Northeast Woody/ Warm-Season Biomass Consortium Quarterly and Annual Reports/Y4 Progress and...The Northeast Woody/Warm-Season Biomass Consortium: Building Sustainable Value Chains

Northeast Woody/

Warm-Season Biomass

Consortium

Quarterly Progress Report January 1, 2016 – March 31, 2016

Submitted

April 29, 2016

www.newbio.psu.edu

The Northeast Woody/Warm-Season Biomass Consortium: Building Sustainable Value Chains for Biomass Energy

NEWBio Quarterly Report: January 2016 – March 2016 i

NEWBio is led by The Pennsylvania State University, supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

Competitive Grant No. 2012-68005-19703 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.


NEWBio Quarterly Report: January 2016 – March 2016 ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Administration ........................................................................... 1 Publications and Products ....................................................................... 3 Technical Thrusts 1 Human Systems in the Northeast Regional Bioeconomy ............................ 8 2 Feedstock Improvement for Perennial Energy Crops ............................... 11 3 Harvest, Preprocessing, & Logistics of Integrated Biomass Supply Chains ...... 22 Integrative Thrusts 4 System Performance & Sustainability Metrics ....................................... 28 5 Safety & Health in Biomass Feedstock Production & Processing Operations ... 34 6 Extension .................................................................................. 37 7 Education .................................................................................. 47 8 Leadership, Stakeholder Involvement, Knowledge-to-Action (K2A), & Program

Evaluation ................................................................................. 50 Appendices A. NEWBio Objectives ....................................................................... 53 B. NEWBio Major Milestones and Timeline .............................................. 56 C. Research Summaries ..................................................................... 59

Maximizing Planted Area and Biomass Production in Shrub Willow Bioenergy Fields ...................................................... 60 EcoWillow 2.0: An Updated Tool for Financial Analysis of Willow Biomass ..... 65

D. Case Studies ............................................................................... 70 ReEnergy Holdings – Offering Markets for Biomass in the NE ..................... 71 Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use ............................ 75


NEWBio Quarterly Report: January 2016 – March 2016 iii

Notice This report was prepared by Penn State University and NEWBio research, extension and education partners from Cornell University, Delaware State University, Drexel University, Ohio State University, Rutgers University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, University of Maine, University of Vermont, West Virginia University, USDA Eastern Regional Research Center, US DOE Idaho National Laboratory and US DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This work was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant No. 2012-68005-19703 from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (“USDA-NIFA”).


NEWBio Quarterly Report: January 2016 – March 2016 1

PROJECT ADMINISTRATION

Project Organization and Governance Project Director Tom Richard continues to lead the overall NEWBio effort, assisted by Associate Director Timothy Volk and Executive Committee members Larry Smart and Jingxin Wang. The committee is supported by Project Manager Barbara Kinne, who coordinates the day-to-day administrative operations.

Project Progress

Each thrust continues to show satisfactory progress in meeting task objectives and schedules. The Leadership Team moved forward on identifying and assigning data completion tasks for each of the demonstration scenarios identified last quarter.

Advisory Board

Following up on Advisory Board recommendations from NEWBio’s 2015 (Y3) Annual meeting, invitations to join the board were extended to several proposed individuals involved with environmental and commercial aspects of the biomass/bioenergy arena. Four accepted and joined the board in January and February:

o Kevin Comer, Antares Group Inc. o Matthew McArdle, Mesa Reduction Engineering and Processing o Michael Palko, Biomass Renewable Energy, LLC o Sarah Torkamani, ExxonMobil

A mid-year teleconference was convened on February 5, 2016. Tom Foust (Board Chair, NREL) and Tom Richard (Project Director, Penn State) co-chaired the meeting.

Communications and Collaboration

Monthly meetings are the primary means of sharing results and updating project team members. The Executive Committee, Leadership Team, and thrust teams typically hold monthly teleconferences, and we hold a monthly All Hands meeting focused on a particular topic, with internal and external speakers participating. NEWBio electronically published three eNEWS issues this quarter. The January 4 issue featured an inside look at this year’s willow harvest and an overview of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and the joint NIFA-AFRI Bioenergy CAPs webinar series. The February 1 issue announced the availability of NEWBio’s Safety and Health Team’s “Safety and Health Management Planning for Biomass Producers” manual, along with other news and events in the biomass arena. The newsletters averaged a 26% open rate, with a 22% click through rate.



Financial Matters

All NEWBio budgets are on sound draw-down trajectories at this stage of the project. Budget reviews were begun in March in preparation for NEWBio’s Y5 funding reapplication.

Data Management

A systematic review of all peer-reviewed publications was begun last quarter, the goal of which is to identify NEWBio datasets ready for upload to appropriate repositories. The review is expected to be completed next quarter. Conversations are in process now between the Feedstock Improvement thrust and Idaho National Lab/DOE Biomass Feedstock National User Facility Bioenergy Feedstock Library.

Plans for Next Quarter

NEWBio’s Y5 funding application and associated REEport progress report will occupy our attention next quarter. We will also finalize plans for our annual meeting, to be held at Penn State University on July 26-27-28, 2016.



PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS Listed below are publications, presentations, workshops, etc. reported for this quarter. Peer‐Reviewed Journal Articles

Burnham, M., W. Eaton, T. Selfa, C. Hinrichs, A. Feldspausch-Parker. 2016. Contested visions for bioenergy development: Sociotechnical imaginaries of bioenergy sub-niches in the Northeast, United States. Submitted to Geoforum. Eisenbies, MH, TA. Volk, A. Patel. 2016. Changes in feedstock quality in willow chip piles created in winter from a commercial scale harvest. Biomass and Bioenergy. DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2016.02.004 Saha, D., B. Rau, J.P. Kaye, F.R. Montes, P.R. Adler and A.R. Kemanian. Landscape control of nitrous oxide emissions during the transition from conservation reserve program to perennial grasses for bioenergy. Submitted to Global Change Biology Bioenergy. Sleight, N. and T. Volk. 2016. Recently Bred Willow (Salix spp.) Biomass Crops Show Stable Yield Trends Over Three Rotations at Two Sites. Bioenergy Research. DOI 10.1007/s12155-016-9726-2. Woodbury, P.B., A. R. Kemanian, M. Langholtz and M. Jacobson. Improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay using payments for ecosystem services for perennial biomass production. Submitted to Biomass & Bioenergy. Xu, J., X. Xie, J. Wang, J. Jiang. 2016. Directional liquefaction coupling fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass for platform chemicals. Green Chemistry. DOI: 10.1039/c5gc03070f.

Proceedings

Liu, W. and J. Wang. 2016. Integrated Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Analyses of Biomass Utilization for Biofuels and Bioproducts. In: Proceedings of the 59th SWST International Convention. March 6-11, 2016. Curitiba, Brazil.

Book/Book Chapter

None to report this quarter.



Theses/Dissertations

Falcon, A. 2016. Pretreating underutilized woody biomass for value-added biofuels and bioproducts. Ph.D. Dissertation. Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia. 116 pp.

Conference Presentations

Burnham, M., W. Eaton, T. Selfa, C. Hinrichs, A. Feldspausch-Parker. Bioenergy experts and their imagined publics: implications for sociotechnical practice and change. Annual Meeting, Association of American Geographers. March 29-April 2, 2016. Carlson, C.H., Gouker, F.E., Zhou, R., DiFazio, S.P., and Smart, L.B. High-resolution mapping of biomass-related traits in an intraspecific F2 shrub willow (Salix purpurea) family. Forest Tree Workshop, Annual Plant and Animal Genome XXIV Conference, January 10, 2016, San Diego, CA. Poster. Gouker, F.E., Zhou, R., Evans, L., Bubner, B., Zander, M., DiFazio, S., and Smart, L.B. Genotypic-Phenotypic Variation and Marker-Based Heritability Estimates of a Shrub Willow (Salix purpurea) Association Population. Forest Tree Workshop, Annual Plant and Animal Genome XXIV Conference, January 10, 2016, San Diego, CA. Liu, W. and J. Wang. 2016. Integrated Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Analyses of Biomass Utilization for Biofuels and Bioproducts. The 59th SWST International Convention – Forest Resources: Moving toward a sustainable future. March 6-11, 2016. Curitiba, Brazil. Smart, L.B., Fred E. Gouker, Craig H. Carlson, Eric S. Fabio, Chase R. Crowell, Christine D. Smart, Ran Zhou, Felipe R. Montes, John E. Carlson, Armen R. Kemanian, and Stephen DiFazio “Breeding and sustainability of shrub willow for marginal lands in the Northeast US” International Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG-XXIV), Jan. 9, 2016, San Diego, CA. Invited oral presentation. Other Publications/Presentations

Heavey, J. 2016. Shrub Willow Can Be a Productive Option for Open Land. The Overstory Volume 27 (Spring 2016). pp 1-3. http://www.nyfoa.org/docs/chapter_docs/sac/newsletters/sac_2016_03_newsletter.pdf>

Fact Sheets

None to report this quarter. Workshops, Field Days, Demonstrations

Heavey, J. NY Forest Owners’ Association Meeting. Glen Falls, NY. January 31, 2016. Presentation on woody biomass and bioenergy.25 participants.



Grushecky, S. All Star Ecology, Earth Stewards CE. March 17, 2016. Presentation on developing a collaborative approach to bioenergy production on surface mine sites. Facilitated meeting. 3 participants. Marrison, D. and S. Wurzbacher. Miscanthus Harvest and Processing Field Tour. Jefferson, OH. March 11, 2016. 61 participants. Manned/unmanned table display with relevant publications, feedstock samples, etc., at. Formal presentations, tours of Aloterra facilities and fields, and facilitated discussions on miscanthus management, markets, etc. were conducted. Formal presentations: Marrison, D: Miscanthus history, management, and markets in northeast Ohio; Wurzbacher, S: NEWBio supports development in the northeast Ohio region. Pennsylvania 2016 Farm Show, Harrisburg, PA. January 9-16, 2016. Table display with NEWBio publications, related publications, feedstock and product samples; short presentations, and interactive demonstrations (functional oilseed press). Ciolkosz, Jacobson, Johnstonbaugh, Schaufler, Wurzbacher in attendance. Wurzbacher. S. USFS State Wood Energy Team Webcast Meeting, January 27, 2016. Presentation on methods for and importance of engagement/outreach on biomass in the clean power plan. 25 participants. Wurzbacher, S. National Extension Energy Initiative Meeting. February 3, 2016. Presentation on methods for and importance of engagement/outreach on biomass in the clean power plan. 15 participants. Wurzbacher, S. Society of American Foresters Plateau Chapter Meeting. Titusville, PA. March 10, 2016. Presentation on possible Clean Power Plan implications for the Pennsylvania forest products industry. 35 participants. NEWBio Bioenergy Webinars

Small, L. and J. Stolark. U.S. Carbon Policy Trends and Implications for the Biomass Industry. January 12, 2016. https://youtu.be/eDd-EU6nlxM. Woodbury, P. Counting Carbon in Bioenergy Systems: Opportunities and Challenges. February 9, 2016. https://youtu.be/RatRpyQi6jY. McGlynn, E. Emissions Accounting for Biomass under the Clean Power Plan. February 23, 2016. https://youtu.be/R1nZStnHdhk.



