Fargo, North Dakota
August 1, 2008
North
Dakota State University is hosting a daylong conference in
Fargo on Sept. 29 to explore how the northern Great Plains fits
into the national energy vision.
The conference, "Northern Plains Biomass Economy: What Makes
Sense?" will be held at the Ramada Plaza Suites and Conference
Center, 1635 42nd St. S.
Attendees will examine issues related to the production of fuels
and materials from cellulosic biomass, and the potential impact
on North Dakota and the surrounding region.
One of those issues is the federal goals for bioenergy. In the
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Congress set a
goal of producing 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels annually
by 2022 and implied that as much as 21 billion gallons would be
derived from sources such as cellulosic feedstock.
"The conference is an excellent opportunity for participants to
hear about the federal and state programs and policies related
to bioenergy, the technology and economics of various aspects of
biofuels and bioproducts, and the impacts on communities, and to
participate in discussions of how the northern Plains can
benefit," says Ken Hellevang, co-director of the NDSU Bio-Energy
and Product Innovation Center (BioEPIC).
Topics that will be covered during the conference include:
- Economic impact of corn
and cellulosic-based ethanol on U.S. agriculture
- Technologies involved in
turning cellulose into biofuels
- NDSU/MBI Biomaterials
Initiative research and development efforts in the
commercialization of biobased nanofibers and biocomposites
- Innovative ideas for
bioeconomic opportunities
- Implications for
agricultural producers (agronomics, harvesting,
transportation, storage and economics of producing
cellulosic feedstock)
- Community and regional
socio-economic impacts of the bioeconomy
- Financing, profitability
and development of biofuel projects
The conference will start at 7:45
a.m. with registration. Members of North Dakota's congressional
delegation will give the keynote address at 8:45. They will
share the effects of the Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007 and Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 on the
northern Plains energy economy.
The first session, on national energy policy implications,
starts at 9:30.
At noon, state officials will share highlights of the
comprehensive state energy policy recommendations developed by
the Empower ND Commission.
Other conference speakers will include faculty from NDSU and
Oklahoma State University, and representatives from the
biofuels, engineering and agricultural financial management
industries.
Participants also will have the opportunity to view exhibits and
discuss NDSU's research and education related to energy and
bioproducts with faculty prior to lunch.
NDSU's Office of Vice President for Agriculture and University
Extension, Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies,
NDSU/MBI Biomaterials Initiative and BioEPIC organized the
event.
The cost of the conference is $75 for those registering by Sept.
15 and $90 after that date. The registration fee includes
conference materials, lunch and refreshments during breaks.
For more information about registration, contact Judy Normann at
(701) 231-7334 or
ndsu.capts@ndsu.edu.
Additional information and online registration also are
available at
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/bioopportunities/conference/index.html. |
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