March 19, 2010 - Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) Director Stanley "Skip" Pruss announced today that a $24,950 grant has been awarded to Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) for a bioenergy feasibility study.
This grant will explore the feasibility of growing, harvesting and utilizing bioenergy crops on nontraditional croplands, including Michigan roadways, vacant urban lots and State owned tracts of land. The crops could then be turned into energy use for potential end products like biofuels, heat and electricity. The resulting data will be instrumental in identifying possible barriers, opportunities, partners, sites, and crops for potential development and implementation. Bioenergy crops are defined as above ground plant material that is not grain.
"This grant demonstrates Michigan's ongoing commitment to developing renewable energy sources as a means of reducing our fossil fuel dependence and growing Michigan's economy," Pruss said. "The project will be valuable in facilitating bioenergy use in the state."
A partner network will include:
- MSU's Product Development Center for Agriculture, to lead the initial cost/benefit economic analysis of producing renewable energy utilizing nontraditional croplands;
- Michigan Natural Features Inventory, to develop GIS data layers and maps to quantify potential areas for production;
- MSU Researchers and MSU Extension staff;
- Michigan's Departments of Transportation and Energy, Labor & Economic Growth staff;
- And Mid-Michigan recycling staff
This project is scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2010.For more information about this project, please contact Mr. Charles Gould, Extension Educator-Nutrient Management and Bioenergy/Materials, 616-834-2812 or gouldm@msu.edu.
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