SunGrant Initiative

DOE Regional Feedstock Partnership

The Sun Grant Initiative is working with the Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - Bioenergy Technologies Office to develop and implement a Regional Biomass Partnership to address barriers associated with the development of a sustainable and predictable supply of biomass feedstocks.

The joint DOE/USDA Billion Ton Study (2.8 MB pdf) establishes the resource base and future potential for a large-scale biorefinery industry. As the industry expands from grain ethanol to include cellulosic ethanol, it is expected that agriculture crop residues and forest residues will be the first to develop for biorefinery purposes. Energy crops will develop and become integrated into the agricultural cropping systems as the biorefining industry matures and creates a demand for those resources. Each Sun Grant Region has held a biomass workshop to address each region’s unique capacity to contribute to the goal of producing a billion tons of biomass feedstock. Collaborations among the regional partnerships will become critical in developing sustainable biomass production and crop rotation strategies for both existing and new biomass resources. Click for more information on the regional biomass workshops

The Feedstock Partnership has been charged by the DOE Office of Management and Budgets with three tasks; 1) biomass resource assessment, 2) biomass resource development, and 3) biomass resource education and outreach. The Feedstock Partnership is assembling national task teams to complete these OMB tasks.

For more information, see: Regional Biomass Feedstock Partnership Bibliography

Regional Feedstock Partnership — Cereal Residue Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnership — Corn Stover Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnership — CRP Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnership — Energycane Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnership — Switchgrass Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnership — Poplar Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnership — Willow Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnership — Miscanthus Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnsership — Sorghum Highlights

Regional Feedstock Partnership — GIS — Southeast Biomass Atlas

Regional Feedstock Partnership — GIS — South Central Biomass Resource Assessment Highlights