Source: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON submitted to
SYSTEM FOR ADVANCED BIOFUELS PRODUCTION FROM WOODY BIOMASS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
EXTENDED
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0225392
Grant No.
2011-68005-30407
Project No.
WNZ-A61328
Proposal No.
2010-05080
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
A6101
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2011
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2018
Grant Year
2015
Project Director
Gustafson, R.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE
SEATTLE,WA 98195
Performing Department
Bioresource Science and Engineering
Non Technical Summary
The United States is not on track to meet the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) targets for advanced biofuels production under the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (Biofuels Interagency Working Group, 2010). Our agricultural and forestry sectors can provide feedstock to support the fledgling industry (Perlack et al., 2005). However, lack of integration across the entire supply chain has led to sub-optimal solutions and stunted commercial rollout of the advanced biofuels industry. This project, led by the University of Washington, provides a holistic approach to the establishment of a regional biofuels industry with a project that encompasses research, extension, and education components.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
100%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1230670310010%
2040670106010%
5110680202020%
1230670308010%
1230670107010%
1230670301010%
6086050302015%
6086050303015%
Knowledge Area
123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources; 204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes; 608 - Community Resource Planning and Development;

Subject Of Investigation
6050 - Communities, areas, and regions; 0680 - Other products of the forest; 0670 - Short rotation woody crops, including holiday trees;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 3100 - Management; 1060 - Biology (whole systems); 2020 - Engineering; 3020 - Education; 3030 - Information and communication; 3010 - Economics; 3080 - Sociology;
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is to ready the Pacific Northwest (PNW) for a 2015 introduction of a 100% infrastructure compatible biofuels industry that meets the region's pro-rata share of Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) targets using sustainably grown regionally appropriate woody energy crops, thereby helping to revitalize the region's agriculture/forestry sectors with establishment of a sustainable advanced biofuels industry that supports both large and small growers and brings jobs to rural communities in the region. We will complete a three prong integrated program of research, extension and education to achieve this goal. The desired actions (medium term outcomes) for the three project components are: RESEARCH - Mitigate technology risks along the entire supply chain so that a woody energy crop-based biofuels industry, which makes significant contributions towards RFS2 targets, can be built in the PNW. EXTENSION - Build a critical mass of competent small- and medium-size growers to provide the industry with timely supply of purpose-grown woody energy crops, and address the needs and concerns of stakeholders that will be impacted by an advanced biofuels industry in the PNW. EDUCATION - Build a critical mass of well-trained workers capable of filling the cross-disciplinary needs of the biofuels industry. Capstone activities for the project are: 1. GreenWood Resources, the Nation's larger grower of hybrid poplar, will establish and operate four 200-acre energy farms managed with low-input silviculture. 2. ZeaChem Inc., a leading biorefinery developer, will modify its 10 ton(dry)/day biorefinery in Boardman, OR to produce multiple 8,000 gallon truckloads of biobased gasoline and jet/diesel, which will be distributed to consumers on a test basis by Valero Energy Corporation. 3. Deployment of sustainability, extension and education programs by world-class regional institutions will lead to the establishment of a critical mass of well-trained growers and workers. Successful completion of these activities will lead to the desired actions of adequate risk reduction to allow the financing, construction, and operation of multiple biorefineries in the region.
Project Methods
This project is comprised of five interdisciplinary phases: 1. FEEDSTOCK: 1.1 Phase 1 Commercial Tree Farms: 1.1.1 Facility Siting-Land Study. 1.1.2 Establishment and Operation of Phase I Farms. 1.2 Supportive Research: 1.2.1 Exploratory Poplar and Alder Hybridization. 1.2.2 Genomics of Hybrid Poplar. 1.2.3 Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFN) Tools for Safe Poplar Genetic Transformation. 1.2.4 Endophytes for Low-Input Poplar Silviculture. 1.2.5 Near Infra-Red (NIR) Screening for Low Impact Pest Control. 1.2.6 Biomass Production Study. 1.2.7 Harvesting and Processing Equipment for Sloped Sites. The capstone activity is the successful operation of four 200-acre Phase I tree farms. 2. CONVERSION AND DISTRIBUTION: 2.1 Propanol Production: Lab Scale. 2.2 Propanol Production: Pilot Scale. 2.3 Gasoline and Distillate Production: Lab Scale. 2.4 Gasoline and Distillate Production: Integrated Operations. 2.5 Distribution and Marketing. The capstone activity is the production of multiple 8,000 gallon truckload quantities of biobased gasoline and jet/diesel, followed by trial distribution of these fuels to the consumer using existing distribution infrastructure. 3. SUSTAINABILITY: 3.1 Sustainability-Environmental. 3.2 Sustainability-Economic. 3.3 Sustainability-Data Management. The economic and environmental sustainability of producing drop-in fuels using the GreenWood Resources and ZeaChem, Inc. technologies will be assessed. A sustainability management plan that includes the metrics and methodologies to acquire and analyze sustainability data will be created. Social components of the sustainability assessment will be handled by the Extension team. 4. EXTENSION: 4.1 Social Impact Assessment and Social Marketing: 4.1.1 Speaking Engagement Conversations. 4.1.2 Social Impact Survey and Analysis. 4.2 Develop Extension Learning Systems: 4.2.1 Resource Data Base. 4.2.2 Extension Training Tools. 4.2.3 Supportive Extension Activities. The extension program will be developed in concert with the social impact portion for the sustainability assessment. 5. EDUCATION: 5.1 Assess Existing Bioenergy Courses and Degrees in Region. 5.2 Broaden Pre-College Opportunities in Bioenergy. 5.3 Enhance Community College Education Offerings. 5.4 Provide Interdisciplinary, Research-based B.S. Degree. 5.5 Enhance Professional Science Master's (PSM) Program. 5.6 Communicate and Deliver Approaches and Curricula to PNW Consortium of Community Colleges and Universities. 5.7 Assessment and Evaluation Plan. We will develop and implement a comprehensive education program that informs students and educators on the emerging biofuels industry, and develops curricula and programs to provide a well trained workforce for the industry.

Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included the USDA, legislators, policy makers, foresters, land managers, farming contractors, Native American tribes, rural communities, researchers, educators, students, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate Students: The project provided training opportunities to more than 14 undergraduate students, who have contributed in the following ways: Ran WRF-CHEM air quality models and MEGAN (a modeling interface for biogenic emissions). Trained in the operation of pyro-probe, fast pyrolysis, and GC-MS data analysis. Learned plant microbiology, molecular microbiology, and sequence analysis skills. Trained in fluorescent microscopy techniques. Learned survey administration and qualitative research methods: interviewee recruitment, interview moderation, transcription, and analysis. Performed enzyme assays, soil pH and LOI organic matter determinations. Planted poplar and learned about plant symbiosis. Community College Students:The project continued to graduate students from project-related programs and supported further training and development in the following ways: Helped three students pass WA Ecology Wastewater Operator-in-Training Exam (bringing total to date from the program to 14). Kept 12 more students on track for graduation from the AAAS in Plant Operations program by June 2017. Helped recent graduate apply to and obtain employment with Portland General Electric as plant equipment operator. Issued the Bioproducts Certificate to two students from Bellingham Technical College's Process Technology program. Helped strengthen future training and development opportunities for WWCC students by building summer internship experiences with Portland General Electric, Avista, the Walla Walla Drinking Water Treatment plant, Lamb Weston, ZeaChem, REG Grays Harbor, Pacific Ethanol, Cott Beverage, USACE, and Boise Paper/PCA. Brought Plant Operations, Electrical, and Wind students to Hydro Research Foundation's Hiring for Hydro event in Portland so students could practice job seeking skills. Took 15 students to the annual regional American Water Works Association conference and presented three posters. Advised five students to complete summer CDL training to enhance career prospects. Graduate Students:The project has been a strong platform for graduate students to advance their education and to conduct research as part of their graduate degrees. The project provided training and professional development to more than 2 dozen graduate students, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: Learned microbiology and molecular biology skills. Learned genomic analysis skills. Prepared samples from the field for mass spectroscopy analysis. Trained in research design, various methods of observation, and data processing in human dimensions of natural resource management. Trained in genotyping by sequence capture methodologies. Conduct association analysis with GWAS. Trained in enzyme analysis and gas measurements. Developed analysis and reporting skills by summarizing data sets and preparing manuscripts for submission to peer reviewed journals. Gained oral presentation experience through designing/presenting posters. Gained teaching experience as Graduate Teaching Assistants for bioenergy courses. Mentored undergraduates in research activities. Worked on catalyst synthesis, oligomerization runs, and product analysis. Participated in program and curricula development. Practiced skills such as depot modeling, stochastic modeling, model integration and EPIC calibration. Post-Doctorates: The project continued to provide training and professional development to post-doctorate researchers, who have contributed in the following ways: Assisted with lab and project management. Worked on DNA constructs and gene expression. Performed literature analyses. Helped prepare manuscripts. Worked on social feasibility and impact and assessment. Performed poplar tissue culture. Worked on statistical and genetic analyses of phenotypic and genotypic data. Helped present work on bioconversion of poplar coppice. Updated SWAP-GBSM integrated model and conducted stochastic analysis. Compared product yields of poplar samples in fast pyrolysis. Investigated thermochemical conversion of feedstock. Received training in qualitative data analyses and reporting. Developed expertise in analysis of soil biology and use of Hydrus 1D to calculate water budget. Research Staff or Teachers: Teachers were trained via SMILE teacher workshop for 56 K-12 teachers from rural, underserved communities. The workshop included two, four-hour sessions devoted specifically to bioenergy around Exoplant 1061. Research staff were trained across all project teams. Training involved techniques for various analyses such as preparing leaf and wood samples for phenotypic analysis, and leading ASPEN modeling and techno-economic analysis. Researchers worked on ethylene oligomerization research and tools for poplar genetic transformation. Staff also had opportunities to attend educational and networking events such as the Wastewater and Stormwater Education Summit at the Brightwater Center and WSU "Navigating the Difference" training in Seattle. Courses and Course Development: Designed new BioInnovation curriculum for recruitment of more business students into the Bioenergy minor. Offered the following courses at OSU: BRR350 Introduction to Regional Bioenergy HC407 Bioresource Sciences BRR450 Interdisciplinary Research BRR325 Energy Technology and Social Change Offered the following courses to WWCC students on-campus and/or online: EST104 Intro. to Plant Operations/Energy Literacy EST106 Process Control Instrumentation and Troubleshooting WTM215 Basic Fluid Dynamics of Piping Systems EST201 Plant Operations: Process Improvement EST202 Bio-chemical Conversion EST105 Applied Thermodynamics for Unit Operations WTM205 Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations EST109 Job Seeking Skills Advanced Instrumentation and SCADA Process Control Instrumentation and Troubleshooting Water Quality and Environmental Chemistry Applied Controls and Operations (senior capstone) Resource Recovery Operations How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our researchers continued outreach activities to