Latta, G. Incorporating Traditional Forest Product Markets in CPP Biomass Evaluations. March 8, 2016. https://youtu.be/TwV2EVECYMI.

Research Summaries, Case Studies, Videos

Research Summary: Maximizing Planted Area and Biomass Production in Shrub Willow Bioenergy Fields <http://articles.extension.org/pages/73581> Research Summary: EcoWillow 2.0: An Updated Tool for Financial Analysis of Willow Biomass <http://articles.extension.org/pages/73580> Case Study: ReEnergy Holdings: Offering Markets for Biomass in the Northeast <http://articles.extension.org/pages/73637> Case Study: Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use <http://articles.extension.org/pages/73638>

ESF began managing a new Willow Project playlist under the ESF Sustainability YouTube Channel. This playlist is a compilation of numerous videos produced by ESF, willow webinars, presentations by project staff, and other videos related to willow and bioenergy to which ESF has contributed. The playlist will be actively maintained and updated. Existing videos in this list have been viewed thousands of times and views will be more closely tracked going forward: <https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWUl3iUXdVlbbZErp2GAbe2aobJsPzJEa >. Video: Harvesting Willow on a Former Industrial Site in New York State. <https://youtu.be/v_PXEQ5P_eA>. Video: Shrub Willow Harvest using New Holland Forage Harvester. <https://youtu.be/QwQkXjjSQJw>. Video: Willow Crops in the U.S. <https://youtu.be/7Q0Enl6VXAo>.

Media Outreach

Indirect media coverage of Penn State willow harvest activities involved video reporting with footage of NEWBio activities, crops, and personnel.

• January 7. Thomas, Aaron. Mystery crop discovered along I-95. We Are Central PA. <http://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/mystery-crop-discovered-along-i-99>.

• January 8. Sinderson, Gary. New Penn State project uses willow shrubs as fuel source. WJAC News. <http://wjactv.com/news/local/new-penn-state-project-uses-willow-shrubs-as-fuel-source>.



• January 16. Falce, Lori. Penn State project explores shrubs as renewable energy. Centre Daily Times. <http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/penn-state/article55122830.html>.

• March 2. McDaniels, Patricia. UT and Genera Energy Harvest Hybrid Poplar Stand in Next Step Toward a Biobased Economy. UTIA News. <https://ag.tennessee.edu/news/Pages/NR-2016-03-PoplarHarvest.aspx>.

Proposals Funded


Proposals Submitted

Bonos, S., J. Carlson, M. Hall, J. Hansen, L. Hoffman, D. Viands, Q. Sun. Genomic Toolkit for Disease Resistance Breeding in Switchgrass for the Northeast. Submitted to DE-FOA-0001444 DOE/USDA Feedstock Genomics Program; Funds requested $1,072,394 09/01/16-08/31/19. Hoffman, L. and S.A. Bonos. Morphological, Physiological, and Molecular Drought Assessment of Switchgrass Cultivars Grown in Marginal Soils. Submtted to Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (Postdoctoral Fellowhip) (USDA NIFA); Funds requested: $149, 591 (9/1/2016-8/31/2018). Smart, L.B., B. Richards, A. Kemanian “Optimizing Nutrient Uptake in Shrub Willow and Switchgrass to Provide Multiple Ecosystem Services” Submitted to NE Sun Grant Program (USDA NIFA); Funds requested: $300,000 7/1/16-6/30/18 Wang, J., S. Spatari, and T. Brown. Integrated TEA and LCA of Biomass Utilization for Bioproducts: Real Case Studies in the Northeastern U.S. 2016 NE Sun Grants Program.



Thrust 1: Human Systems in the Northeast Regional Bioeconomy Human Systems focuses on understanding the values, legacies, and motivations that drive perceptions and decisions about land management and business development for biomass energy systems. The social science component at SUNY ESF collected and analyzed media content data over five years to understand community perceptions about the biomass industry in four regions near production sites in New York, with parallel media content analysis and preliminary interviews with switchgrass growers in Pennsylvania by Penn State. A database was completed with policies related to biomass in New York. IMPLAN analysis was initiated to evaluate economic impacts from biorefinery development in the region. The economic component has leveraged modeling work with the Cycles model and feedstock supply and price projections from Oak Ridge National Lab to evaluate potential production from marginal lands in the Northeast. Data compiled includes energy crop production budgets and soil, land cover, and weather data. The Cycles growth model is used to project energy crop yields, map biophysical marginal lands for BCAP areas, and is performing statistical analysis of POLYSYS outputs to examine drivers of land use change projections focusing on dedicated biomass feedstocks.

Task 1.1: Understanding social and economic constraints

Task 1.1.1: Economic availability

1. Planned Activities

Survey data collection

Survey data entry and data cleaning

Work on second manuscript based on an analysis of marginal land to identify economically marginal land in NEWBio project areas

Contribute to completion of a manuscript “Improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay using payments for ecosystem services for perennial bioenergy feedstock production.”

2. Accomplishments

Survey data collection complete Survey data entry and data cleaning Contributed to completion and submission of the manuscript “Improving water quality in

the Chesapeake Bay using payments for ecosystem services for perennial bioenergy feedstock production.”

3. Explanation of Variance

Activities and accomplishments are on schedule. No variance to report.



4. Plans for Next Quarter

Continue to work on second manuscript based on an analysis of marginal land to identify economically marginal land in NEWBio project areas

Survey data analysis

Estimate willingness to accept prices for energy crops

Estimate willingness to sell acreage for energy crops

Task 1.1.2: Social Acceptability


Continue landowner and key informant interviews in Pennsylvania;

Work on second manuscript based on interview data;

Enter and clean survey data;

Analyze survey data;

Continue Chesapeake Bay case study. 2. Accomplishments

Submitted manuscript to Geoforum. Contested visions for bioenergy development: Sociotechnical imaginaries of bioenergy sub-niches in the Northeast, United States. Authors: Morey Burnham, Wes Eaton, Theresa Selfa, Clare Hinrichs, Andrea Feldpausch-Parker.

Completed five interviews in Pennsylvania Second manuscript draft nearly complete Second manuscript presented at the Association

of American Geographers’ Annual meeting in San Francisco. Bioenergy experts and their imagined publics: implications for sociotechnical practice and change. Authors: Morey Burnham, Wes Eaton, Theresa Selfa, Clare Hinrichs, Andrea Feldpausch-Parker.

Entered and cleaned survey data; Began preliminary survey data analysis;

Abstract: Bioenergy experts and their imagined publics: implications for sociotechnical practice and change

The social science literature on renewable energy technologies (RET) emphasizes the importance of imagined publics in shaping technology design and development. Much of this literature focuses attention on ways dominant actors imagine publics as accepting or rejecting RET development in their communities. In this paper we take a different approach, focusing attention on imagined publics whose enrollment and active participation in bioenergy development represents an obligatory passage point for the success of a rural bio‐economy in the Northeast U.S. Through analysis of interviews with bioenergy actors (policymakers, industry, engineers, and scientists), we examine the imagined publics and landscapes that need to be enrolled in bioenergy projects as growers/producers of energy crops and how these imaginaries shape our interviewees' strategies for engagement and participation. We find that our key informants imagine landowning publics using two deficit models. First, landowners are envisioned as lacking the knowledge dominant actors possess of the 'value' growing energy crops can provide to them and their community. Second, dominant actors imagine that landowners perceive failed previous initiatives as recreant acts. We argue that these ways of knowing publics reduce landowners to passive receivers of information, hiding issues of politics and closing off possibilities for rural landowners to participate in the construction of a new bio‐economy in the Northeast.



Outlined research questions for Chesapeake Bay case study.


Activities and accomplishments are on schedule. No variance to report 4. Plans for Next Quarter

Continue interviews in Pennsylvania;

Begin interviews for Chesapeake Bay case-study;

Complete and submit paper based on survey data that will address the social availability of marginal land for energy crop production;

Transcribe Pennsylvania interviews;

Begin analyzing interview data from Pennsylvania interviews;

Draft manuscript using survey data to examine the role of sense of place in willingness to plant energy crops;

Present poster of second manuscript detailed above at Penn State Energy Days.

Task 1.2 Assess demonstration sites as they pursue scale‐up of biomass crop production

and supply chain infrastructure


Continue key informant and landowner interviews in Crawford County, PA;

Work with Extension and other thrusts to compile information already collected to help with assessment of supply chain infrastructure;

Attend SCOR training to obtain information and metrics to apply to NEWBio.

2. Accomplishments

We have begun some collaboration with Extension to identify information already collected in the NEWBio project that can be used to assess supply chain infrastructure.


Activities and accomplishments are slightly behind schedule. Otherwise, no variance to report


Continue to work with Extension and other thrusts to compile information already collected to help with assessment of supply chain infrastructure;

Attend Supply Chain Operations Reference model training to obtain information and metrics to apply to NEWBio.



