dramatically increased in areas where large poplar tree farms were established for the pulp and paper industry.
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A group of men and women standing between two rows of poplar trees.

WSU Extension Showcases Poplar Demonstration Sites

Over 120 interested public agency, policy, research, and extension stakeholders got an inside look at how poplars are grown for the production of biofuel at three demonstrations sites tours in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho this summer.
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Poplar trees

Hardwood Biofuels Webinar Series Starts in November

AHB will launch its Hardwood Biofuels webinar series on Wednesday November 20, 2013. The series will focus on all aspects of growing poplar for biofuels, the conversion technology, and making sure the biofuels are an economically viable and sustainable enterprise for the Pacific Northwest.
Visit Hardwood Biofuels Webinar Series Starts in November