JUNE 27, 2002 -- Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) Director Kathleen M. Wilbur announced today that the CIS Energy Office has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) to educate Michigan teachers and students about biomass energy.

MACD will be expanding an existing statewide energy education program to include biomass energy information and classroom activities.  The program enhancement will include developing resource packets to instruct students and teachers about biomass energy, and conducting surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.  The program will serve students in grades K-12.

Biomass is any organic matter, which is made available on a renewable basis through natural processes or as a by-product of human activity.  Agricultural crops and crop residues, wood and wood waste, and municipal solid waste are all types of biomass.  Biomass can be used to generate electricity, and to produce transportation fuels and other consumer products.  Approximately 3% of the energy generated in the United States is from renewable sources and majority of this is from biomass.

“This program is an important effort to educate our children about renewable sources of energy, such as biomass, and their benefits,” said Wilbur.  “There are many advantages to using renewable sources of energy.  They can be produced domestically thereby reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and they can keep more profits in our communities by providing local employment opportunities.”             

The grant will be administered by the CIS’ Energy Office through the Michigan Biomass Energy Program (MBEP).  For additional information, please contact the MBEP program coordinator-Kelly Launder at 517-241-6223 or MACD Education Director-Christine Roman at 231-876-0326.  The MBEP website is:  http://michiganbioenergy.org.

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.