Thrust 2: Feedstock Improvement for Perennial Energy Crops

Feedstock Improvement is identifying cultivars of switchgrass and shrub willow with improved performance and expanded range on marginal lands in the Northeast. Through year 3 of the project, Cornell has conducted 148 crosses, producing 63 families (51 of them new). Of the families produced, 41 have diploid progeny, 16 have triploid progeny, two have tetraploid progeny, and 4 have pentaploid or unknown ploidy progeny, all together representing over 7,800 novel seedling individuals. Three crossing blocks have been established to generate half-sib families of tetraploid progeny for recurrent selection and novel triploid progeny. A total of 43 new accessions have been added to our breeding collection through acquisition from collaborators, nurseries, or arboreta. Association panels of S. purpurea have been established, measured for key growth traits, and harvested on three contrasting sites. These accessions have all been genotyped for mapping studies. A QTL and selection trial has been established with over 270 new progeny. Yield trials to evaluate new willow cultivars have been established on eight sites across four states, including two on reclaimed mine land. Between the Cornell and Rutgers switchgrass programs a total of 18,000 new switchgrass genotypes were generated. Three experimental selections were also developed. A switchgrass trial including new lines from the Cornell and Rutgers breeding programs has been established on reclaimed mine land in PA. A 200 plant QTL mapping population of switchgrass was evaluated for anthracnose. Field trials of switchgrass and willow have been surveyed for pest and disease incidence and new methods are being developed to characterize mechanisms of resistance.

Task 2.1: Breeding of non‐invasive triploid hybrids of willow displaying hybrid vigor


Measure the 2012 WVU Association Trial for maximum stem height and diameters;

Begin measuring maximum stem height and diameters in the 2013 Family Selection Trial in Geneva;

Deliver oral presentation on GWAS mapping of growth and yield traits at the Plant and Animal Genome Meeting in San Diego, CA in early January;

Begin manuscript preparation on GWAS mapping of growth and yield traits;

Survey floral development in triploid and tetraploid crossing blocks.

2. Accomplishments

Four caliper units were shipped from Cornell to WVU in mid-March, to enable the DiFazio lab group to measure stem diameters in the WVU Association Trial. Diameter and height measurements in the trial were completed at the end of March. Caliper units were shipped back to Cornell so that the data could be offloaded and checked.



All 1136 plots in the 2013 Family Selection Trial were measured for maximum plant height and stem diameters in early February.

An oral presentation on genotypic-phenotypic variation and marker-based heritability for S. purpurea was delivered by Fred Gouker at the Forest Tree Symposium at the Plant and Animal Genome Meeting in San Diego, CA in early January.

A draft manuscript on GWAS mapping of growth and yield traits from S. purpurea Association Trials has been prepared and is currently under internal review

Crosses were attempted to develop new segregating families of S. koriyanagi, but all crosses failed.

Application was made to USDA-APHIS for controlled import permit for S. purpurea from Germany

SPAD data collected in the three S. purpurea Association Trials was mapped to the Salix reference genome. Figure 1 shows a number of significant hits on multiple chromosomes.


Most activities and accomplishments are on schedule. No variance to report.

Figure 1. Results of a MLM for SPAD across three sites. P‐values are plotted against their respective

positions on each chromosome. P=1 × 10−5 is indicated by the blue horizontal line. Significant FDR‐

adjusted P‐values are highlighted in green.




Summarize end-of-season growth data from the three Association Trials for a response to fertilizer applied in Spring 2015;

Submit manuscript on heritability based on the Association Trials.

Task 2.2: Genetic basis for pest and disease resistance in willow and perennial grasses


Present a poster summarizing GWAS and QTL mapping of rust resistance for USDA-NIFA and DOE Plant Genome/Feedstock Genomics PIs Meeting in San Diego, CA in early January;

Conduct RNA-Seq analysis of leaf tissue from segregating S. purpurea × S. viminalis that were exposed to potato leafhopper;

Collect willow whips from Geneva nursery beds and prepare cuttings for a new PSU greenhouse trial investigating pest susceptibility in commercial cultivars;

Biomass samples from the 2015 anthracnose/fungicide trial will be ground and analyzed using NIRS;

Paper will be submitted to Plant Disease on anthracnose resistance in switchgrass;

Grant proposal will be developed to study the molecular mechanism of disease resistance in switchgrass (which was not covered under this grant);

Prepare willow cuttings for potato leafhopper feeding trials for summer 2016.

2. Accomplishments WILLOW

The Illumina RNA-seq data for the 2015 potato leafhopper feeding study were generated. Data analysis of differentially expressed genes and identification of genotype-specific candidate defensive genes are currently in process.

Willow whips were collected from Geneva nursery beds and 30, 20-cm cuttings were made of each of eight genotypes representing divergent groups of resistance and susceptibility to major pests and diseases. Cuttings will be delivered to PSU for a greenhouse trial this summer.

Whips were collected from parents ‘Jorr’ (S. viminalis) and ‘94006 (S. purpurea), as well as nine progeny from their cross. Cuttings were prepared for potato leafhopper feeding trials for summer 2016.

RNA extraction was completed from willow abiotic stress (ozone) greenhouse experiment conducted in summer 2015. RNAs QC’d and ready for sequencing.



Switchgrass

Paper was accepted for publication in Plant Disease with revisions. The revised version of the manuscript will be resubmitted before April 24.

Fungicides have been ordered for the cultivar/anthracnose evaluation in Freehold, NJ. A third year of data will be collected for publication.

A grant proposal was submitted to DOE Feedstock Genomics Program to determine the molecular mechanism of disease resistance in switchgrass.

Biomass samples from the 2015 anthracnose/fungicide trial are in the process of being ground for NIRS analysis.


Most activities and accomplishments are on schedule.


Begin preparations for potato leafhopper feeding studies and survey Salix germplasm for presence of potato leafhopper in order to collect insects to be used in the feeding trials.

Modify protocol for fungicide applications on switchgrass anthracnose trial for better control of anthracnose disease.

Initiate fungicide treatments and data collection for 2016.

Task 2.3: Breeding and selection of willow and switchgrass cultivars adapted for

Northeast conditions


Weigh moisture content chip samples from the 2013 Fredonia Amendment and 2012 Rock Springs Polyculture and Yield Trials, calculate annualized dry matter yields for all three trials.

Complete wood density measurements from harvested trials and begin milling stem segments for compositional analysis.

Grind all Rutgers switchgrass lines that were harvested in NJ and analyze using NIRS.

Grind selected Cornell switchgrass lines that were harvested in NY and analyze using NIRS.

All switchgrass biomass yield data from 2015 along with other measurements will be analyzed and used for the preparation of a manuscript combining data from Rutgers and Cornell.

DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of metagenomic data from willow trial sites.



Deliver an oral presentation at the Plant and Animal Genome Conference on Breeding Willow for Marginal Land in the Northeast.

2. Accomplishments

Willow

Data collection was completed for all NEWBio willow yield trials, together with data shared by Michigan State, including survival, plot fresh weight and biomass moisture content and biomass composition via Hi-Res TGA. Fig. 2 shows mean yields for 19 cultivars in common across five trials. The overall mean yield was 6.28 oven dried Mg ha-1 yr-1. The Fredonia Amended and Control fields had the lowest yields, but growing conditions are challenging at this site and the plots were harvested at two years old. Two new selections were ranked 2nd and 3rd overall. These data will be subjected to a genotype-by-environment analysis, which will help to identify patterns in specific adaptation among genotypes.

Figure 2. Yields from five trials containing 19 common genotypes. Trials in Escanaba, MI and Rock Springs, PA were harvested after three years post‐coppice, whereas Geneva and Fredonia, NY trials were harvested two years post‐coppice. PROPRIETARY DATA – NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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The 2012 Geneva Polyculture Trial was harvested in early March. As in Rock Springs, the SUNY ESF New Holland FX45 with CRL header was used for the harvest. Chips were collected in a dump wagon and weights of entire rows (n = 26) were obtained using truck scales. A subsample of chips was collected from each row to calculate moisture content. Overall yields were two-fold greater in Geneva compared to Rock Springs (Fig. 3). The trend by treatment in Geneva was opposite of that in Rock Springs, with slightly greater yields in the Preble monoculture, compared to the polyculture mixture of six commercial cultivars.

Moisture content also differed by site and by treatment. Rock Springs had greater overall

moisture content, which would be consistent with smaller stature plants (Fig. 4). The mixture blocks had lower moisture content compared to Preble monocultures.

All NEWBio yield trial stem segment samples have been processed for wood density and composition via HiRes-TGA.

Delivered an oral presentation at the Plant and Animal Genome Conference on Breeding Willow for Marginal Land in the Northeast.

Fixed ruts created during harvest in the Geneva Polyculture Trial. Manuscript on analysis of genotype-by-environment interactions in first rotation willow

yields was accepted for publication in Global Change Biology Bioenergy. DNA extraction was completed from 96 soil samples collected in Fall 2015 from willow

field trials at Rock Springs, Rock View and Fredonia (amended plots). DNAs were QC’d and are ready for metagenomic sequencing.

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Switchgrass

Switchgrass samples from Freehold, NJ (prime site) are being ground and should be completed before May. Plants from Rutgers (Fig. 5) and Cornell (Fig. 6) have been selected for crossing blocks based on biomass yield data from 2014 and 2015 at the prime locations (Freehold, NJ and Ithaca, NY).

Decisions were made on locations for crossing blocks and delivery of plants for crossing block establishment.




Continue combined genotype-by-environment analysis of NEWBio willow yield trials together with data shared by Michigan State and SUNY ESF;

Conduct any necessary maintenance in these trials, including applying any fertility treatments and fixing ruts created during harvest;

Analyze biomass samples using wet chemistry, confirm using NIRS;

Rutgers will have two (lowland-lowland) LL crossing blocks consisting of plant material from both breeding programs for marginal and prime farm land. Cornell will have two (upland-lowland) UL crossing blocks consisting of material from both breeding programs for marginal and prime farm land. Crossing blocks will be established in early May and monitored during the next quarter to maximize seed production.

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Figure 4. Moisture content by trial location and treatment for the two willow Polyculture Trials.



Figure 6. Biomass yield data from 2014 and 2015 for the Cornell switchgrass lines grown in Ithaca, NY.

Figure 5. Biomass yield data from 2014 and 2015 for the Rutgers switchgrass lines grown in Freehold, NJ.