students, teachers, landowners, policymakers, and the general public. GWR hosted two field visits for Oregon State University at one of the AHB demonstration farms--the first was for a group of Summer Bridge students and the second was for students of the university's Bioenergy Minor program. Brian Stanton gave an interview to the Albany-Democrat Herald about the harvest of the Jefferson demonstration farm, and an article titled "Poplar Trees Being Used in Biofuel Study" appeared in the newspaper's February 22, 2017 edition. Meetings with The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde (CTGR) were held to discuss future interest in the region's bioeconomy, and members of the CTGR attended the energy summit in August 2017. The SMILE program has been a vehicle to disseminate bioenergy curriculum throughout Oregon. Teachers participating in the program have advanced their education in the core knowledge and processes of the bioenergy field. In turn, they have taught the bioenergy curriculum to many students who have shared the material with their parents. OSU provided bioenergy outreach to approximately 300 student, parent and community member attendees during events at local elementary schools. Outreach to middle school students involved the OSU Precollege Programs Middle School Visits program. In addition, bioenergy themed activities engaged several schools and 120 students. A game was developed to communicate results of the program to high school students and assembled for the SMILE 2017 High School Challenge for 115 students (http://agsci.oregonstate.edu/bioenergy-k-12-education/bioenergy-lessons). Our YouTube channel now contains 25 lectures on bioenergy and biofuels. Focus groups with members of the community, such as Latino agricultural workers, worked to provide information about poplar management and the impacts of a biofuels industry in the region. Members of the Latino communities were also reached via a steward training program at WSU in which eight Promotores de Energia provided bioenergy lessons in Spanish. The AHB website continued to provide information about the project and industry, containing audience-specific pages, a collection of resources, and updated news and events in language that can be easily understood by the general public. In total, the website has been used by 19,946 users for a total of 100,779 pageviews. To date, 16 policymaker briefs have been released via the Ruckelshaus Center, aimed to foster collaborative public policy. Webinars allowed participants from across the country to engage with the speakers and the Extension team. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Sustainability and Education teams have concluded their involvements in the project during this reporting period. Extension will continue accomplishing their goals in the following ways: Develop a case study for a small biorefinery in Washington or Oregon. Complete and publish the Grower's Guide and the Poplar/Willow Roadmap. Continue expanding network of wastewater professionals and gaining a clearer understanding of how and if growing poplars fits with their operations. Publish articles and factsheets based on stakeholder research. Update the AHB overview video. Develop infosheets on AHB academic publications and energy literacy topics. Create a harvesting video. Run webinars. Release newsletter and policy maker briefs. Prepare website for long-term archival. Publish submitted WSU/PNW Fact Sheets. Feedstock (GWR) will continue to work on the following: Manage remaining demonstration sites for removal of poplar plants. Supervise and document the restoration of poplar trees farm back to their pre-project states. Provide biomass samples from the last harvest cycle for characterization of morphology and composition, and assessment of bioconversion performance. Continue to develop path towards commercialization of growing purpose grown poplar wood for fuels and chemicals. Conversion will continue to work on the following: Assess bioconversion of different clones from final poplar harvest. Determine the efficacy de-ashing as an alternative to overliming to remove fermentation inhibitors and improve process yields. Complete analysis of alternate methodologies for treated biorefinery waste including use of poplar tree farms as part of the treatment system. Assess environmental impact and economics of co-locating a biorefinery in Lewis Co WA with the TransAlta power plant. The potential to use poplar grown for multiple ecosystem services will be assessed in the analysis.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Feedstock The Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest project (AHB) is demonstrating the economic viability of poplar as a Pacific Northwest (PNW) feedstock. We established five tree farms: four in the PNW and one in the Southeast. GreenWood, in conjunction with the University of Washington (UW), submitted a proposal to the Department of Energy for funding to continue operation of some demonstration farms. Unfortunately, this proposal was not funded so the future of the tree farms is in question. Clonal screening trials and biomass productivity plots were measured. Biomass samples were distributed to multiple labs for analyses and conversion. Efficiency of harvest operations was quantified; performance of the New Holland forage harvester with a modified head for harvesting trees was excellent. Soil and water studies generally showed no difference between poplar and proximate reference fields; location and time of year had a greater impact on soil and water quality. The team advanced projects to improve silviculture and long-term sustainability of feedstock plantings. Highlights of that work: survey of wood boring insect pests and the identification of a hybridized clone with superior resistance; moisture content and specific gravity of stem samples determined. Conversion We provided operating data and technologies to enable construction of a commercial facility producing ethanol, organic acids, and lignin in the near term and drop-in hydrocarbon fuels in the future. We completed several enzymatic hydrolysis runs using poplar feedstock to produce material for fermentation trials using a new 3,000-gallon vessel. Pretreatments of whole sugar beet were run to optimize sucrose hydrolysis. Yeast was able to ferment all sugars produced in non-ensiled beet juices, with and without removal of solids. Quantities of ethanol rich broth were produced and distilled, successfully producing ethanol required for ethanol dehydration. Ethylene to jet-fuel trials with a newly developed catalyst showed good conversion yields are obtainable but there are issues with catalysis poisoning compounds in dehydrated ethanol that need to be addressed. We ran comparisons and analyses of harvested poplar samples including: evaluation of bio-oil produced from poplar fast pyrolysis, comparison of energy recovery rate in converting short rotation coppice poplar between biochemical and thermochemical conversion, and chemical and physical composition analysis of clones. Some findings were: 9-15% higher sugar content in 3-year-old vs. 2-year-old hybrid poplar clones during bioconversion, improved monomeric sugar yield by 147 kg/tonne of biomass with leaf removal, economic analysis showing a minimum required selling price of $1.69/gallon to cover operating cost of no-leaf coppice (NLC). Sustainability We developed tools to assess the environmental performance and economic viability of enterprises that use purpose grown poplar wood to produce fuels and chemicals. We ran EPIC simulations at 1km spatial resolution for croplands in Oregon to look at conversion of current cropping systems to hybrid poplar cultivation. Models of cropping systems included: winter wheat-fallow, spring wheat-fallow, winter wheat-spring wheat-fallow and alfalfa. The soil carbon change results suggest cultivation of hybrid poplar in place of conventional cropping systems decreases soil carbon loss significantly. Magnitude of change varies with location but average for winter wheat - fallow system was 9.4 kg ha-1 y-1 while poplar cultivation reduces the loss to 4.1 kg ha-1 y-1. We assessed crop displacement using SWAP models for the states of OR, WA, and CA under three incumbent crop value scenarios: Low (80% of default value), Medium (100%), High (120%). As expected, the adoption of poplar over existing crops would be more aggressive as the incumbent crop values were lowered, or vice versa, with considerable variability across counties. Analysis of different scenarios for producing acetic acid was refined. Results show that some methods of producing bio-based acetic acid have much better global warming potential than the petrol base product. Specifically, using an amine to recover the acid will lower the steam demand and thus lower life cycle GWP. Some bio-based processes are even carbon neutral. We mapped out the available land suitable for growing poplar near the Centralia power plant. It appears that there is considerable appropriate land for which growing biofuel feedstock and planting poplar would be desirable. We are actively exploring the potential of coupling the AltaVista power plant with a biorefinery running on poplar being grown for a variety of ecosystem services. Extension We developed all AHB outreach materials and worked with each project team to ensure thoroughly integrated programs. We reached out to all potential AHB stakeholders, including landowners, policy makers, and the general public, to help them make informed decisions. Highlights from this reporting period include: developing policymakers' briefing papers, creating informational videos, hosting webinars, conducting energy literacy outreach for Latino Energy Ambassador program, assessing the needs of Latino agricultural workers, submitting factsheets, hosting field tours, reaching a general audience through social media and websites. Education The Agricultural Center of Excellence and Oregon State University (OSU) have delivered sustainable bioenergy education at the K-12, 2-year associate, 4-year undergraduate, graduate, and community/public levels, thereby contributing to a well-trained workforce. K-12: We developed bioenergy, biofuels and sustainability-based lessons tied to Next Generation Science Standards. We shared these with more than 350 teachers across 6 states targeting rural and underserved communities, playing an important role in introducing these populations to bioenergy research. We also created learning curricula for Summer Bridge into College programs, serving students from underserved communities and first generation college students entering OSU. Programs and lessons will be sustained beyond the life of the grant. Associate degree: A technical training curriculum at Walla Walla Community College readies students for employment by multiple bio-based regional industries. 20 students have graduated from the Plant Operations degree program and 5 have earned certificates. 22 of the 25 graduates are employed in relevant careers; the other three are finishing a second degree or interviewing for employment. Four-year college degree: OSU implemented a new interdisciplinary, research-based Bioenergy Minor. The program has students from 7 different colleges, 18 graduates and 28 currently enrolled students. Several classes are also available online. A total of 125 students have been involved in bioenergy courses. We are working with OSU's College of Business to establish a Bioinnovation track. Graduate level: 13 PhD students and four master's students participated in bioenergy education programming at OSU. Their contributions were in five areas: curriculum research; teaching; developing courses and materials; primary science and engineering research; and program assessment.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Grzyb, K., Snyder, W., & Field, K.G. (2017, in press) Learning to write like a scientist: A writing-intensive course for microbiology/health science students. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Grzyb, K., B. D. Hartman, and K. G. Field. (2017, Accepted). Determining Essential Components of a College-level Bioenergy Curriculum Using the Delphi Technique. Renewable Energy.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2017 Citation: Grzyb, K., Li, Z., & Field, K.G. (2017, in review). An interdisciplinary, research-based minor in bioenergy. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2017 Citation: Lesnik, K. L. & Liu, H. (2017, in review). Predicting Microbial Fuel Cell Biofilm Communities and Bioreactor Performance using Artificial Neural Networks. Environmental Science & Technology.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2017 Citation: Li, C., Lesnik, K. L. & Liu, H. (2017, in review). Conductive Properties of Methanogenic Biofilms. Bioelectrochemistry.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Grzyb, K., Hartman, B.D., & Field, K.G. (2017, in press). Comparing industry and academia priorities in bioenergy education: A Delphi study. International Journal of Sustainable Energy.