Editor’s Notes
AHB is continuing its quest to uncover the potential for poplar biomass. In this edition, we explore southwestern WA as a region where landuse, economics, and social factors could favor a poplar bioproducts industry. We talk about an exciting group of poplar consumers – zoo animals! Extension shares about two Latino education events. And meet Margot Amitrano, an undergrad who spent the summer at UW studying the potential use of poplar trees in wastewater treatment.
Happy Reading!
Noelle Hart
Exploring Emerging Poplar Markets: At the Zoo and In Your Compost
This summer, AHB donated poplar chips and branches from the Pilchuck Demonstration Site to investigate potential uses for poplar biomass grown in the Pacific Northwest. Cedar Grove Composting received a sample of poplar chips for a potential composting trial and the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle fed poplar branches to zoo animals.
Could Lewis County Be Home to the PNW’s First Commercial Poplar Biorefinery?
AHB’s biorefinery siting models of the Pacific Northwest identify southwestern Washington as a good location for a poplar-based bioproducts industry. But do the locals agree?
Dare to Dream: Extension Brings Energy to High School Migrant Students and Migrant Families
UW NASA Space Grant invited AHB Extension to teach during this summer’s Science Academy. Cat Gowan created an energy lesson using a zombie apocalypse survival scenario to make renewable energy topics fun and interesting.
Student Spotlight: Margot Amitrano
Margot Amitrano is currently an undergraduate student in bioresource engineering at McGill University. She just finished her internship studying the potential use of poplar trees in wastewater treatment with Heidi Gough at the University of Washington