In early May, plants from a switchgrass association panel nursery in Ithaca, NY will be dug up, split, and divided three-ways. 1/3 of the plants will be planted in a new nursery in Ithaca, NY, 1/3 will be planted in a nursery in Freehold, NJ, and 1/3 will be moved to State College, PA for future planting in Philipsburg, PA on a reclaimed mine land.

Soil samples will be collected from the Ithaca, NY, and Freehold, NJ, sites at the time of planting the switchgrass association panel, and from the established switchgrass association panel nursery. The Philipsburg, PA, site will be planted in 2017.

Conduct metagenomic sequencing of the 96 soil DNAs prepared from willow field trials at Rock Springs, Rock View and Fredonia.

Task 2.4: Breeding and selection of willow and switchgrass yields on reclaimed mine

land


Measure first year post-coppice growth for maximum stem height and diameter in the 2014 Mylan Park Yield Trial;

Cutback first year growth in the 2015 Philipsburg Yield Trial;

Data from 2015 will be analyzed and switchgrass samples from Philipsburg will be ground and analyzed;

Rutgers and Cornell will work together to develop a manuscript containing switchgrass data from the prime and marginal locations.

2. Accomplishments

Willow

First year post-coppice growth at the Mylan Park willow trial was assessed in late March (Fig. 7). All stem diameters on 10 plants per plot and maximum plant height on four plants per plot were measured. There was significant mortality at this site that occurred during the second half of the 2015 growing season. Dieback was mostly restricted to one half of the field. It was agreed that cutting back the entire trial might allow some struggling plants to better compete with the more vigorous plants. All aboveground growth was cutback after first year post-coppice measurements were completed. Plans were also discussed for applying organic amendments to the entire trial this spring.

Aboveground biomass from the first year of growth in the Philipsburg willow yield trial was cutback to promote coppice response this spring. Additional spent mushroom compost has been delivered to the site and an additional 26 tons per acre will be applied once conditions allow.



Switchgrass

Biomass and vigor data from 2014 and 2015 are being analyzed for the mine land manuscript. Writing of the other sections has been initiated.




Apply spent mushroom compost to the 2015 Philipsburg mine land willow yield trial;

Assess willow survival at Philipsburg, apply spot sprayed herbicide for weed control if necessary;

Determine type and amount of organic amendment to apply to the 2014 Mylan Park mine land willow trial;

Continue writing and editing mine land manuscript for submission for publication

Plants from Rutgers (Fig. 8) and Cornell (Fig. 9) have been selected for crossing blocks based on biomass yield data from 2014 and 2015 from the marginal site (Philipsburg, PA). A total of 4 crossing blocks will be developed as described above. For the plants selected from the reclaimed mine land in Phillipsburg, Marvin Hall (and crew) will dig the plants in late April and bring to Ithaca the first week in May for delivery to the Cornell and Rutgers groups. The crossing blocks will be established in early May and monitored for optimal seed production.

Figure 7. First year post‐coppice growth (left) and mortality (right) in the 2014 Mylan Park reclaimed mine land willow yield trial from March 30, 2016.



Figure 8. Biomass yield data from 2014 and 2015 for the Rutgers switchgrass lines grown in Philipsburg, PA.

Figure 9. Biomass yield data from 2014 and 2015 for the Cornell switchgrass lines grown in Philipsburg, PA.



Thrust 3: Harvest, Preprocessing, and Logistics

of Integrated Biomass Supply Chains For perennial crop systems like willow, miscanthus and switchgrass, harvesting and transportation can account for 40 to 60 percent of the delivered cost of biomass. Preprocessing of biomass through drying, size reduction, storage and compaction can increase transportation efficiency, reduce delivered costs, and improve conversion efficiency. During the first year of the project, the team designed willow and switchgrass harvesting protocols and collected time-motion data for various pieces of harvesting equipment, and developed base case models for these feedstock supply chains and models for optimizing biomass harvest and logistics scenarios. During year two the team refined the supply chain model, incorporating biomass harvest production and cost data analysis from our own research. Year Two also included biomass storage, pelletization and torrefaction research, as well as development of a high throughput technique to evaluate pyrolysis for a range of biomass feedstocks. Year Three efforts included further refinement of the supply chain optimization model, evaluation of dry matter losses during biomass storage, and characterization of biomass quality across the supply chain. Further tests are also being conducted on torrefaction, pelletization and pyrolysis. Year Four continues to focus on large-scale biomass harvests for demonstrations, calibrating the harvest models, and further refining the optimization models of biomass logistics and supply chains. We will also conduct the integrated techno-economic and life cycle analyses in considerations of three real cases for the production of pellets, lignocellulosic sugars, and biopower with our stakeholders. Task 3.1: Significantly reduce the harvesting cost per ton of biomass feedstocks from

willow and perennial grasses

Task 3.1.1: Optimize the operation of the forage harvester


Continue to collect time motion data from large scale willow harvests. 2. Accomplishments

Testing and calibration conducted for an onboard computer for estimating biomass harvesting yields.




Continue collection of willow harvesting data.



Task 3.1.2: Detailed time and motion data collection and fuel use analysis


Continue to determine time and motion data collections procedures and experimental design.

2. Accomplishments

Continued harvesting data analysis. 3. Explanation of Variance



Continue time and motion data collection and analysis.

Task 3.1.3: Cost effective technologies for harvesting perennial grasses


Continue to collect time-motion data. 2. Accomplishments

Collected field data of logistic and harvesting.




Continue to collect data. Task 3.1.4: Optimize the operation of the perennial grass harvester


Discuss a potential harvest to two miscanthus trials in WV.

2. Accomplishments





No variance to report.


There are no plans for next quarter.

Task 3.1.5: Feedstock Logistics, supply chain and modeling optimization


Continue model development and optimization. 2. Accomplishments

Revising a paper on biomass logistics optimization; Improvements made to models to include grasses.




Plans call for continuing to refine the model. Task 3.2: Quantify the role of preprocessing for densification and storage on

transportation efficacy and downstream fuel conversion

Task 3.2.1: Quantitative metrics of preprocessing parameters of biomass densification


Test hot water extracted and torrefied samples. 2. Accomplishments

Ready to grind torrefied samples and begin analysis.




Continue testing of hot water extracted and torrefied samples.



Task 3.2.2: Effects of preprocessing transportation and downstream fuel conversion


Continue to investigate acetate and anaerobic digestions.

2. Accomplishments

The study of acidic digestion is ongoing. 3. Explanation of Variance



Continue investigations and present current results at the 38th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals.

Task 3.2.3 Biomass densification


Expand densification studies. 2. Accomplishments

Modeled supply chain with Penn State’s Business School and a Portuguese company. 3. Explanation of Variance



Continue to expand densification studies.

Task 3.3: Assess the storage requirements and effects of long term storage on the

quality of willow and perennial grasses

Task 3.3.1: Storage system development and assessments for perennial grasses


Continue long-term storage studies for switchgrass and miscanthus and analysis of storage impacts.



2. Accomplishments

Work continues on commercial-scale, temporary storage of feedstock with end users, focusing on sampling procedures.

Amy Falcon will receive her PhD this semester from West Virginia University. Her dissertation title: Pretreating underutilized woody biomass for value-added biofuels and bioproducts.




Continue long-term storage studies for switchgrass and miscanthus harvest, and analysis of storage impacts.

Task 3.3.2: Storage system development and assessments for willow


Continue long-term storage studies for willow and analyze storage impacts. 2. Accomplishments

A paper was published in Biomass and Bioenergy. 3. Explanation of Variance



Continue long-term storage studies for willow and analyze storage impacts.

Task 3.4: Techno‐economic analysis, cost engineering, and life cycle analysis of

densification, storage preprocessing and biorefinery integration

Task 3.4.1: Develop an integrated supply chain model


Test and revise algorithms for alternative supply chain scenarios.



2. Accomplishments

Developed two papers. 3. Explanation of Variance



Continue to test and revise algorithms for alternative supply chain scenarios. Task 3.4.2: Cost engineering models for satellite preprocessing and storage


Refine cost estimates. 2. Accomplishments

Internal and external data collected. 3. Explanation of Variance



Continue to refine cost estimates.

Task 3.4.3: Life Cycle analysis, techno‐economic analysis, and model integration


Continue LCA and TEA for real case studies. 2. Accomplishments

Finalized a paper on TEA and LCA focusing on modeling with hypothetical cases.




Continue TEA and LCA work.



Thrust 4: System Performance and Sustainability Metrics

The System Performance and Sustainability Metrics team continues to make progress on all tasks. Building towards a consistent database of biomass yield in the NEWBio region, we are comparing both the simulated potential yield and the soil- and climate-limited yield results from our CYCLES modeling effort to those reported by the PRISM-EC model, which reports county averages for many biomass crops including miscanthus, switchgrass and shrub willow. We are comparing these yields at three specific sentinel sites that cover the geographic extent of NEWBio. If the databases generated by these two modeling approaches are sufficiently comparable, then we will have a common database of biomass yields to be used across the project thrusts. In the PA-OH BCAP area, simulated yields with both grain and forage systems (corn-alfalfa) and those of our perennial biomass crops have been used to assess the comparative economics of these systems; this work will be extended to the NY BCAP area in the coming year. The sustainability team is also leading an effort to quantify ecosystem services associated with bioenergy crops. The current focus is on the Chesapeake Bay, and is quantifying nutrient benefits of substituting switchgrass in areas now cropped with corn. This work includes developing generic economic and nutrient management budgets (completed), yield response of switchgrass to nitrogen fertilizer (completed), and estimations of the delivery of edge of field nutrients to the Chesapeake Bay (completed based on simulations provided by USGS with the Sparrow model and further supported by literature reviews). A similar comparative analysis of cover crops (a current practice that is currently subsidized at $60 per acre in Maryland) is scheduled to be completed in the next quarter. Assessment of carbon storage in the belowground biomass of shrub willow continues; a preliminary summary of field data has been completed and reported during the NEWBio annual meeting. Soil sampling to measure residual nitrate in the field has been completed in Pennsylvania. These results are being integrated in a comprehensive Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Analysis of full biomass supply chains, in collaboration with the HPL thrust. These system-level analyses are tailored to different supply chains based on grass or shrub willow biomass and include comparison with other wood-based biomass supply chains. Task 4.1: Site‐ and crop‐specific knowledge gaps

Task 4.1.1: Biomass production


• Analyze harvested data at Rockview, including a survey of the stand and samples moisture.