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Grzyb, K., & Field, K.G. Education for Bioenergy and the Bioeconomy: Current Scope and Future Vision. Journal of Sustainability Education., (in preparation)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Brunner, M., Russ-Eft, D., Well, J., & Field, K.G. Teacher workshops: Facilitating learning through a community of practice. International Journal of Human Resource Development. (in preparation)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Halsey Randall, M., Brunner, M., Robichaux, L., Russ-Eft, D., & Field, K.G. Sustainable programs in sustainable bioenergy education. (in preparation)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Brunner, M., Well, J., Russ-Eft, D., & Field, K.G. Supporting STEM learners' transition to college: A project-based summer bridge program. Journal of First-Year Experience & Students in Transition. (in preparation)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Brunner, M., Lesnik, K., Russ-Eft, D., Well, J., & & Field, K.G. Using a board game to increase engagement in sustainable bioenergy education. Connected Science Learning.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Describing arthropod communities in hybrid poplar biofuel plantations, R. Andrew Rodstrom, Tim Waters, and Bill Turner (manuscript in preparation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Plantation density effects on hybrid poplar biomass production. Jesus Espinoza, Rich Shuren, Jose Zerpa and Brian Stanton (manuscript in preparation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Genetic Parameter Estimates for Coppiced Hybrid Poplar Bioenergy Trials, Carlos Gantz, Brian Stanton, Rich Shuren, Jesus Espinoza, Luke Murphy (manuscript in preparation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: A Biomass Production Cost Calculator: A Decision Tool for Farmers and Investors, Richard A. Shuren, Gwen Busby, Brian J. Stanton (manuscript in preparation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: The economics of dedicated hybrid poplar biomass plantations in the western U.S. Chudy RP, Busby GM, Binkley CS (manuscript submitted to Biomass and Bioenergy).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Growth and yield of monoclonal production blocks through two cutting cycles in the Pacific Northwest, Jesus Espinoza, Brian Stanton, Rich Shuren, Jose Zerpa (manuscript in preparation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Selwitz, JL, Ahring , B, Garcia-Perez, M , & Morrison, J. 2017. Engineering an Associate Degree-level STEM workforce Education Curriculum. Community College Journal of Research and Practice 41: 1-17.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Inter-specific Hybridization of two endemic Pacific Northwest alder, Alnus rubra and A. rhombifolia, Brian Stanton, Kathy Haiby, Carlos Gantz, Rich Shuren (manuscript in preparation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rapid mass propagation of hybrid poplar clones for bioenergy production, Brian Stanton, Kathy Haiby, Rich Shuren, Carlos Gantz and Luke Murphy (manuscript in preparation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Development of species specific nuclear SSR markers used to evaluate a controlled hybridization program between red (Alnus rubra) and white (Alnus rhombifolia) alders, Lianna J. Johnson, Kathy Haiby, Carlos Gantz, Di Wu, Teodora Best, T. Casey Weathers, Alex Stanish, Brian Stanton, and John E. Carlson (manuscript in preparation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Strauss, SH, Jones KN, Lu H, Petit JD, Klocko AL, Betts MG, Brosi BJ, Fletcher RJ, and Needham, MD. 2017. Reproductive Modification in Forest Plantations: Impacts on Biodiversity and Society New Phytologist 213:1000-1021.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Strauss SH, Sax JK. 2016. Ending Event-Based Regulation of GMO Crops. Nature Biotechnology. 34(5):474-477.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Strauss, S.H., Ma, C., Ault, K., and Klocko, A.L. 2016. Lessons from two decades of field trials with genetically modified trees in the USA: Biology and regulatory compliance. In: Biosafety of Transgenic Forest Trees. (C. Vettori, F. Gallarado, H. Haggman, V. Kazana, F. Migliacci, G. Pilate and M. Fladung, eds.) Springer. 101-126.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Klocko, A.L., Brunner, A.M., Huang, J., Meilan, R, Lu, H., Ma, C., Morel, A., Zhao, D., Ault, K., Dow, M., Shevchenko, O., and Strauss, S.H. 2016. Containment of transgenic trees by suppression of LEAFY Nature Biotechnology 34:918-922
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Lu, H., Klocko, A.L., Dow, M, Ma, C., Amarasinghe, V. and Strauss, S.H. 2016. Low frequency of zinc-finger nuclease-induced mutagenesis in Populus" Molecular Breeding 36 DOI: 10.1007/s11032-016-0546-z
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dou, C., Chandler, D., Resende, F., and Bura, R., (2017) Fast pyrolysis of short rotation coppice poplar: an investigation in thermochemical conversion of a realistic feedstock for the biorefinery, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, in press
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dou, C., Marcondes, W. F., Djaja, J. E., Bura, R., and Gustafson, R., (2017), Can we use short rotation coppice poplar for sugar based biorefinery feedstock? Bioconversion of 2-year-old poplar grown as short rotation coppice, Biotechnology for Biofuels, 10:144,
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Ewanick, S, and Bura, R., (2016) A new approach to using dried hybrid poplar as a potential commodity feedstock for sugar production, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 4 (8), 4378-4384
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Schmitt, E., Bura, R., and Gustafson, R., (2016) Kinetic modeling of Moorella thermoacetica growth on single and dual substrate systems, Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 39(10)1567-1575
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Morales-Vera, R., Bura, R., and Gustafson., R., (2016) Handling heterogeneous hybrid poplar particle sizes for sugar production, Biomass and Bioenergy, 91, 126133
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Townsend, Patricia A., Haider, Nora M., Asah, Stanley T., and Zobrist, Kevin W. 2016. Extension Professionals Perspectives on Supporting Feedstock Production for Biofuels: Concerns, Challenges, and Opportunities. Journal of Extension 54(6). https://www.joe.org/joe/2016december/pdf/JOE_v54_6rb1.pdf.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Vajzovic Suko, A., and Bura, R., (2016) Enhanced xylitol and ethanol yields by fermentation inhibitors in steam pretreated lignocellulosic biomass, Industrial Biotechnology, 12(3), 187-194
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Baral, N. and Rabotyagov, S. 2017. How much are wood-based cellulosic biofuels worth in the Pacific Northwest? Ex-ante and ex-post analysis of local peoples willingness to pay. Forest Policy and Economics 83:99-106.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bandaru, V., Pei, Y., B.M. Jenkins. (2016). Impact of biases in gridded weather datasets on biomass estimates of short rotation woody cropping systems. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology: 233.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hannon, E. R., R. A. Rodstrom, J. M. Chong, and J. J. Brown. 2017. Carpenter Moth  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS256E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS256E/FS256E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Carlson, B. R., R. A. Rodstrom, and J. J. Brown. 2017. Cottonwood Leaf Beetle  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS278E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS278E/FS278E%20Cottonwood%20Leaf%20Beetle.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Brown, J. J. and R. A. Rodstrom. 2017. Fall Webworm  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS275E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS275E/FS275E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rodstrom, R. A. and J. J. Brown. 2017. Forest and Western Tent Caterpillars  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS276E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS276E/FS276E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Del Pozo-Valdivia, A. I. and J. J. Brown. 2017. Gluphisia Septentrionis Walker  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS271E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS271E/FS271E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rodstrom, R. A. and J. J. Brown. 2017. Lace Bugs  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS274E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS274E/FS274.pdf.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Neidbala,J. C., R. A. Rodstrom, and J. J. Brown. 2017. Pale Green Weevil  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS273E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS273E/FS273E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Brown, J. J. and R. A. Rodstrom. 2017. Poplar Satin Moth  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS277E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS277E/FS277E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hannon, E. R. and J. J. Brown. 2017. Poplar-and-Willow Borer  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS267E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS267E/FS267E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Del Pozo-Valdivia, A. I. and J. J. Brown. 2017. Speckled Green Fruitworm  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS270E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS270E/FS270E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rodstrom, R. A. and J. J. Brown. 2017. Tenlined June Beetle  Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS272E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS272E/FS272E.pdf.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Kittelson, N. T. and J. J. Brown. 2017. Western Poplar Clearwing Moth Insect Pest Management in Hybrid Poplars Series. Washington State University Extension Fact Sheet FS266E. http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/FS266E/FS266E.pdf.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Gowan, C, Kar S., and Townsend, P. 2017. Assessing Washington State Landowner Interest in and Concern Toward Growing Bioenergy Crops. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Townsend et al. 2017. Poplar/Willow Roadmap. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Townsend et al. 2017. Poplar/Willow Case Studies: 6 manuscripts submitted for publication.
  • Type: Other Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Heppenstall et al. 2017. Wood Energy Fact Sheet. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Haider et al. 2017. Poplar Growers Guide  Four chapters of the manuscript have been submitted for publication.
  • Type: Other Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Gowan, C., Kar S., and Townsend, P. 2017. Growing Poplar Trees for Biofuels: What do landowners in Washington State have to say? Manuscript submitted for publication as WSU Fact Sheet.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Haider et al. 2018. Poplar Growers Guide  12 chapters in progress
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Townsend et al. 2018. Perspectives of Latino poplar agriculture workers in the Pacific Northwest
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Haider et al. 2018. Bioenergy and policy makers: What do they know about bioenergy and how to inform them
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Townsend et al. 2018. Environmental professionals concerns and views of bioenergy and bioproducts
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Hart et al. 2018. Social acceptance and feasibility of a poplar biorefinery in Lewis County, WA
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Gowan et al. 2018. Impacts of the poplar environmental summits and conferences in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Gowan et al. 2018. Impacts of the Nation Extension Energy Summit: Perspectives after one and three years.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Townsend, P. A., N. Haider, and K. W. Zobrist. 2016. Using Ecosystem Services to Build a Hardwood Biofuels Program. A Community on Ecosystem Services (ACES) Conference. Jacksonville, FL. December 5-9, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Simmons, R. 2017. Poplar and Stormwater Management. Climate Impacts to Water Conference. Skamania, WA. January 25-26, 2017.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Busby P, Crutsinger G, and G Newcombe. 2016. �Competition in the leaf microbiome: a mesophyll parasite limits antagonists of a competitor. �New Phytologist 209: in preparation.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hart et al. 2017. Ethanol in the Pacific Northwest. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hart et al. 2017. Biodiesel in the Pacific Northwest. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Fraser S, Busby P, Ridout M, and G Newcombe. �2016. �Populus trichocarpa is a wild host for regional crop pathogens: the case of a Fusarium pathogen of wheat. �PLOS ONE: in preparation.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Fraser S, Busby P, and G Newcombe. �2016. �Valsa leaf blight of Populus trichocarpa, east of the Cascades. �Plant Disease: in preparation.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Parker, N.C, B-L Yeo, L. Yuanzhe, J. Merz, V.Bandaru, and B.M. Jenkins. 2017. Scaling large regional sustainability analysis to local scale for detailed investigation of poplar feedstock biorefineries in the US Pacific Northwest. Biomass and Bioenergy. (In preparation).?
