Michigan State and Michigan Tech Host Biofuels Summit in Escanaba
To help Michigan State University and Michigan Technological University create a research agenda aimed at meeting the needs of Michigan's developing wood-based bioeconomy businesses, the two universities held a biofuels summit on Feb. 25, 2008.
About 50 representatives of businesses from all aspects of the forest-based bioeconomy attended and participated in small-group discussions with members of both universities and state and local government agencies.
The goal of the summit was to identify key questions the universities should address in three priority areas:
- feedstock production
- feedstock supply chains
- feedstock conversion systems and integration
Besides reports on the Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission and the Michigan 21st Century Electric Energy Plan, the summit also featured presentations from Swedish bioenergy researchers.
Review presentations from the biofuels summit:
- "The Bioeconomy: What's Next?" by Steve Pueppke, MSU Office of Biobased Technologies director (2 MB)
- "Review of Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission Recommendations" by Dick VandeVusse, VanAire, Inc. president (26 KB)
- "Michigan's 21st Century Electric Energy Plan: Bridge to a Sustain Energy Future?" by Tom Stanton, Michigan Renewable Energy Program coordinator (900 KB)
- "Regulations and Good-practice Guidelines for Whole-tree Harvesting in Sweden" by Hillevi Eriksson, Swedish Forest Agency (700 KB)
- "A General Overview of Swedish Bioenergy Industry" by Kjell Andersson, Swedish Bioenergy Association (2 MB)
- "Integration of Wood Fuel Utilization in Forest Management Practice" by Björn Vikinge, consultant, Vikinge Forest (550 KB)
- "Business Development through Biomass in the Region of Småland" by Hans Gulliksson, Energikontor Sydost/Bioenergy Group in Växjö (1.5 MB)
On April 9, 2008, the Michigan State-Michigan Tech Renewable Fuels Working Group released "Report of the Michigan Forest-Based Bioeconomy Summit," which contains research and outreach recommendations for the two universities.