• Continue working on Cangiano’s manuscript (Cangiano)



• Continue cooperation with Feedstock Improvement to analyze multi-location willow yield data (Fabio, Montes)

• Soil samples are ready to be shipped to Dairy One. Yield data needs to be summarized. Data will be made available for all three years, three sampling dates per year for soil. Analyses, biomass yield, and biomass quality. Biomass quality data are not available for 2014 Harvest 1 (Viands, Hansen, Crawford).

2. Accomplishments

Rockview average shrub willow yield was 18.3 Mg/ha (dry); the top 0.3 ac yielded 25 g/ha (8.3 Mg/ha/y), an achievable first rotation yield in a good stand. Recall that no fertilizer was applied to this field.

Moisture content range was 51% (Millbrook) to 46% (Otisco). All plants in each double row in the field were surveyed to assess the relationship

between stand density and yield. Yield data from the polyculture was statistically corrected to account for uneven block

sizes; data reported in Feedstock Improvement section. Soil samples from Brian Richards et al experiment in NY were analyzed and the results

returned, adding to one of the most complete switchgrass experiments datasets. Woodbury, P.B., A. R. Kemanian, M. Langholtz and M. Jacobson paper “Improving

water quality in the Chesapeake Bay using payments for ecosystem services for perennial biomass production” was submitted to Biomass & Bioenergy.




• Replant a few empty rows at Rockview; • Develop a stand vs yield in first rotation curve for each of the six cultivars planted at

Rockview; • Continue working on Cangiano’s manuscript (Cangiano); • Continue cooperation with Feedstock Improvement to analyze multi-location willow

yield data; harvest at Rock Spring has been added to the database (Fabio, Montes).

Task 4.1.2: Nitrogen demand and alternative supply


Continue monitoring experiments (routine);

Submit rye and stover manuscript for review (Ramcharan, Richard, Kemanian);

Finish or make progress grinding willow samples for 15N analysis (Dennison)



Complete growth analysis of 15N trial that includes unfertilized controls and fertilized individual plants.

2. Accomplishments

Willow plants from Rock Springs and Geneva have been fractionated, dried, and are being ground one by one for 15N analysis (Dennison).

Growth analysis of 15N experiment indicates that there was a response to fertilizer in Rock Springs (low fertility site) while there was no response at Geneva (higher fertility). This shows that no fertilization in the first rotation year may limit productivity in sites with low fertility. Roughly, the yield response was substantial: between 50 and 100 kg of biomass per kg of N applied (preliminary estimate).


The rye manuscript submission is pending refinement of figures and text. No other variances to report.


• Continue monitoring experiments (routine) • Submit rye and stover manuscript for review (Ramcharan, Richard, Kemanian) • Finish or make progress grinding willow samples for 15N analysis (Dennison).

Task 4.1.3: Nitrous oxide emissions


Continue simulation of N2O emissions (Saha, Montes);

Work with Brian Richards to simulate the N2O emissions measured at the Ithaca site (nine days of measurements across multiple treatments) (Saha, Kemanian, Montes);

Submit a new manuscript reporting N2O measurements in Miscanthus, switchgrass, and CRP (Saha); we awaiting feedback from co-authors on the last version.

2. Accomplishments

Manuscript submitted to Global Change Biology Bioenergy (Saha et al): N2O emissions in perennial energy grasses and CRP.

First draft of manuscript reporting emission factors from switchgrass and reed canary grass in Ithaca, NY, has been prepared and is under internal revision.




Harvest activities and N2O manuscript preparation delayed work on Richards' data. No other variance to report.


Continue working with Brian Richards to simulate the N2O emissions measured at the Ithaca site (nine days of measurements across multiple treatments) (Saha, Kemanian, Montes).

Task 4.1.4: Carbon storage


• Send all eddy covariance equipment to Campbell Scientific for a thorough check and recalibration (Montes).

2. Accomplishments

The Eddy covariance systems have been returned and are being installed. All root samples from willow have been analyzed for C and N and are being summarized

for a publication. 3. Explanation of Variance



• Goal is to have all eddy covariance equipment installed and working by the end of May.

Task 4.2: Benchmark scenarios

1. Planned Activities (broad plans)

• Continue simulations for both annual and perennial crops; • Finish simulations of BCAP area; • Complete and deliver to NEWBio a local and regional yield database, pending access to

intra-county data from PRISM-EC. 2. Accomplishments

BCAP area simulations in OH and PA are completed.



Comparison of PRISM-EC and Cycles is not feasible because the PRISM-EC database for intra-county data is not yet publicly available.




• Finish simulations of BCAP area (NY). • Complete and deliver to [only] NEWBio a county-level yield database.

Task 4.3: Regional feedstock supply and environmental assessment


• Complete the Biomass and Bioenergy manuscript (Woodbury et al), regarding the services provided by switchgrass in the Chesapeake Bay.

2. Accomplishments

• A manuscript has been submitted to Biomass and Bioenergy (Woodbury, Kemanian, Langholtz, Jacobson) addressing the ecosystem services of switchgrass regarding N pollution control in the Chesapeake Bay.




• Focus benchmark work on BCAP areas to expand ecosystem service analyses.

Task 4.4: Biomass to biofuel life cycle analysis and multi‐criteria sustainability


• Data collection and assembly will fulfill the case study list developed in December. • A manuscript on time-dependent life cycle GHG emissions is under preparation along

with literature review and data collection. 2. Accomplishments

Reported within Thrust 3: Harvest, Preprocessing and Logistics (Spatari).






• Reported within Thrust 3: Harvest, Preprocessing and Logistics (Spatari).

Marvin Hall, Penn State Department of Crop and Soil Science, weighs switchgrass harvested from the breeding

nursery in Philipsburg. Switchgrass yields will be a main factor breeders use for selection of genetically

superior switchgrass plants when developing new switchgrass varieties for planting on reclaimed mineland

sites. [Photo credit: Julie Hansen, Cornell University]



Thrust 5: Safety and Health in Biomass Feedstock Production and Processing Operations

Safety and health aspects of the biomass product supply chain are being addressed from a holistic, systems perspective. The Safety team participates in biomass production activities with NEWBio partners, including the harvesting and storage of biomass crops. This provides insight into hazards present in biomass production not found in traditional agricultural crops, and how safety committees within organizations function. Fire and respiratory hazards are being investigated as areas of particular concern to biomass producers. Development of a “Safety and Health Management Training Manual for the Biomass Production Industry” is underway in Year 4.

Task 5.1: Biomass safety program development


Completion of respiratory “LearnNow” video 2. Accomplishments

The LearnNow video on “Hazards of Biomass Production on Marginal Lands” draft is

completed and has been sent to a communications specialist for closed captioning and editing.




Finalize marginal lands video and allow public access to this product.

Initial image collection and script production for LearnNow video on “Hazards of Fire during Biomass Production and Processing.”

Task 5.2: Safety and health hazard inventory


Revisit miscanthus and switchgrass operations with fire professional involved with biomass fire seed grant. Obtain images related to the fire professional’s observations.

Continue respiratory investigation methods with graduate student pursuing project in this area.

In cooperation with the Extension thrust, continue to pursue the material available to NEWBio equipment program users.



2. Accomplishments

Fire professional visited miscanthus production facility and obtained information on their processing fire hazards.

Fire professional contracted through seed grant reviewed storage and placement practices of highly volatile solid fuels such as biomass. Possible fire suppression strategies and tactics for miscanthus were reviewed.

Fire professional contracted through seed grant reviewed OSHA, NEC (National Electrical Code) and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) standards that apply to biomass facilities in rural areas.

Fire professional through seed grant funding reviewed fire and explosion incidents involving biomass materials. These included harvesting, storage and processing scenarios.

Graduate student obtained additional grant funding for equipment and travel needs for investigation of respiratory hazards and exposures with biomass processing facilities.

Respiratory hazards research project was reviewed by PSU Internal Review Board. The ruling was that our project was determined to not be human subjects’ research, and our project can continue without further review.


NEWBio equipment is not being used by new users; rather, those using the equipment are familiar with the use and the hazards of the equipment.


Continue respiratory hazards investigation methods with graduate student pursuing project in this area and meet with biomass facility managers to explain upcoming procedures and timeline.

Fire professional will continue his investigations into the fire hazards of biomass production, needs of rural fire companies dealing with a biomass industry within their protection zone, and other issues related to regional biomass processing.

Task 5.3: Develop, conduct and evaluate a comprehensive safety and health

management program


Procure and distribute copies of “Safety and Health Management Planning for Biomass Producers” to producers and NEWBio stakeholders in PA, NY and possibly



other NEWBio partner states;

Introduce other CAP projects to the availability of this manual

2. Accomplishments

Extension thrust introduced manual at extension educational event.

Manuals distributed to growers in NY and PA who have interacted with NEWBio in past activities.




Send information on “Safety and Health Management Planning for Biomass Producers” manual to remaining CAP projects.



Thrust 6 Extension Working with NEWBio advisory board members, industry partners, and other organizations, Extension identified field demonstration sites in Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia that serve as bases of operation for NEWBio outreach work and research. In participation with the Crawford County (PA) Commissioners, Extension has organized a field-scale perennial grass planting at a public farm. In New York, over 830 acres of new willow biomass crops were established in the spring of 2013, and previously established acres were harvested; almost 2,500 tons of biomass from these fields have been delivered to a ReEnergy biopower facility in Lyonsdale, NY. In West Virginia, a MeadWestvaco 30-year-old reclaimed surface mine site was planted with willow, switchgrass, and Miscanthus. The equipment access program, which makes specialized energy crop farming equipment available to farmers, has assisted in the purchase of two willow harvesters and a willow planter in cooperation with advisory board member and corporate partners Double A Willow and Celtic Farm Energy. Our bioenergy workshops and webinars utilize industry and NEWBio team members as presenters; participants are drawn from industry, academia, and the public. The Extension and Education Teams also developed fact sheets, display materials, and other printed and online media to assist in communicating NEWBio content. Working with eXtension.org, NEWBio has a landing page to index all NEWBio publications and outreach resources. Priority topics are identified along with contributors for these publications.