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Merz, J., V. Bandaru, Q. Hart, N.C. Parker and B.M. Jenkins. 2017. An online application for decision support in siting hybrid-poplar woody biomass-to-jet fuel facilities in Pacific Northwest region. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. (In revision).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Bandaru, V, C. Jones, P. N. V.R Koutilya, A. Reddy, B. Stanton, M. Coleman, R. Gustafson and B.M. Jenkins. 2017. Modeling regional environmental impacts with cultivation of hybrid poplar as a short rotation crop. GCB-Bioenergy (In preparation).


Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included the USDA, legislators, policy makers, foresters, land managers, farming contractors, Native American tribes, rural communities, researchers, educators, students, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate Students: The project provided training to more than 14 undergraduate students, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: Assisted with data management and analysis of the large scale leaf isoprene emission assessment. Ran WRF-CHEM air quality models and MEGAN (a modeling interface for biogenic emissions). Mentored a new undergraduate in the lab who is participating in an NSF funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in Atmospheric Chemistry at PSU. Trained in the operation of pyro-probe, fast pyrolysis, and GC-MS data analysis. Learned plant microbiology, molecular microbiology, and sequence analysis skills. Trained in fluorescent microscopy techniques. Learned survey administration and qualitative research methods: interviewee recruitment, interview moderation, transcription, and analysis. Perfomed enzyme assays, soil pH and LOI organic matter determinations. Planted poplar and touring our experiments in order to learn more about plant symbiosis. The project also provided five undergraduate internships: ZeaChem hired a summer intern from the Biological Engineering program at Oregon State University, and he assisted the Boardman staff with projects on enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. ZeaChem hired a summer intern from the University of Washington's Bioresource Science and Engineering program. He assisted with enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Dr. Greg Rorrer hired two interns from Oregon State University to assist with his research. Novozymes hired an intern from Oregon State University. Community College Students: The project provided training and professional development to more than 15 community college students. Growth in number of self-motivated and hard-working students from 3 (Y1) to 7 (Y2) to 18 (Y3). Source is good word-of-mouth reputation emanating from students in the program to their friends, peers, and families, in addition, to the outreach we have done with industry partners. The project also provided several internships: ZeaChem hired a summer intern from the Industrial Operations program at Walla Walla Community College. He assisted the Boardman staff with pretreatment operations and plant maintenance. Students engaged in Cooperative Work Experience at Boise Paper and Imperium Renewables (REG). Students hired for summer internships with: Pendleton Public Works, ConAgra, ZeaChem, Pacific Ethanol, Kennewick Drinking Water, and Walla Walla Wastewater. Graduate Students: The project provided training and professional development to 27 graduate students, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: Learned microbiology and molecular biology skills. Learned genomic analysis skills. Prepared samples from the field for mass spectroscopy analysis. Trained on research design, various methods of observation, and data processing in human dimensions of natural resource management. Trained in genotyping by sequence capture methodologies. Trained in enzyme analysis and gas measurements. Developed an approach for analysis and reporting of nutrient leaching results. Developed analysis and reporting skills by summarizing data sets and preparing manuscripts for submission to peer reviewed journals. Worked on CRISPR CAS constructs, transformation, and analysis, and on the recombinase excision study. Worked on ZFN transformation and analysis, and analysis of timing of floral opening and floral morphology in field grown trees. Presented research results through designing/presenting posters, teaching experience as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, and oral presentation experience. Gained teaching experience as Graduate Teaching Assistants for bioenergy courses. Mentored undergraduates in research activities. Worked on catalyst synthesis, oligomerization runs, and product analysis. Maintained communication with ZeaChem for information needed for scaling up the conversion process. Trained undergraduate students on catalysis synthesis, oligomerization runs, and product analysis. The project has been a strong platform for graduate students to advance their education and to conduct research as part of their graduate degrees. Graduate students have worked on different aspects of the project that include 1) depot modeling 2) stochastic modeling 3) model integration 4) EPIC calibration. Post-Doctorates: The project provided training and professional development to 8 post-doctorate researchers, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: Assisted with lab and project management. Worked on DNA constructs, gene expression, and flower morphology. Performed literature analyses. Worked on social feasibility and impact assessment. Research Staff: The project provided training and professional development to more than 7 research staff, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: Worked on survey administration and qualitative research methods: interviewee recruitment, interview moderation, transcription, and analysis. Attended the Environmental Systems Research Institute User Conference. Worked on RNA extraction and qPCR. Worked on field plantation phenotyping. Assisted with fieldwork and was thus trained on measuring soil respiration, erosion monitoring and lysimeter sampling. Attended training sessions on website development and management platform. Courses and Course Development: Oregon State University developed, refined, and taught the following courses: BRR 299 Energy Education and Outreach. BRR 325 Energy Technology and Social Change. BRR 350 Introduction to Regional Bioenergy. BRR 450 Interdisciplinary Research Bioenergy Focus. HC 407 Bioresource Sciences. WSE473 Bioenergy and Environmental Impact was improved to better complement other bioenergy courses. Continued working with the OSU open campus program to transition elements of the Ecampus BRR 350 class to a free online format that can be used by a variety of interested end users such as teachers, industry professionals, and other universities. This will broaden the overall dissemination of our bioenergy course material. Working with OSU Ecampus program to roll out BRR 350 into a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Adaptation of BRR450 to ecampus is currently under progress to further extending our bioenergy offerings available to individuals outside of OSU. Walla Walla Community College developed, refined, and taught the following courses: EST 104: Introduction to Bioenergy and Bioproducts EST 105: Process Support Systems / Applied Thermodynamics EST 106: Plant Equipment and Controls / Process Level and Flow Control / Instrumentation EST 109: Orientation to Energy and Allied Industries EST 201: Plant Operations EST 202: Bio-Chemical Conversion of Biomass EST 203: Thermo-Chemical Conversion EST 204: Solid Waste Management EST 234: Survey of Technical Equipment for Processing (STEP) (Summer continuing education program) EST 285: Advanced Instrumentation EST 292C: Leadership AGPR 121: Biomass Feedstock Management WTM 190: Water Quality and Environmental Chemistry WTM 205: Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations WTM 215: Basic Fluid Dynamics for Piping Systems WTM 221: Pump Fundamentals Wastewater Operations Walla Walla Community College also submitted course sequence to SBCTC to secure approval for associate of applied science transfer degree so Plant Operations students can pursue a bachelor's degree through UW, UI, OSU, WSU, and/or other institutions. In addition, they submitted a program approval request to SBCTC for Certificate in Bioproducts to add pathways for completion for: 1) on-line students through partner community and technical colleges (CTC); and 2) industry partners' incumbent workers who seek continuing education/training. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our researchers have continued outreach activities to high school and college students, as well as to the general public. Some highlights: GreenWood Resources: Rick Stonex, Mark Shraeder, Jesus Espinoza, Rich Shuren, and Kate McBurney participated in the field tours at various demonstration sites. Brian Stanton made a presentation to the Project Director's meeting in Denver Colorado on progress made in the feedstock program. Brian Stanton presented a March seminar on "Science in Action" to three third grade classes at Jackson Elementary School in Hillsboro Oregon. Oregon State University: Developed bioenergy materials and activities for Middle School and High School use, targeted to classroom use as well as informal settings such as science clubs and school science nights. Teachers in rural communities delivered the information in after-school club settings focused on STEM literacy, college access, and career information for historically underrepresented youth. 413 students from various high schools and middle schools have gone through AHB education programs. Over 50 teachers participated in SMILE teacher workshops and served as afterschool science club advisors. Revamped four of the 26 bioenergy lessons into a new format designed to better meet the needs of middle and high school teachers. These revamped lessons were presented at NSAT conferences around the Pacific Northwest and at a SMILE teacher workshop. Educator feedback was incorporated, and teachers were identified who could help with the testing the new versions of the lessons. Delivered a two-week residential Bioenergy Bridge into College program to 15 students in 2015. Students were underrepresented minorities, first generation college students, and/or from rural and underserved high schools. Delivered a guest lecture discussing various aspects of bioenergy with an honors college class at OSU. The lecture covered solventogenic fermentation, anaerobic digestion, and syngas fermentation. 