Renewable biofuel crop attractive to local economy

By Betsy Fradd, WSU Extension

STANWOOD, Wash. – Trees and technology are making the road to renewable resources more promising with each growing season.

poplar-4At the first poplar-for-bioenergy harvest recently in Stanwood, a harvester with a specialized header cut and chipped trees in a single pass.

“It’s a much different cropping system for harvesting these trees than a timber harvest,” said Patricia Townsend, WSU regional extension specialist with Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest. “This machine, specifically for poplars and willows, works like an agriculture machine in terms of cutting and getting usable product.”

poplar-5The poplars, planted in spring 2013, are known for fast growth and ease of conversion into acetic acid and renewable transportation fuels. Acetic acid is a high-value chemical made in the first steps of the conversion process that can be used to make paint, plastics, textiles and environmentally friendly de-icing salts.

The trees are the focus of the Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest project (http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/).

“We are excited because of what these trees mean for a future bioeconomy,” said Townsend. “The poplars provide a local and renewable resource that can potentially displace our need for petroleum-based products.”

The next harvest at the Snohomish County Pilchuck site is scheduled for 2017.

 

Next Story

Recent News

Desire to improve food safety leads Afghan student to WSU

Barakatullah Mohammadi saw firsthand the effects of food borne illnesses growing up in Afghanistan. Now a WSU graduate student, he will receive a prestigious national food and agriculture research fellowship.

Elk hoof disease likely causes systemic changes

Elk treponeme-associated hoof disease, previously thought to be limited to deformations in elks’ hooves, appears to create molecular changes throughout the animal’s system, according to WSU epigenetic research.

College of Education professor receives Fulbright award

Margaret Vaughn will spend three weeks in Vienna, Austria where she will work with a research team discussing student agency and the role of adaptability in classroom learning environments.