Task 6.1: Integrated demonstration sites


• Complete necessary planting, replanting, maintenance, and harvesting activities at demonstration fields as seasonally appropriate.

• Work with equipment access task priorities to target harvesting in demonstration areas for field days, harvesting observation, etc.

• Continue developing other outreach opportunities via field days, tours, and demonstrations.

o Tabling at the PA Farm Show is a major event this quarter. o Explore outreach opportunities related to planned harvest activities.

• Continued assistance and coordination by extension staff to facilitate research in demonstration regions

o Especially in continuing to facilitate human systems focus group research and investigations related to water quality, harvesting, yield, etc.

2. Accomplishments

NY Demonstration site:



o Complete necessary planting, replanting, maintenance, and harvesting activities at demonstration fields as seasonally appropriate. ESF is making plans with to proceed with ongoing crop monitoring efforts of

commercial BCAP willow in central and northern New York. The majority of crop across 1,150 acres have grown to a height of five feet or greater, limiting the effectiveness of on-the-ground scouting. ESF is working with the SUNY Research Foundation to obtain FAA clearance for the use of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was purchased for these purposes.

o Local presentations, publications, field events on NEWBio work relevant to demonstration site completed (see deliverables section for details)

o Stakeholder Engagement A report for 2015 was drafted and submitted to USDA Farm Service Agency

staff and BCAP program administrators in Syracuse, NY, and Washington D.C. ESF is working with NEWBio and USDA officials to evaluate opportunities and challenges of expanding the existing New York willow BCAP. <http://www.esf.edu/willow/documents/2015WillowBCAPAnnualReport.pdf>.

Provision of information and assistance continues to a remediation project using willow near Buffalo, NY. Researchers from the Army Corps of Engineers will plant strips of willow in combination unplanted controls for monitoring this site in spring, with our input and support.

Following collaboration between ESF and a team from Argonne National Lab using EcoWillow 2.0 to evaluate the cost and benefits of using willow as buffer plantings in corn fields, a manuscript was submitted to the journal of Bioproducts and Biorefining for peer review.

o Continued assistance and coordination by extension staff to facilitate research in this demonstration region Student research continues on demonstration plantings. Otherwise, no new

activities reported.

NW PA/ NE OH Demonstration site: o Local presentations, publications, field events on NEWBio work relevant to

demonstration site completed (see deliverables section) Tabling and other engagement at the PA Farm Show High prioritization of media outreach related to the harvest of Penn State

willow sites led to thorough media coverage (see deliverables, task 6.2) Miscanthus Harvest and Processing Field Tour Other presentations in the region (see deliverables)

o Stakeholder Engagement The Miscanthus field tour was the first public outreach event involving

industry partner Aloterra that showed both of that partner’s processing



facilities as well as farm operations headquarters. This tour reached new audiences in the area. Reviews of the event showed marked increases in knowledge about miscanthus, regional potential for biomass crops, and other relevant subject material. (Evaluation results submitted with report).

Willow harvest activities on Penn State land achieved thorough media coverage, significantly expanding regional awareness of NEWBio initiatives.

o Continued assistance and coordination by extension staff to facilitate research in this demonstration region Assisted in coordinating willow harvests in this demonstration region

WV Demonstration site:

o Necessary maintenance/management applied to planted demonstration areas All replicated plots were visited for maintenance and upkeep to manage weed

mats; herbicide was sprayed on all plots, and growth on newly established plots was clipped.

Plots will continue to be monitored on a bi-weekly basis through the growing season, with herbicide and mowing as needed. Cicada brood hatch will be a significant factor for willow this year.

o Stakeholder Engagement Facilitated meeting(s) focused on a collaborative approach to bioenergy

production on surface mine sites with All Star Ecology, Earth Stewards CE (see deliverables section for more information).

o Continued assistance and coordination by extension staff to facilitate research in this demonstration region

Student research continues on demonstration plantings.




• Complete necessary planting, replanting, maintenance, and harvesting activities at demonstration fields as seasonally appropriate.

• Continue developing other outreach opportunities via field days, tours, and demonstrations.

• Continued assistance and coordination by extension staff to facilitate research in demonstration regions:

o Especially in continuing to facilitate human systems focus group research and investigations related to water quality, harvesting, yield, etc.



Task 6.2: Biomass equipment access program


• Continue managing scheduling and distribution of equipment; • Continue investigating safety procedures, updating knowledge on this subject; • Make progress on the current proposed harvesting schedule (listed in this report under

“accomplishments”) as time/equipment/other factors permit; • Explore outreach opportunities associated with harvesting activities; • Continue identifying potential buyers of material yielded from harvesting activity on

research lands.

2. Accomplishments

ESF continues to manage the equipment access program for the NEWBio project, coordinating the use of harvesting equipment owned by Celtic Energy Farm, Double-A-Willow and SUNY-ESF. Updates on operations and a list of sites and progress is circulated to stakeholders regularly.

About 250 acres have been harvested this season across 13 sites representing a mix of research, commercial biomass, and bioremediation/multifunctional sites. Another 25-50 acres across four sites may still be cut this season depending on ground conditions. ○ Completed (256 acres)

100 acres – Celtic Energy commercial biomass. West Branch, NY 30 acres – ESF bioremediation site. Solvay, NY 2 acres – ESF yield trial. Constableville, NY 2 acres - ESF various trials and nursery beds. Tully, NY 20 acres – Cornell various trials and nursery beds. Geneva, NY 2 acres – Cornell yield/amendment trial. Fredonia, NY 1 acre – Cornell yield trial. Potsdam, NY 30 acres – Penn State research trial. Rockview, PA 4 acres – Penn State yield and polyculture trial. Rocksprings, PA 15 acres – East Lycoming school biomass. Hughesville, PA 50 acres – IBSS poplar trials. Tennessee and Mississippi

○ Planned, Spring 2016 (35 acres) 25 acres – ESF Lafayette Road Trials. Syracuse, NY 4 acres – Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School 6 acres – Cornell. Various trials

○ Planned, Fall/Winter 2016-17 (282 acres) 52 acres – Agrinova. Quebec, Canada 20 acres – Celtic Energy. West Branch, NY 50 acres – Celtic Energy. Cape Vincent, NY 25 acres – ESF bioremediation site. Solvay, NY



10 acres – ESF yield and fertilizer trial. Middlebury, VT 125 acres – AHB west coast poplar. Idaho, Washington, California

○ Sites and Activity Logs (1) 2015/2016 Harvesting Notes

(2) 2015/2016 Harvesting Sites

Safety procedures regarding machinery, logistics continue to be monitored based on existing systems (field visits to current biomass operations). Formal external outreach with respect to harvest equipment and procedures has not been undertaken, since all current operators are within the project network.

Fact sheet detailing “willow upgrade” machinery and costs to allow a dairy FR harvester to operate in willow has been drafted and is still in review.




Begin planning for 2016/2017 harvest season;

Continue managing scheduling and distribution of equipment;

Continue investigating safety procedures, updating knowledge on this subject;

Explore outreach opportunities associated with harvesting activities.

Task 6.3: Small business and economic development


Complete a marketing fact sheet based on lessons learned from supply chain research (currently in review);

Biomass business model work: o Biomass transportation models – complete development of questionnaire. o Supply chain risk survey – revisit in early summer (Q3 or Q4). o Identify respondents for the survey on biomass business models – consult with

Human Systems Thrust about collaborative potential.

In conjunction with the Human Systems thrust, develop plan for assessing supply chains of demonstration sites:

o Complete IRB requirements. o Compile information already available within NEWBio.

Begin discussing plans for small business development work to be completed over the final year of the project.

2. Accomplishments



Planned marketing fact sheet was completed, but focus on single markets where traditional residues have provided feedstock was reconsidered; content will instead be incorporated into future factsheets with market information but will not stand alone as a single factsheet.

Biomass business model work: o Biomass transportation models:

(a) Literature search is complete, questionnaire is being developed.

o Supply chain risk survey: (a) Questionnaire has been reviewed, and a decision was made to revise it. (b) Plans are to administer this in early summer (Q3 or Q4)

o Identify respondents for the survey on biomass business models. (a) Still exploring collaboration with Human Systems Thrust

In conjunction with the Human Systems thrust, develop plan for assessing supply chains of demonstration sites: o Collaboration plan has been developed, and compliation of information within

NEWBio has begun. With Extension Thrust input, Saurabh Bansal has developed a case study on biomass

supply chains for an MBA class and is testing it this semester. 3. Explanation of Variance

Short delays have resulted due to unexpected revisions as well as reassignment of research personnel to other work. Other than these minor delays, no variance to report.


• Planned revised marketing fact sheet based on lessons learned from supply chain research (after review it was decided to make the fact sheet more generic rather than specific to a particular bioproducts market).

• Biomass business model work: o Biomass transportation models – administer questionnaire to selected NEWBio

researchers. o Supply chain risk survey – revisit in early summer (Q3 or Q4). o Identify respondents for the survey on biomass business models – consult with

Human Systems Thrust about collaborative potential. • In conjunction with the Human Systems thrust, develop plan for assessing supply chains

of demonstration sites: o Complete IRB requirements. o Continue to compile information already available within NEWBio.

• Continue discussing plans for small business development work to be completed over the final year of the project and explore support for a switchgrass grower group.