10 undergraduates attended. University of Idaho: Participated in a field day organized by AHB Extension. Regularly spoke with local residents and farmers during measurements. We describe our efforts and share with them specific extension products. For example, two different parties were interested in the harvester used in AHB after we described its capabilities. They were directed to AHB overview videos that included descriptions of the project and videos of the harvester in action. University of Washington: Chang Dou participated in the graduate student spotlight interview, which is published on the Advanced Hardwood Biofuels web page: http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/graduate-student-spotlight-chang-dou/ Dr. Doty presented the project to members of the general public at a Science Café in Olympia, Washington (Oct 13, 2015). Dr. Doty met with UC San Diego Biology Department faculty members, Prof. Schmeltz and Huffaker, providing protocols and syllabus for them to begin a new plant microbiology lab class at UCSD. Doty met with Dr. Walter Goldstein of the Mandaamin Institute with whom we will collaborate for testing the poplar endophytes on maize. Walla Walla Community College: The Agriculture Center of Excellence at Walla Walla Community College: Conducted outreach with local radio stations. Initiated discussions with First Fruits for WWCC Workforce Education to provide contract continuing education on-site for their workers in Spanish. Led talks with Portland General Electric to follow-up on their interest for WWCC Energy Systems Technology (Electrical and Plant Operations programs) to provide contract training during their Apprenticeship program and for continuing education for seasoned Operators, Electricians, and Maintenance workers. Hosted representatives from ConAgra, Portland General Electric, City of Richland Wastewater Treatment, US Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, Avista, PGE, Valley Irrigation, AgEnergy, Portland General Electric, City of Kennewick Wastewater Treatment, US Army Corps of Engineers, Doyle Electric, Boise Paper, and City of Pendleton Public Works on campus at WWCC for tours and presentations to students. These representatives talked with students about their industry sectors and job openings; and reviewed resumes and conducted mock interviews. Transferred participation in NW Power Utility Training Consortium to PNW Center of Excellence for Clean Energy based at Centralia Community College. The Extension Team at Washington State University: The team engaged in significant outreach efforts including the following events, social media messages, and display booths: Events: Washington State University 4-H Teen Conference - 6/29/15. Hayden "Poplar for Biofuels" Field Tour - 6/30/2015 (24 attendees) UW Student Field Tour at Pilchuck Demonstration Site - 7/16/15 Energy Literacy and Bioenergy Teacher Workshop - 7/21/15 Pilchuck "Poplar for Biofuels" Field Tour - 8/17/15 (32 attendees) Jefferson "Poplar for Biofuels" Field Tour - 9/15/15 (26 attendees) Poplar Farms as a Wastewater Management Tool: Planting Strategies to Align with Potential Markets - 10/15/15 (42 attendees) UW Student Field Tour at Pilchuck Demonstration Site - 11/6/15 (16 attendees) Hosted National Working Forum on Poplar and Willow, 4/11/16-4/13/16. 59 participants attended from across the U. S. and included one keynote speaker from Ireland. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/poplar-willow-forum/ K-12 Energy Literacy outreach to 700 3rd-8th grade students Snohomish County Energy Stewards training Snohomish County Energy Stewards - Bioenergy Field Tour. The group visited the Pilchuck Field Tour and the Qualco Anaerobic Digester in Monroe, WA. Clarksburg "Poplar for Biofuels" Field Tour. 5/10/16. Jefferson "Poplar for Biofuels" Field Tour. 5/15/16. Pilchuck "Poplar for Biofuels" Field Tour. 5/31/16. Social media: Over the course of the past year: Posted more than 157 Facebook posts. Total reach 6,689. 1,221 engaged users who liked, clicked, or shared. 48 new followers. Released 143 Twitter tweets. 313 retweets, favorites, and mentions. 139 new followers. Display booths: Evergreen State Fair, 9/1/15. Monroe, WA. Poplar Farms as a Wastewater Management Tool: Planting Strategies to Align with Potential Markets. 10/15/15. Vancouver, WA. Washington Energy Future Conference 11/2/15. Seattle, WA. Focus on Farming and Forestry. 11/19/15. Monroe, WA Latino Health and Safety Fair, 4/3/16. Everett, WA. National Working Forum: Managing Poplar and Willow for Environmental Benefits and the Renewable Fuels Industry. 4/11/16-4/14/16. Portland, OR 2nd Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference. 5/3/16-5/4/16. Seattle, WA ZeaChem: Provided three tours of the Boardman demo plant to external groups. Participated in the annual Advisory Board meeting for the biorefinery operations program at Walla Walla Community College. Hosted a site visit for representatives from the USDA Oregon State Administrator, USDA Rural Business Service Administrator, and US Senator Ron Wyden's office. Attended the ABLC conference in Washington, DC are participated in an open discussion on pilot- and demonstration-scale facilities that are available for technology development by outside parties. Submitted a response to the US DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office Request for Information (DE-FOA-0001526) on Biofuels & Bioproducts Process Pilot Verification Capabilities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Feedstock GreenWood Resources manages five demonstration sites to quantify yields, farming costs, inventory logistics, and management risks involved in hybrid poplar bioenergy feedstock production. GreenWood farms, inventories, and harvests each site following two production cycles. The first inventory and harvest was completed two years after planting. The second inventory and harvest is scheduled. Each site will then be restored to pre-project condition before the land is returned to the owners. The second harvests and restorations will occur next year. A successful AHB Phase II commercial build-out must be accompanied by a rigorous analysis of the complete biomass production process, available for the due diligence of prospective growers, refinery developers, and farm investors. The AHB Phase I project will provide this assessment of the system at an operational scale in the coming year. We will continue soil characterization work on the tree farms, assessing soil and water impacts of feedstock production. We will conduct post-harvest sampling of study plots from September 2016 through February 2017. We will complete confirming experiments on the potential to control leaf rust by use of endophytes. We will continue research on development of sterile poplar trees next year. The CRISPR gene editing technique has allowed us to make rapid progress in modifying genes that control poplar flowering. Conversion Conversion work at ZeaChem will provide critical engineering and operational data for their upcoming commercial facility. Optimization of pre-treatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation with poplar and sugar beet feedstocks will continue. Research with the newly installed 3000 gallon hydrolysis reactor will aim to reduce enzyme costs, which are one of the most expensive raw materials in the bioconversion process. Work next year will focus on optimizing the alcohol-to-hydrocarbon process to facilitate development of commercial-scale processes. ZeaChem, working with the University of Washington (UW), now has a proven catalyst for ethanol dehydration and ethylene oligomerization. ZeaChem is ready to proceed with pilot-scale production of hydrocarbon fuels from alcohol. Contract work with Southwest Research Institute and Exelus Corp. will result in quantities of hydrocarbon fuels (100s gallon scale) sufficient for end-use testing. The UW Conversion team will continue to study bioconversion of whole poplar trees to fuels and chemicals. We will complete an analysis of poplar from the second rotation harvest. We will assess processabilty and productivity data for 3-year-old trees for hydrocarbon fuels production. We will use these data in techno-economic and life cycle assessment analyses to identify the best clones and rotation age. Education Seven students will graduate from the Walla Walla Community College program this year. We will build on this success by supporting 21 students currently in their first year of studies, allowing each student to complete the applied associate degree and/or transfer degree in Plant Operations. Oregon State University (OSU) will finish several programs next year: With information and knowledge generated by the first four years of work on the project, we will design and validate a general assessment for bioenergy knowledge. We have developed and implemented a Middle School challenge, which will be completed. We will complete a coarse-grained assessment of the entire educational project. We are forming partnerships with existing K-12 programs to complete a fine-grained assessment of the individual activities developed for the project. We recently hired a Graphics Designer/Science Communications expert. We are assembling our K-12 activities in an attractive and accessible format for publication as an online textbook. Sustainability The Sustainability team will update and refine the models we have developed, incorporating poplar harvest data and results from the Conversion team's research. Sustainability research focuses on regional modeling and assessment to understand various sustainability aspects associated with development of a hybrid poplar-based biofuel and bioproducts industry. Primary research aspects under investigation include: 1) spatial resource assessment for cultivation of hybrid poplar for feedstock production; 2) modeling regional feedstock production potential from hybrid poplar cultivation; 3) understanding adoption behavior of hybrid poplar and subsequent displacement of current cropping systems; 4) system optimization to assess sustainability of potential biorefinery locations for poplar-based jet fuel and acetic acid production; 5) life cycle assessment of fuels and chemicals produced from poplar feedstock; 6) regional economic impacts with establishment of biofuel and bio-based industries in the Pacific Northwest region; and 7) development of web-based decision support tools. We will work to complete research activities in these areas in the next year. There are important research questions arising from discussions with our Advisory Board; we will integrate these areas into our final work scope and will address these questions during the coming year. We will incorporate what we have learned from the Feedstock and Conversion work into our data tools. Specific work to be completed: 1) detailed case studies of commercialization of jet fuel and acetic acid production from hardwoods; 2) analysis of indirect land use changes potentially arising from the development of this industry; and 3) multi-criteria system optimization based on environmental and economic sustainability metrics. The Sustainability team is developing user-friendly decision support tools that will be completed in the next year, including an economic decision tool and a poplar yield tool. Extension Much of the critical AHB research, including LCA, economic analysis, and social impacts, will not be completed until 2016 or 2017. These final research results represent the most important information that needs to be disseminated to stakeholders and the public. We will develop fact sheets, videos, webinars, and meetings to provide this outreach. One of the most important Extension products produced by this project is a comprehensive Grower's Manual. Much of this manual will complete at the end of 2016. However, there is critical information that cannot be added until the Feedstock team conducts additional research at the demonstration sites, including yields from continuing harvests. Especially important is the incorporation of land restoration procedures and information. Survey results indicate that grower concerns about land condition after growing hybrid poplar is one of the biggest barriers to adopting poplar as a bioenergy crop. Next year, we will develop documentation that describes the land restoration process and shows that it is considerably easier to restore land used to grow energy crops than to grow trees for wood products. We will document land restoration and provide outreach tours, videos, and fact sheets on this topic. We have recently identified municipalities growing poplar for waste water management as potential early adopters. Ongoing collaboration with these stakeholders is critical for successful early adoption of poplar crops by this industry. The social impacts group is making good progress on their projects and will complete the following in the next year: General population survey of perceived impacts, and whether and to what extent perceived impact predicts the public's perceived feasibility and acceptability of a sustainable biofuels system for the Pacific Northwest. Analyses of famers' focus group interviews; use interview results to design and administer survey to a sample of farmers in all areas determined as suitable for poplar: Develop social marketing plan to be used by extension agents to facilitate adoption of poplar production practices by farmers.