A renewable energy project at a military installation in northern New York shows that biomass is a feasible power solution, the U.S. government said.

The U.S. Energy Department singled out Fort Drum as an example for how biomass could serve to address energy security needs through renewable energy solutions.

ReEnergy Holdings operates the Black River facility and the Army base and converts woody biomass into enough energy to meet Fort Drum's annual needs.

"The facility is supplying power to Fort Drum under the terms of a 20-year renewable energy supply agreement that commenced in the fall of 2014," the U.S. Energy Department said in a profile. "At the time of the agreement's signing, the facility was the largest renewable energy project in the history of the U.S. Army."

More than a decade ago, the U.S. Agriculture and Energy Departments announced nearly $17.5 million in funds for 17 biomass research projects. The grants were aimed at developing technologies to help make bio-based fuels cost-competitive with fossil fuels in the marketplace.

Under former President Barack Obama, the Department of Defense in 2014 called for the addition of 3 gigawatts worth of renewable energy to help meet the electricity demands of military facilities. The mandate was part of a broader departmental directive to use renewable energy resources for at least 25 percent of its energy consumption.

In the wake of the 2014 initiative, defense company Lockheed Martin formed a commercial line that would focus on expanding into the energy technology market.

The Energy Department said the Fort Drum operation is covered under an 11-year contract that includes arrangements with local growers to source the fuels needed for the power facility.

"This project marks a significant step forward in demonstrating the commercial viability of short-rotation woody biomass crops," the department said.

Tweet

First EPA-approved outdoor field trial for genetically engineered algae
San Diego CA (SPX) May 09, 2017
Scientists at the University of California San Diego and Sapphire Energy have successfully completed the first outdoor field trial sanctioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for genetically engineered algae. In a series of experiments funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the researchers tested a genetically engineered strain of algae in outdoor ponds under real-world condit ... read more

Related Links
Bio Fuel Technology and Application News

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only