Task 6.4: Expand eXtension.org for willow and warm‐season grasses


Maintain and update NEWBio index of resources on eXtension website

Manage NEWBio Ask an Expert section on the eXtension site

Publish 2 expert bios for NEWBio extension collaborators on eXtension

Publish information sheet providing overview of NEWBio commercial collaborators

Publish two research summaries o Maximizing Planted Area and Biomass Production in Shrub Willow Bioenergy Fields

-Heavey and Knipfing o EcoWillow 2.0: An Updated Tool for Financial Analysis of Willow Biomass -

Heavey and Volk

Publish two case studies of successful biomass businesses o ReEnergy Holdings: Offering Markets for Biomass in the Northeast - Harlow o Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use - Harlow

Publish two fact sheets o Anthracnose (Colletotrichum navitas) of Switchgrass - Hoffman, Chaves, Mayton,

Weibel, Bonos o Market Opportunities for Biomass - Paperboard [name TBD] - Ruamsook,

Thomchick - this will provide a prototype for other papers on alternate markets

Continue posting NEWBio webinars to eXtension Learn

Utilize eXtension Farm Energy and NEWBio Facebook and Twitter accounts to broadcast NEWBio events and resources

Interaction with other CAPs-Extension – use network to improve outreach efforts. 2. Accomplishments

NEWBio index of resources updated and maintained on eXtension website Published two research summaries

○ Maximizing Planted Area and Biomass Production in Shrub Willow Bioenergy Fields <http://articles.extension.org/pages/73581>

○ EcoWillow 2.0: An Updated Tool for Financial Analysis of Willow Biomass <http://articles.extension.org/pages/73580>

Published two case studies of successful biomass businesses ○ ReEnergy Holdings: Offering Markets for Biomass in the Northeast

<http://articles.extension.org/pages/73637> ○ Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use

<http://articles.extension.org/pages/73638> NEWBio webinars continue to be posted to eXtension Learn Facebook and Twitter used to broadcast NEWBio events and resources



Joined Cross-CAP calls to discuss outreach techniques within other bioenergy CAPs, marketing strategies/industry interactions (3): ○ Coordinated with AHB and IBSS to assist in plan a Poplar-Willow Working Forum

(April 2016, Portland, OR). ○ Coordinated with IBSS to undertake harvesting activities in Tennessee (see task 6.2

and deliverables - indirect media outreach for more information) Coordinated with all CAPs on launch of “Bioenergy in the Clean Power Plan” webinar

series. 3. Explanation of Variance

Recovery from workflow interruptions detailed in prior reports continues; good progress was made this quarter. Commercial Collaborators publication delays are due to reviewer delays. The Anthracnose publication is on hold to allow the authors to publish new, related data. Delays to the marketing fact sheet are detailed under task 6.3.


• Maintain and update NEWBio index of resources on eXtension website; • Manage NEWBio Ask an Expert section on the eXtension site; • Publish information sheet providing overview of NEWBio commercial collaborators; • Publish one research summary:

o Improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay using payments for ecosystem services for perennial biomass production.

• Publish four fact sheets: o Anthracnose (Colletotrichum navitas) of switchgrass; o Willow site preparation; o Willow timeline of activity for site preparation; o Introduction to processing feedstocks into biofuels.

• Continue posting NEWBio webinars to eXtension Learn. • Utilize eXtension Farm Energy and NEWBio Facebook and Twitter accounts to

broadcast NEWBio events and resources. • Interaction with other CAPs-Extension – use network to improve outreach efforts.

Task 6.5: Interactive and innovative learning‐lessons tools


• Continue developing “successful biomass industry” profile series for publication; • Continue NEWBio outreach at field days, presentations, events; • Continue delivery of bioenergy webinars;



• Launch new “Bioenergy in the Clean Power Plan” webinar series with the cooperation of other Bioenergy CAPs;

• Continue to prepare fact sheets; • Continue to populate website, NEWBio blog; • Continue to complete educational presentations; • Send out monthly e-newsletter; • Utilize NEWBio social media presence (Facebook, Twitter) to broadcast NEWBio

events. 2. Accomplishments

Some publication delays (see task 6.4) persist due to staffing disruptions and other factors, but good progress is being made:

o Published two research summaries; o Published two case studies.

Bioenergy webinars were delivered more frequently than monthly (see deliverables). NEWBio successfully launched the new “Bioenergy in the Clean Power Plan” webinar series this quarter that has gained and held significant live and remote-viewing audiences.

Multiple field days and tours completed at demo sites in addition to several tabling/poster presentation opportunities (see task 6.1, deliverables).

NEWBio website remains up-to-date and a major source of traffic to external sites—eXtension resources, webinar attendance, blog, etc.

ESF Willow website updates: o Homepage (www.esf.edu/willow) was updated with a new layout and three-column

page design. Other areas of the website were updated periodically to include new publications, staff profiles, etc.

o Q1 stats: 3,068 total page views, 286 downloads of willow brochure (cum. total: 1,906), 262 visits to publications page, EcoWillow accessed 197 times.

Blog Progress: o General Statistics

2,619 total blog views this quarter All-time high monthly views in March (1,176)

o 397 direct views to date of stories posted this quarter o Six blog entries completed this quarter;

Wurzbacher, S. January 7. “Northeast Regional Sun Grant Opportunity.” <http://nebioenergy.blogspot.com/2016/01/northeast-regional-sun-grant-

opportunity.html>. 62 views to date. Wurzbacher, S. January 8. “New Webinar Series Tackles Bioenergy in

the Clean Power Plan.” <http://nebioenergy.blogspot.com/2016/01/new-webinar-

series-tackles-bioenergy-in.html>. 50 views to date.



Jacobson, M. January 22. “Penn State Harvests First Crop of Willow.” <http://nebioenergy.blogspot.com/2016/01/penn-state-harvests-first-crop-of-

willow.html>. 109 views to date. Marrison, D. March 8. “What’s Going on with Miscanthus in

Northeastern Ohio?” <http://nebioenergy.blogspot.com/2016/03/whats-going-on-

with-miscanthus-in.html>. 59 views to date. Jacobson, M. March 15. “Aloterra Energy Develops Markets from

Biomass Feedstock.” <http://nebioenergy.blogspot.com/2016/03/aloterra-energy-

develops-alternative.html>. 49 views to date. Heavey, J. March 18. “Frequently Asked Questions: Shrub Willow.”

<http://nebioenergy.blogspot.com/2016/03/frequently-asked-questions-shrub-

willow.html>. 68 views to date. Multiple relevant presentations completed. See Publications and Products. E-newsletters with NEWBio news and events sent out monthly, On January 4, February

1, and March 1, 2016. Open rate generally runs at about 26%, with an average click rate of 22%.

Maintained active social media presence via Facebook, Twitter. 3. Explanation of Variance

Activities and accomplishments are on schedule, with the exception of publications delays noted in task 6.2. No variance to report.


• Continue NEWBio outreach at field days, presentations, events • Continue delivery of bioenergy webinars • Continue “Bioenergy in the Clean Power Plan” webinar series • Continue to prepare fact sheets • Continue to populate website, NEWBio blog • Continue to complete educational presentations • Send out monthly e-newsletter • Utilize NEWBio social media presence (Facebook, Twitter) to broadcast NEWBio events



Thrust 7 Education

The NEWBio education thrust has effectively strengthened the education pipeline to support the biomass industry in the region in the following ways: by training undergraduate students in bioenergy from multiple institutions (eight students trained in summer 2013; seven trained in Summer 2014), and providing graduate bioenergy education to working professionals (21 scholarships awarded thus far). Furthermore, the long-term education pipeline was enhanced through the training of K-12 educators who are in turn teaching bioenergy concepts to their students.

Task 7.1: Secondary educator training


Market workshops to schools

Finalize plans for New York State workshop

2. Accomplishments

The NY workshop is scheduled for August 1 and August 15-17 in Horseheads, NY. Enrollments still underway, but PA workshop is oversubscribed, the WVa workshop is at

50-70% capacity, and the NY workshop is at 50-70% capacity.


Activities and accomplishments are on schedule, with the addition of the NY teacher training workshop (3 instead of 2).


Conclude registration and planning for teacher training workshops

Deliver WVa workshop June 20-24

Matthew Johnson plans to attend the National Energy Education Summit in Washington DC to give a presentation on our education program, if funds are available.

Task 7.2: Regional Bioenergy Scholars


Continued recruitment for Y4;

Scholars will be selected for Y4.



2. Accomplishments

Eight bioenergy scholars have been selected for 2016: o Carile Leary, from the Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, The New School,

will be mentored by Larry Smart at Cornell University; o Lauren Lynn, from SUNY-ESF, will be mentored by Stacy Bonos and Lindsey

Hoffman at Rutgers University; o Clara Pena De La Cruz, from Wesley College, will be mentored by Rubella

Goswami at Delaware State University; o Nicole Ramos-Solis, from the University of Puerto Rico, will be mentored by

Jude Liu at Penn State; o Karl Schneider, from Michigan State University, will be mentored by Michael

Jacobson at Penn State; o Alexander Steiner, from the University of Wisconsin, will be mentored by Jingxin

Wang at West Virginia University; o Patrick Whitehouse, from West Virginia University, will be mentored by Stephen

DiFazio at West Virginia University.


Rather than allocating three scholars to Delaware State University and one to each of the other participating institutions, one has been allocated to Delaware State University, two to West Virginia University, two to Penn State, and one each to Rutgers, ESF, and Cornell. This was done at the suggestion of Delaware State University’s NEWBio education team members.


NEWBio scholars orientation will occur during the first week of June.

Scholars will begin their residence with their host institution thereafter.

Task 7.3: Graduate distance education in bioenergy


Complete delivery of FOR 880

Market Program

2. Accomplishments

FOR 880 was completed.

Five scholarships were awarded for ABE 884 and ABE 885 during Summer Semester 2016:



o Mohit Rastogi o Tetiyana Sodol o Charles Bush o Abhinav Choundhury o Gonca Yilmaz-Celik




Market scholarships for Fall Semester 2016.



Thrust 8 Leadership, Stakeholder Involvement, Knowledge-to-Action (K2A)

and Program Evaluation NEWBio’s external evaluators' first and second year reports focused on project infrastructure, communication and collaboration. The third year evaluation is including stakeholder engagement as well as team assessments, including participation in the NEWBio annual meeting and phone interviews. The reports provide recommendations to maintain the project’s high level of momentum and team member enthusiasm, and to further engage with our external stakeholders and advisory board. Team meetings continue to play an important role in the collaborative process. We use our monthly e-newsletter (25-30 % open rate, over 500 active contacts) to relate research updates and other articles and news related to biomass and bioenergy to the project team, our advisory board, industry and agency partners, and the general public. Critical leadership discussions are ongoing with existing and potential conversion partners who are investigating potential biorefinery sites and are evaluating needs related to biomass pricing and quantities. We are actively exploring several opportunities for integrative, transdisciplinary high impact activities, using our demonstration regions as a platform.