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Feedstock The Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest project (AHB) is demonstrating the economic viability of poplar as a Pacific Northwest (PNW) feedstock. We established five tree farms: four in the PNW and one in the Southeast. All tree farms are doing well. Trials of clones are being evaluated at all sites for biomass production. We have successfully harvested all sites following their second growth. Efficiency of harvest operations was quantified; performance was excellent. Soil and water studies on the tree farms generally show no difference between poplar fields and proximate reference fields; location and time of year have a greater impact on soil and water quality. GreenWood Resources is developing a business strategy to market poplar wood grown primarily for environmental sevices. The Feedstock production team advanced projects to improve silviculture and long-term sustainability of feedstock plantings. Highlights of that work: research demonstrating nitrogen fixation in wild poplar and presence of a nitrogen fixing microbial population associated with the trees. We are successfully using the newly developed CRISPR technology to develop sterile poplar trees. Conversion Conversion research is being conducted at ZeaChem's Boardman facility and at University of Washington (UW) laboratories. We are providing operating data and technologies to enable construction of a commercial facility producing ethanol, organic acids, and lignin in the near term and drop-in hydrocarbon fuels in the future. A new 3000 gallon hydrolysis vessel was installed and commissioned. We ran several enzymatic hydrolysis runs using poplar feedstock to produce material for fermentation trials. We are now investigating sugar beets, which offer the potential for conversion without steam explosion pretreatment and would complement poplar feedstock. We studied the influence of using whole 2-year-old hybrid poplar trees on the overall sugar production via bioconversion. Converting the whole poplar mixture with leaves is not viable, but reasonable conversion yields - 360 kg/tonne - are obtained if leafy material is removed. Production of drop-in fuels using ZeaChem's advanced fermentation technology requires catalytic reactors to convert ethanol to ethylene and then to oligomerize ethylene to hydrocarbon molecules. The UW synthesized a new nickel oligomerization catalyst; preliminary research shows excellent results. We obtained good yields of ethylene conversion into C4-C12 olefins, paraffins, and highly desirable napthenes. Contracts are being placed to complete pilot scale alcohol-to-hydrocarbons conversion experiments. Sustainability The team completed: 1. Development and application of poplar plant growth model for the PNW region including an online tool: http://alder.bioenergy.casil.ucdavis.edu/3pgModel/ 2. Economic land use change analysis to determine poplar adoption behavior at different market prices. Poplar has potential to partially replace irrigated and non-irrigated crops for most locations especially at the high end of the price spectrum, and total acres adopted depends on local cropping systems and poplar market price. At $75/dry ton, 16% of total croplands under cultivation will be adopted for poplar cultivation. 3. Techno/economic and cradle to grave life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis of producing acetic acid from poplar feedstock. Use a of a novel alamine-based acetic acid recovery process significantly lowers capital costs and reduces natural gas requirements. LCA research comparing the global warming potential (GWP) of biofuels and biochemicals produced at a biorefinery shows that acetic acid has a higher GWP due to downstream processing. However if the acetic acid is permanently stored in a product (e.g., plastic) then it will displace a larger amount of GHG emissions and becomes the preferred biorefinery product for climate change mitigation. 4. Fine-scale analysis for the potential of locating a biorefinery near Centralia, Washington, where a large coal-fired power plant is currently being operated, to understand availability of resources to establish a biorefinery for hybrid poplar based jet-fuel production. Economic analysis suggests that 3,600 parcels could be adopted for poplar cultivation in the region. Most of these parcels are currently pasture lands. The cost of jet fuel production would be about 1.05 $/liter ($3.97/gallon) leading to a predicted refinery gate price for poplar feedstock of about 90 $/Mg dry biomass. We assessed economic impacts of the establishment of a new biorefinery. We estimate 1000 jobs will be supported from bio-jet fuel conversion at the county level and about 1500 jobs at the state level. Extension The Extension team reaches out to potential stakeholders, develops AHB outreach materials, and works with all project teams to ensure we have thoroughly integrated programs. The Extension team: Documented research at demonstration tree farms. Issued press releases that resulted in multiple news stories. Collaborated with USDA-funded NARA project to develop policymaker briefings, delivered through the Ruckelshaus Center. Engaged in outreach efforts to build awareness of the AHB project and the biofuels industry. Made energy literacy presentations to 700 3rd-8th grade students. Hosted three field tours at AHB's Demonstration Sites. Hosted a teacher workshop, "Energy Literacy and Bioenergy" in collaboration with the AHB Education Team at Oregon State University. Presented workshops at Washington State University 4-H Teen Conference. Led development of our online presence: a comprehensive project website and four social media sites. Continued four survey projects to assess the needs, interests, and concerns of landowners, Extension educators, environmental professionals, and policy makers regarding bioenergy. Hosted and organized a national working forum on poplar and willow for bioenergy and environmental benefits. Developed a comprehensive website for the forum, including archived presentations and videos of key note speakers: http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/poplar-willow-forum/ Continued development of the Poplar Grower's Guide; collaborated with experts to complete the Pest, Disease, and Economic chapters. Engaged in ongoing communication and networking within the AHB project teams, with Extension personnel throughout the region, with the National Extension Energy Initiative, and with the other AFRI CAP biofuel projects. The Social Impact and Feasibility Team completed data analysis for two surveys. One survey assessed community's perceived impacts of the biorefinery on Boardman, Oregon, and the other assessed perceived impacts of a potential biorefinery in four counties in Washington State: Snohomish, Grays Harbor, Skamania, and Stevens, identified as suitable biorefinery locations. Education Project partner OSU SMILE (Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences) developed and delivered Bioenergy middle and high school education and outreach activities. Workshops were held for SMILE teachers to help them construct course content. Project partners at Walla Walla Community College developed and delivered community college programs: a two year associate's degree program in Plant Operations and certificate programs ranging from Biorefinery Operations to Industrial Maintenance. Students are graduating from these programs and are working for various employers. Articulation agreements are being developed to allow Plant Operations graduates to pursue 4 year degrees. The Summer Bridge Into College program was delivered by OSU. Participants are underrepresented minorities and/or from rural and underserved high schools. The program uses a Bioenergy-based curriculum to introduce skills needed to succeed in college. The Bioenergy Minor is open at OSU and has proved very popular with undergraduate students. Courses in the minor are online and will be broadly available to educators in the bioresource area.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jan, O. and Resende, F. 2015. Oligomerization of Ethylene to Drop-in Fuel Hydrocarbons Using Bifunctional Heterogeneous Catalysts. Oral Presntation at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT November 8-13, 2015.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: AHB Drop-In Biofuels. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Drop-In-Biofuels-Infosheet.pdf
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Converting Wood to Biofuels. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Conversion-Infosheet.pdf
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Rodrigo Morales Vera, Renata Bura and Rick Gustafson. 2015. Synergistic effects of mixing hybrid poplar and wheat straw biomass for bioconversion processes, Biotechnology for Biofuels, 2015 (8:226)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Chang Dou, Shannon Ewanick, Renata Bura and Rick Gustafson. 2016. Post-treatment mechanical refining as a method to improve overall sugar recovery of steam pretreated hybrid poplar, Bioresource Technology, 2016 (207:157-165). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.01.076
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Ehsanipour, M., Vajzovic Suko, A., and Bura, R., (2016) Fermentation of lignocellulosic sugars to acetic acid by Moorella thermoacetica, Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, 43(6), 807-816
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Chang Dou, Devin Chandler, Fernando Resende, and Renata Bura. 2016. Conversion of 2-year-old short rotation hybrid poplar to bio-oil, 38th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. Baltimore, MD.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Andrea Firrincieli, Robert Otillar, Asaf Salamov, Jeremy Schmutz, Zareen Khan, Regina S. Redman, Neil D. Fleck, Erika Lindquist, Igor V. Grigoriev, and Sharon L. Doty. 2015. Genome Sequence of the Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Yeast Rhodotorula graminis WP1. Frontiers in Microbiology Vol 6, article #978
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Khan, Z., Kandel, S.L., Ramos, D.N., Ettl, G.J., Kim, S.-H., and Doty, S.L. 2015. Increased biomass of nursery-grown Douglas-fir seedlings upon inoculation with diazotrophic endophytic consortia. Forests 6:3582-3593.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Doty, S.L., Sher, A.W., Fleck, N.D., Khorasani, M., Bumgarner, R.B., Khan, Z., Ko, A.W.K., Kim, S.-H., and DeLuca, T.H. 2016. Variable nitrogen fixation in wild Populus. PLOS ONE 11(5):e0155979. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155979
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Khan, Z., Rho, H., Hung, B., Luna, V., Masciarelli, O., Kim, S.-H., and Doty, S.L. Growth enhancement and drought tolerance of hybrid poplar by inoculation with endophyte consortia (revised manuscript submitted to Current Plant Biology)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sharon L. Doty. 2016. Editorial: Plant-microbe symbiotic interactions. Plant Molecular Biology 90(6)1.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Guerra, F.P., Richards, J.H., Fiehn, O. et al. Analysis of the genetic variation in growth, ecophysiology, and chemical and metabolomic composition of wood of Populus trichocarpa provenances." Tree Genetics & Genomes (2016) 12: 6. doi:10.1007/s11295-015-0965-8
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bandaru, V., N. C. Parker, Q. Hart, M.Jenner , B-L Yeo, J. Crawford, L. Yuanzhe, P. Tittmann, L. Rogers, O. Prilepova, S. Kaffka and B. Jenkins. 2015. Comprehensive sustainability modeling provides critical decision support for assessing hybrid poplar based biofuel industry in California. California Agriculture 69(3):171-176. DOI: 10.3733/ca.v069n03p171
