SLC Grass Energy Working Group Activities: 2010

• Held monthly meetings with a wide range of partners

• Established educational Web Page (www.slcgrassenergy.org/ )

• Organized with Rick Handley and Associates the St. Lawrence County Biomass Boot Camp at SUNY Canton - Sept 17

• Assisted SUNY Canton with organization of Sept. 25 workshop (postponed until Spring 2011)

• Applied for and received $5000 NYPA funding for biomass boot camp

• Summer events- organized outreach and education at:

St. Lawrence Power and Equipment Museum Spring and late Summer Field Days (2)

New York Power Authority Energy Fair, Massena July 24

St. Lawrence County Fair, Gouverneur August 2-8

Local Living Festival, Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm, Canton September 25

• Working with Clarkson faculty to organize data collection for Tom Lee-Jim Thew grass briquette fuel project for the 2010-2011 heating season.

• Regular communication and collaboration with SUNY Canton and CCE regarding biomass burning technology project

• Regular communication and collaboration with SLU faculty and staff regarding student projects related to grass biomass

• Continue to develop and maintain a broad base of contacts relevant to all aspects of grass pelleting in St. Lawrence County (ie. Edwards-Knox, WILD Center, Curran Renewables, Danby Land Bank, Broome Biomass, Delaware CCE project, Jerry Cherney)

• Article in North Country This Week on grass energy

• Developed a proposal for part/full time staff person.

• Continue to work towards developing a pilot project for a vertically integrated grass biomass industry in St. Lawrence County.

• Arranged for John Bootle of Renewable Energy Resources, LLC to present business proposal to Drum Country Bio Energy Group.

• Shared information about pelleting with Poulin Grain and initiated conversations about involving them in a commercial scale pelleting project

• Promoted US Forest Service pre-feasibility biomass studies.

• Regular communication with Drum Country Regional Biomass Working group.

• Created educational postcard to promote grass energy.

• Developed an educational presentation about grass biomass based on 2009 field trips to EnviroEnergy and Benton School District.

• Presented at RC&D Council Annual Meeting.

• Presented at the 19^th Annual “Managing Local Government” Conference at SUNY Potsdam on October 12.

• Organized two tours of the Edwards-Knox biomass facility, one on November 12 and the other on December 10. A minimum of 25 people attended.