Task 8.1: Executive and thrust conference calls


Continue monthly teleconferences for Executive Committee and Leadership teams. 2. Accomplishments

Held Executive Committee teleconferences on January 14, February 11 and March 10; Held Leadership teleconferences on January 21, February 18, and March 17. Held a total of 12 thrust and working group teleconferences to address such subjects as

the survey administration and follow-up, switchgrass harvesting, feedstock budgets, ecosystem services, and techno-economic analysis efforts.




Continue monthly scheduling for Executive Committee and Leadership team meetings.

Continue participation in thrust team meetings.



Task 8.2: All Hands teleseminars and meetings


Continue monthly teleseminar schedule to deliver project updates and share thrust progress toward goals and objectives.

Engage thrusts, especially graduate students and corporate stakeholders, in the planning and organization of our monthly teleseminars and the August annual meeting.

2. Accomplishments

Held three All Hands teleseminars on January 28, February 25 and March 24, with these presentations: ○ January 28 featured a project team meeting on our Y4 Plan of Work. Jingxin Wang,

West Virginia University, discussed NEWBio Demonstration Scenarios: Integrating TEA and LCA; Tom Richard, Penn State, followed up with NEWBio Y4 Goals and Objectives.

○ February 25 featured presentations and discussion on aspects of ecosystem services provided by bioenergy crops. Tom Richard, Penn State, presented on Bioenergy Crops and Sustainable Landscapes: Integration in Space. His talk built on work and research by Felipe Montes and Armen Kemanian, both at Penn State. Dave Mortensen, also from Penn State, discussed Opportunities for enhancing biodiversity (and associated ecosystem services) in Bioenergy Plantings.

○ March 24 focused on business development research. Evelyn Thomchick, Penn State, presented on Supply Chain Frameworks for the Biomass Industry: Risk, Business Models, and Marketing. Michael Jacobson, Penn State, discussed Understanding Regional Economic Opportunities for Biofueld Facilities.




Schedule Summer 2016 All Hands teleseminar topics/speakers.

Task 8.3: External Advisory Board meetings and strategic planning


Keep Board members informed of NEWBio meetings and field activities.

Hold a mid-year meeting.

Identify and recruit additional environmental and commercial members.



2. Accomplishments

Following upon Board recommendations from NEWBio's annual meeting and after discussions among NEWBio’s Leadership team, invitations to join NEWBio’s advisory board were accepted by:

o Kevin Comer, Antares Group Inc. o Matthew McArdle, Mesa Reduction Engineering and Processing o Michael Palko, Biomass Renewable Energy, LLC o Sarah Torkamani, ExxonMobil

An Advisory Board mid-year meeting was held via teleconference on February 5, 2016. Y4 progress-to-date was reviewed in these areas: NEWBio Demonstration Scenarios, Feedstock Harvesting, and Biomass/Bioenergy Policies affecting NEWBio activities, particularly the BCAP program, the EPA’s nascent Clean Power Plan, and Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay restoration plan. Thomas Foust, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, co-chaired the meeting with Tom Richard, Project Director.




Board members will be invited to monthly All Hands meetings and NEWBio’s Annual Meeting.

Task 8.4: Task and project evaluation


Participate in leadership and team teleconferences as part of the Year Four project evaluation.

2. Accomplishments

The evaluation team participated in Leadership and All Hands meetings. The evaluation team also participated in the February 5, 2016 Advisory Board mid-year

meeting.






• Participate in leadership and team teleconferences. • Observe team interactions. • Plan for a Communications and Collaboration Workshop during the July 2016 Annual

Meeting.



Appendix A

NEWBio Objectives



TABLE 3.

NEWBio Objectives [Revised September 2015]

I. Understand the values, legacies, and motivations that drive perceptions and decisions

about land management and business development for biomass energy and bioproduct systems.

II. Generate price‐supply curves, facility siting and forward contracting tools to provide entrepreneur and investor confidence in biomass feedstock supply.

III. Develop and deploy as industry standards sustainable production practices for perennial grasses and short rotation woody crops to improve yield 25% and reduce costs by 20%.

IV. Commercialize the current pipeline of improved willow (Salix spp) and switchgrass varieties and develop genomic tools to accelerate breeding for marginal land.

V. Develop harvest, transport, storage and preprocessing systems that increase feedstock value as biomass moves through the supply chain toward advanced bioenergy, biochemical and biomaterial refineries.

VI. Create a culture of safety in the biomass production, transport and preprocessing sectors that addresses machinery hazards and environmental risks to protect workers.

VII. Transform standards of practice for biomass value chains to greatly improve carbon paybacks, net energy yields, soil and water quality, and other ecosystem services.

VIII. Deploy safe, efficient and integrated supply chains in three demonstration regions, each providing 50 to 100 tons/day of high‐quality low‐cost sustainable biomass.

IX. Create learning communities of farmers, entrepreneurs, employees and investors informed about the best practices and emerging technologies in their biomass interest areas.

X. Provide business support services to generate at least 10 supply contracts and support over 5 new supply chain businesses to harvest, transport and preprocess biomass from SRWC and grasses.

XI. Educate students, citizens, landowners and policymakers to increase public understanding of biomass alternatives, including the social, economic, and environmental impacts of sustainable biomass systems in the Northeast.

XII. Create a culture of opportunity to support corporate commitment s for two commercial‐scale advanced biomass conversion facilities and encourage many more such commitments in the Northeast.



Appendix B

NEWBio Task List

Major Milestones and Timeline



‐‐‐‐

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Thrust 1

Human

Systems

Task 1.1

Understanding so

cial and economic constraints

OX

OX

OX

XX

XX

Task 1.2

Asse

ss demonstration sites as they pursue scale up of biomass

crop production and supply chain infrastructure

OX

OX

XO

XO

X

Thrust 2

Feedstock Im

provement for Perennial Energy Crops

Task 2.1

Breeding of non‐invasive triploid hybrids of willow displaying

hybrid vigor

OX

OO

OX

Task 2.2

Genetic basis for pest and disease resistance in willow and

perennial grasses

OX

OX

OX

OX

OX

Task 2.3

Breeding and selection of cultivars adapted for NE conditions

OX

OX

OX

OX

OX

Task 2.4

Breeding and selection of willow and switchgrass yields on

reclaim

ed mine lands

OX

OX

OX

OX

OX

Thrust 3

Harvest, Preprocessing, and Logistics of Integrated Biomass

Supply Chains

Task 3.1

Significantly reduce the harvesting cost per ton of biomass

feedstocks from will and perennial grasses in the NE

OX

OX

OX

XX

Task 3.2

Quantify the role of preprocessing for densification and

storage on transporation efficiency and downstream fuel

OX

OX

OX

OX

X

Task 3.3

Assess the storage requirem

ents and effects of long term

storage on the quality of willow and perennial grasses

OX

Task 3.4

Techno‐economic analysis, cost engineering, and LCA of

densification, storage, preprocessing, biorefinery integration

XO

XO

XO

XX

Thrust 4

System Perform

ance and Sustainability M

etrics

Task 4.1

Site‐ and crop‐specific knowledge gaps

OX

OX

Task 4.2

Benchmark Scenarios

OO

XX

Task 4.3

Regional feestock suppy and environmental assessm

ent

OO

X

Task 4.4

Biomass to biofuel LCA and multi‐criteria assessm

ents

OO

XX

O

Thrust 5

Safety and Health in

Biomass Feedstock Production and

Processing Operations

Task 5.1

Biomass Safety Program Development

XX

XX

XX

Task 5.2

Safety and Health Hazard Inventory

OO

OO

O

Task 5.3

Develop, conduct and evaluate a comprehensive safety and

health management program

OO

OO

O

2016

2017

NEW

BIO TASK

LIST AND TIM

ELINE

2012

2013

2014

2015



‐‐‐‐

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Thrust 6

Extension

Task 6.1

Integrated dem

onstration sites

OO

XO

X

Task 6.2

Biomass equipment access program

OO

OO

OO

OO

OX

Task 6.3

Small business and economic development

XO

XO

OX

OO

X

Task 6.4

Expand eXtension.org for willow and warm

‐season grasses

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

XX

Task 6.5

Interactive and innovative learning‐lessons tools

XX

OX

OO

XO

OX

X

Thrust 7

Education

Task 7.1

Secondary educator training

OO

OO

O

Task 7.2

Regional Bioenergy Scholars

OO

OO

X

Task 7.3

Graduate distance education in bioenergy

OX

Thrust 8

Leadership, Stakeholder Involvement, and Program

Evaluation

Task 8.1

Leadership, m

anagement and thrust team conference calls

O

Task 8.2

All‐Hands teleseminars and meetings

OO

OO

OO

Task 8.3

External advisory board meetings and strategic planning

OO

OO

X

Task 8.4

Task and project evaluation

XX

XX

X

Task 8.5

Administrative program evaluation

XX

XX

X

Task 8.6

Final evaluation and program report

XX

2016

2017

NEW

BIO TASK

LIST AND TIM

ELINE

2012

2013

2014

2015

Key Deliverables

Project M

ilestones

OFact Sheets, Reports, Articles, Videos

XLow Activity

High Activity

Activity Level



Appendix C

NEWBio Research Summaries

Maximizing Planted Area and Biomass Production In Shrub Willow Bioenergy Fields

EcoWillow 2.0: An Updated Tool for Financial Analysis of Willow























Appendix D

NEWBio Case Studies

ReEnergy Holdings: Offering Markets for Biomass in the Northeast

Renmatix Turns Biomass into Sugars for Industrial Use

















www.newbio.psu.edu

Tom L. Richard NEWBio Project Director

Director, Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment 100 Land & Water Research Building

The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802

814‐863‐0291 [email protected]

Timothy A. Volk

NEWBio Associate Project Director Co‐Director, SUNY Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy

346 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Syracuse, NY 13210 215‐470‐6774

[email protected]

Barbara B. Kinne NEWBio Project manager

Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment 118 Land and Water Research Building

The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802

814‐865‐1585 [email protected]

NEWBio’s vision is to build robust, scalable and sustainable value chains

for biomass energy in the Northeast United States.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discriminiation in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. To

file a complaint of discriminiation, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326‐W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250‐9410 or call 202‐720‐5964.

Documents

Northeast Woody/ Warm-Season Biomass Consortium Quarterly and Annual Reports/Y4 Progress and...The Northeast Woody/Warm-Season Biomass Consortium: Building Sustainable Value Chains