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Townsend, P. A., K. W. Zobrist, N. Haider, and M. Heppenstall. Identifying Stakeholder Interests and Concerns in the New Hardwood-based Bioeconomy. SWST (Society of Wood Science and Technology) 2015 International Convention. June 9, 2015. Moran, WY. Poster Presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Townsend, P. A., N. Haider, M. Heppenstall, and K. W. Zobrist. Challenges and Opportunities in Finding Growers for Poplar Bioenergy Farms in the Pacific Northwest. DOE Bio Energy 2015 Opportunities in a Changing Energy Landscape. June 23, 2015. Washington, D. C. Poster Presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Townsend, P. A. 2016. Building a Roadmap for the Dual Benefits of Poplar: Updates from AHB. National Working Forum: Managing Poplar and Willow for Environmental Benefits and the Renewable Fuels Industry. Portland, OR. April 13, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Townsend, P. A., N. Haider, R. Simmons, and K. W. Zobrist. 2016. The Dual Benefits of Poplar in the Pacific Northwest: Sustainable Feedstock and Wastewater Management. The Northwest Wood-based Biofuels and Co-products Conference. Seattle, WA. May 4, 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Haider, N., Townsend, P.A., and Heppenstall, M. 2016. Understanding Environmental Professionals Perceptions of Bioenergy and Bioproducts. 2nd Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference. Seattle, WA. Poster presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Heppenstall, M., Haider, N., and Townsend, P.A. 2016. Engaging with Policy Makers on Bioenergy Topics: Improving Outreach Strategies. 2nd Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference. Seattle, WA. Poster presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Heppenstall, M. and P.A. Townsend. Growing Green Energy. Harvesting Clean Energy Conference, Billings, MT. September 30, 2015. Invited presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Zobrist, K. W, P. A. Townsend, N. Haider, M. Heppenstall, and O. Lekos. Beyond Biofuels  Shifting from Hardwood-Based Transportation Fuels to Biochemicals. SWST (Society of Wood Science and Technology) 2015 International Convention. June 8, 2015. Moran, WY. Oral Presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Haider, N. 2016. Bioenergy in the Pacific Northwest. The Food-Energy-Water Nexus 16th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy, and the Environment. Washington, D.C.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Haider, N., M. Heppenstall, and P.A. Townsend. 2016. The Wonders of Hybrid Poplar: Environmental Uses and Alternative Markets. The Food-Energy-Water Nexus 16th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy, and the Environment. Washington, D.C. Poster Presentation.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Heppenstall M., P. A. Townsend, and N. Haider 2015. Advancing Bioenergy in the Pacific Northwest through Education Policy Brief. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/AHB-EductionProgramBrief.pdf
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Briefing Paper for Policy Makers  Poplar Biofuels Reduce Carbon Emissions. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/PoplarBiofuelsReduceCarbonEmissions.pdf
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Infosheet  Poplar Based Ethanol http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/AHB-ethanol_final.pdf
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Briefing Paper for Policy Makers Bioenergy Career Pipeline. AHB Policy Brief. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Jan2016_policy-brief.pdf
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Haider, N., P.A. Townsend, and N. Parker. 2016. Bio-Jet Fuel Production in the Pacific Northwest. AHB Policy Brief. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016april_economic-feasabiliby.pdf
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Briefing Paper for Policy Makers. Bio-Jet Fuel Production in the Pacific Northwest. AHB Policy Brief. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016april_economic-feasabiliby.pdf
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Advanced Biofuels 101. http://hardwoodbiofuels.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Advancecd-Biofuels-101.pdf
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Yuanzhe. L., N. C. Parker, B.M. Jenkins. 2015. Modeling the biofuel production system from hybrid poplar under crop competition. TRB 2016.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Yuanzhe. L., P.W. Tittmann, B.M. Jenkins. 2016. The impact of combined torrefaction and pelletization process on forestry biomass supply chain in California. GCB bioenergy. doi:10.1111/gcbb.12375.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Bandaru. V., Y. Pei, Q. Hart, B.M. Jenkins. 2016. Impact of Gridded Weather Datasets on Biomass Estimates of Short Rotation Woody Cropping Systems. Agriculture and Forest Meteorology (In review).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Busby, P.E., Peay, K.G., and Newcombe, G. 2016. Common foliar fungi of Populus trichocarpa modify Melampsora rust disease severity. New Phytologist 209: 16811692.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Busby, P.E., Ridout, M., and Newcombe, G. 2015. Fungal endophytes and their role in plant disease. Plant Molecular Biology 90: (doi:10.1007/s11103-015-0412-0).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Carta, L. K., S. Li, A. M. Skantar, and Newcombe, G. 2016. Morphological and molecular characterization of two Aphelenchoides endophytic in poplar leaves. Journal of Nematology 48:(1): March 2016 issue, accepted 1/8/16.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Strauss, S.H., Constanza, A., and Seguin, A. (2015) Genetically engineered trees: Paralysis from good intentions. Science 349: 794-795.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Strauss, S.H., Ma, C., Ault, K., and Klocko, A.L. (2015). Lessons from two decades of field trials with genetically modified tress in the USA: Biology and regulatory compliance. In: Biosafety of Transgenic Forest Trees. Springer. (in press)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Klocko, A, A Brunner, J Huang, R Meilan, H Lu, C Ma, A Morel, D Zhao, K Ault, M Dow, G Howe, and O Shevchenko. 2016. Genetic containment of forest trees by suppression of LEAFY. Nature Biotechnology (in press)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Strauss, S.H. Genetic modification and containment technologies. EcoSur Conference, San Francisco de Campeche, Yucatan, Mexico, June 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Klocko, A.L. Genetic containment of forest trees by RNAi suppression of LEAFY. 2016 Plant and Animal Genomes Conference, San Diego, CA. Oral presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Klocko, A.L., Brunner, A.M., Huang, J., Meilan, R., Lu, H., Ma, C., Morel, A., Zhao, D., Ault, K., Dow, M., Howe, G., Shevchenko, O., and Strauss, S.H. 2016. Genetic containment of forest trees by RNAi suppression of LEAFY Poster presentation. 2016 Plant and Animal Genomes Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Lu H., Klocko A.L., Dow M., Ma C., Amarasinghe V., and Strauss S.H. Modest Frequency and Pleiotropic Impacts of Zinc-Finger Mutagenesis in Poplar. Plant and Animal Genome Conference XXIV. San Diego, CA. January, 2016. Oral presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hartman, B.D., Grzyb, K., & Field, K.G. (2016, April). Bioenergy science and engineering as components of agricultural science curricula. Paper. National Association for Research in Science Teaching Conference, Baltimore, MD.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Professor Sharon Doty gave an invited presentation at the Agricultural Bioscience International Conference in Melbourne, Australia (Sept. 7-9, 2015)
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jacob Staudhammer. Poster. Symposium of Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals conference in Baltimore MD in April 2016.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Submitted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Oregon State University, Interdisciplinary Learning of Energy though Integration of Socioeconomic Topics, abstract, submitted to the 2016 annual conference of North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Professor Sharon Doty was invited as a distinguished international speaker to give an hour presentation on N-fixation in trees at the International Congress on Frontiers in Biology in Brasilia, Brazil (Nov. 10-13, 2015). The presentation was well-received and will be published as a proceedings in BMC.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hartman, B.D., Grzyb, K., & Field, K.G. (2016, January). Using bioenergy to integrate STEM concepts: A Delphi consensus study. Paper presented at the American Society for Science Teacher Education Conference, Reno, NV
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Professor Sharon Doty gave an invited presentation on other aspects of endophytes (phytoremediation) at the Plant and Animal Genomics (PAG) conference in San Diego (Jan 2016).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Townsend, P. A., N. Haider, S. T. Asah, and K. W. Zobrist. 2015. Extension professionals concerns, challenges, and opportunities in supporting biofuel crop production in the Pacific Northwest. Journal of Extension. In review.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Budsberg E, Crawford J, Gustafson R, Bura R, Puettmann M. Ethanologens vs. acetogens: Environmental impacts of two ethanol fermentation pathways. Biomass and Bioenergy 2015;83(12):23-31.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Jordan T. Crawford, Chin Wei Shan, Erik Budsberg, Hannah Morgan, Renata Bura and Rick Gustafson. 2016. Hydrocarbon bio-jet fuel from bioconversion of poplar biomass: techno-economic assessment Biotechnology for Biofuels 2016 9:141 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-016-0545-7
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: C. Li, K. L. Lesnik, Y. Fan, H. Liu. Millimeter scale Electron Conduction through Exoelectrogenic Mixed Species Biofilms. 2016. Environ. Sci. & Tech. Letters (Under Review).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: K. L. Lesnik, C. Li, Y. Fan, H. Liu. Redox Conductivity of Current-Producing Mixed Species Biofilms. 2016. PLOS ONE (Under Review).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Erik Budsberg, Jordan T. Crawford, Hannah Morgan, Wei Shan Chin, Renata Bura and Rick Gustafson. 2016. Hydrocarbon bio-jet fuel from bioconversion of poplar biomass: life cycle assessment Biotechnology for Biofuels 2016 9:170 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-016-0582-2
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Budsberg, E., Crawford, J.T., Gustafson, R., Bura, R. and Puettmann, M. 10/8/2015. Ethanologens vs. Acetogens: Environmental impacts of two bioethanol fermentation pathways. Oral presentation at the 15th American Center for Life Cycle Assessment conference in Vancouver, BC, Canada, October 6  8, 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Budsberg, E., Crawford, J.T., Gustafson, R., Bura, R., and Puettmann, M. 11/9/2015. Ethanologens vs. Acetogens: Environmental impacts of two bioethanol fermentation pathways. Oral presentation at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT November 8-13, 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: R. Gustafson, E.L. Budsberg, R. Bura, J. Crawford, and N. Parker. 4/28/2016. Hydrocarbon bio-jet fuel from bioconversion of poplar biomass: life cycle assessment of site specific impacts. Oral presentation at the 38th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (April 25-28, 2016).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: C. Dou, D. Chandler, F. Resende and R. Bura. 4/26/2016. Conversion of 2-year-old short rotation hybrid poplar to bio-oil. Poster Presentation at the 38th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (April 25-28, 2016).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: J. Staudhammer and Z. Li. 4/26/2016. Synthesis of Hydrophobic Microbeads from Lignin Fractions. Poster presentation at the 38th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Baltimore, MD. 4/25-2016-4/28/2016.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: The development and limitations of empirical NIR-based models of hybrid poplar foliage consumption by Chrysomela scripta was submitted to The Canadian Entomologist on March 31, 2016; currently in review.


Progress 09/01/14 to 08/31/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included the USDA, legislators, policy makers, foresters, land managers, farming contractors, Native American tribes, rural communities, researchers, educators, students, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Undergraduate Students: The project provided training to over 70 undergraduate students, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: trained in techniques to prepare leaf and wood samples for phenotypic analyses assisted in the laboratory and field to gain valuable research skills studied quantification of N fixation in poplar poplar tissue culture molecular identification and characterization of endophytes mutant analysis genomic analysis studied drought tolerance in poplar conferred by endophytes studied the characterization of endophyte strains for symbiotic traits studied the molecular analysis of the poplar microbiome trained in sample collection and preparation, poplar propagation, condensed tannin assay, NIR scanning assisted with running the vole feeding preference study worked on ZFN tools for safe poplar genetic transformation worked on fermentation of sugars to acetic acid worked on chemical composition of hybrid poplar clones focused on modeling acetic acid purification technology modeling acetic acid purification technology worked on social feasibility and impact assessment participated in training and administration of Computer Assisted Telephone Survey (CATS) assisted with a poplar community survey transcribed social impact interview records enrolled in the Bioenergy Minor program enrolled in the BioResource Research Bioenergy Option enrolled in the BioResource Research and Microbiology: Bioenergy Option program Graduate Students: The project provided training and professional development to 35 graduate students, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: studied endophytes for low-input silviculture conducted studies of the endophyte colonization of poplar studied poplar microbiome analysis and endophyte stability worked on ZFN tools for safe poplar genetic transformation assisted with field and laboratory measurements led bioconversion of whole poplar tree to acetic acid using steam pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation worked on utilization of Raman spectroscopy to follow in real time conversion of sugars from steam pretreated whole poplar tree and white wood poplar chips to acetic acid via fermentation worked on ethylene oligomerization research worked on life cycle assessment of the proposed biorefinery led ASPEN modeling and techno-economic analysis trained in the use of the GBSM model and in spatial analysis of fuel demand and other spatial modeling and consumer choice assessment trained in the spatial analysis of climate datasets, working with 3PG model and use of large scale computing trained in the use of the GBSM model and expanded model to incorporate additional pretreatment alternatives for supply chain optimization developed assessment of air quality regulations and methods for project spatial emissions to incorporate into the GBSM model environment worked on development of the 3PG model for poplar growth and yield assessment helped develop the 3PG-Coppice model online application worked on social feasibility and impact assessment developed bioenergy education curriculum presented teacher workshops as part of the bioenergy education program staffed the Summer Bridge to College Program performed program development and assessment of the bioenergy education program developed evaluation tools necessary to collect data long-term impacts and outcomes for the bioenergy education program worked on outreach and recruitment for bioenergy curriculum served as a teaching assistant to OSU's Bioenergy Minor program served as an OSU Bioenergy Minor staff participated in program development served as an ecampus specialist performed administration and supervision of general population computer assisted telephone survey worked on participant recruitment and scheduling of farmer focus group interviews; pre-analysis of focus group interviews supervised focus group and interview transcription work worked on literature review of public perceptions and attitudes towards bioenergy assisted with administration of survey of community perceived impacts, support, and social feasibility of hybrid poplar plantations Post-Doctorates: The project provided training and professional development to 11 post-doctorates, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: worked on project management learned techniques of sample collection worked on statistical and genetic analyses of phenotypic and genotypic data studied endophytes for low-input silviculture studied quantification of N fixation in poplar poplar tissue culture molecular identification and characterization of endophytes mutant analysis genomic analysis analyzed leaf and bark samples with the UHPLC?MS contributed data to phenolic glycoside calibrations worked on ZFN tools for safe poplar genetic transformation trained in BCAM and IMPLAN models worked on social feasibility and impact assessment performed analyses and reporting of speaking engagement study implemented community perceived impact and social feasibility of hybrid poplar plantations survey Research Staff: The project provided training and professional development to 8 research staff, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: trained in techniques to prepare leaf and wood samples for phenotypic analyses, as well as in protocols for genotyping by sequence capture investigated drought tolerance in poplar conferred by endophytes quantified growth and photosynthesis impacts worked on ZFN tools for safe poplar genetic transformation worked on ethylene oligomerization research led ASPEN modeling and techno-economic analysis Students and Teachers: 50 students from various high schools and middle schools have gone through AHB education programs. 9 teachers and one staff member participated in bioenergy workshops 59 teachers, one administrative staff member, and one paraprofessional participated in SMILE teacher workshops and served as afterschool science club advisors 37 students participated in the 1st cohort of the Bioenergy/Plant/Resource Recovery Operations program Courses and Course Development: Sharon Doty taught plant microbiology lab classes at the University of Washington: 2013: 22 students, 2014: 14 students, and 2015: 19 students. She instructed undergraduate and graduate students in the characterization and identification of endophyte strains. Walla Walla Community College further developed 4 credit summer 2015 EST 234 Survey of Technical Equipment for Processing (STEP) WWCC course with WSU BSEL TC and WSU Pullman Biological Systems Engineering -- to provide continuing education via hands-on training to engineering undergraduate and graduate students, the incumbent workers of industry partners, and prospective WWCC Energy Systems Technology (i.e. Plant Operations) students. Walla Walla Community College has developed EST 255: Advanced PLC's and Integrated Architecture and piloted the course in spring 2015. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our researchers continued outreach activities to high school and college students, as well as to the general public. The Agriculture Center of Excellence at Walla Walla Community College hosted administrators from Ventura College and Mt. Hood Community College. Oregon State University's SMILE program provided bioenergy materials to teachers in rural communities. These teachers delivered the information in after-school club settings focused on STEM literacy, college access, and career information for historically underrepresented youth. The SMILE program also shared bioenergy educational activities at 6 local Family Math and Science Nights for approximately 275 families. Oregon State University delivered a two-week residential Bioenergy Bridge into College program to 24 students in 2014. Students were underrepresented minorities, first generation college students, and/or from rural and underserved high schools. The Extension team documented research activities and conducted public field tours at all four sites. The team also held a neighborhood information workshop for one of the sites that has high recreational use. We have collaborated with the Extension teams from the other AFRI CAPs through the national working group. The Extension team has collaborated with their counterparts at the complementary USDA?funded NARA project to ensure a unified message is presented regarding woody biofuel systems for the Pacific Northwest. This includes delivering joint quarterly policymaker briefings through the Ruckelshaus Center, a joint University of Washington and Washington State University organization. Surveys conducted and meetings held have helped the team identify outreach opportunities and barriers with landowners as well as other Extension personnel in the region. The Extension team engaged in significant outreach efforts including workshops, demonstrations, tours, and symposia. We have completed 48 professional presentations, 22 poster presentations, 16 demonstration site field tours, 13 display booths, 13 webinars, 8 information sheets, 170 web content pages, 4 social media sites, 2 national conferences, 3 surveys of stakeholders, and 8 news releases. These endeavors reached approximately 6,600 direct contacts. We released 12 electronic newsletters, 9 policymaker briefings, and created a variety of posters, pamphlets, and fact sheets. We completed a comprehensive website, along with 4 social media sites, featuring 10 professionally-produced streaming videos. The Extension team hosted two national conferences: a Short Rotation Woody Crops conference and a National Energy Extension Summit. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The research teams will focus on the following tasks in Year 5: Feedstock: Continue to monitor and manage demonstration tree farms for growth and development. Inventory four-year-old coppice, develop yield equations, and conduct compositional analyses. Conclude a field trial of alder inter-specific taxon at Pilchuck, Washington. Complete SNP discovery and genotyping by sequence capture. Use this information along with phenotypic data for genome wide association studies. Increase mutagenesis efficiency in development of sterile poplar trees. Investigate epidemiology of Valsa leaf blight and characterization of P. trichocarpa as a pathogens host for other plants. Monitor field trials for the impact of N-fixing endophytes on growth, N content, photosynthesis, N-fixation, and water use efficiency. Develop holistic multivariate models that predict leaf beetle herbivory. Conduct analyses of fourth-year coppice biomass as a function of plantation density, seasonality of harvest, and alder intercropping. Determine whether replacing annual crops and pasture with poplar affects wildlife and pollinator populations. Continue soil and water monitoring of tree farms and reference fields; include measurements of greenhouse gas fluxes, soil microbial activity, carbon budgets, and nutrient release. Quantify whole canopy VOC exchange and analyze impact of poplar feedstock production on regional air quality. Conversion: We are providing the data and technology for near-term commercialization at Boardman and long term production of hydrocarbon fuels. ZeaChem is executing their capital-light strategy for a Boardman commercial plant. Research in year 5 supports commercialization. We will continue developing the Alcohol-To-Hydrocarbons component and components for Hydrolysis, and Fermentation and Recovery to strengthen the entire conversion chain. Alcohol-To-Hydrocarbons: We will continue our strategy to install and operate an alcohol dehydration skid to produce olefins, and continue the successful lab-scale catalysis program on the conversion of ethanol/ethylene into hydrocarbon fuels. We will build on the breakthrough development of an oligomerization catalyst and reactor. Hydrolysis: We will ensure hydrolyzates produced from enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated leafy coppiced hybrid poplar chips are suitable for commercial operations. Our research will focus on the pretreatment conditions necessary to maximize sugar recovery from coppice harvested poplar trees. ZeaChem's IBR Facility is currently configured to produce hydrolyzate using two-stage dilute acid technology. We will also install and operate an upgrade to the system that enables enzymatic hydrolysis on a trial basis. Pilot Plant Upgrades: ZeaChem currently uses the seed-train subsystem at its IBR Facility as a pilot plant to test concepts prior to their implementation at larger scales. These are the main activities planned for the IBR facility: Install and operate a pilot-scale advanced fermentor. Operate pilot-scale fermentation and recovery systems to produce the ethanol needed for the Alcohol-to-Hydrocarbons component. Operate pilot-scale fermentation and recovery systems to produce drum-scale samples of commercial-grade potassium acetate de-icers. Lab-Scale Microbiology and Acetic Acid Recovery: Two key drivers of acetic acid process economics are performance of fermentation micro-organism(s) and improved methods for recovery of acetic acid from dilute fermentation broths. Research will continue with development of improved micro-organism performance using a combination of conventional and synthetic biology techniques as well as better acetic acid recovery method using a thermally-sensitive amine to recover acetic acid without the co-generation of useless salt co-products. Raman spectroscopy: We will assess the use of Raman spectroscopy to follow in real time production of acetic acid from steam pretreated whole poplar tree during fermentation. We will analyze the progress of sugars to acetic acid fermentation using Raman spectroscopy in laboratory fermenters. We will also develop Raman models to follow production of acetic acid during fermentation. A critical component of this research is the development of methods to remove fermentation inhibitors which also impact Raman spectroscopy measurements. Sustainability: We will complete research to understand the economic, social and environmental implications with poplar-based jet fuel and acetic acid production in the Pacific Northwest: Create decision support tools to assist stakeholders in assessing risks and opportunities associated with a poplar-based biofuel industry. Implement the 3PG-Coppice model to simulate biomass potential under future climate change. Extend economic impact analyses to understand implications of small scale bio-based refineries across the Pacific Northwest region. Finish the work related to direct land use changes with poplar adoption and perform qualitative assessment of indirect land use change impacts associated with poplar adoption. Incorporate indirect land use change into LCA models. Expand refinery siting analysis to include environmental indicators along with economic sustainability indicators. Investigate multiple acetic acid recovery processes including use of ethyl acetate and TOPO as the extractant. Update acetic acid LCAs to reflect refined optimization and recovery methods from the biorefinery model. Combine life cycle emissions data with GIS mapping software to quantify the environmental impacts from poplar crop management and biorefinery operations on a per watershed basis. Complete LCA work to evaluate the environmental impacts of developing lignin co-products. Improve the natural resource lands database with additional data layers including altered climate scenario metrics. Extension: Extension Team: We will continue outreach activities and developing materials and tools for landowners interested in growing poplar feedstock. We will support near-term commercialization by communicating the economic potential and environmental benefits of an industry producing renewable biofuels and bio-based chemicals to all stakeholders. The expected outcomes of our efforts include knowledge across all stakeholder groups about bioenergy, biochemicals, bioproducts, and poplar cropping systems; and increased knowledge among project teams and policymakers about opportunities, barriers, stakeholder perceptions, and information gaps around poplar-based bioenergy, biochemicals, and bioproducts. Municipalities will better understand options for producing energy and chemical feedstocks from poplar used in wastewater treatment. Social Impact and Feasibility Team (SFIA): We will focus on environmental professionals and potential poplar tree farm land owners. The expected outcomes of our efforts include a report of perceived impacts of biorefineries; recommendations for outreach, education, communication, and management and policy to facilitate successful implementation of a sustainable regional biofuels system; a report outlining public attitudes towards biofuels in the region; and a social marketing blue-print strategic plan to facilitate feedstock production by farmers. Education: We will expand collaborations, outreach, and communication; increase the regional and national impacts of the educational programs; build stronger connections between elements of our educational pipeline; and continue to develop, assess, and revise the courses, degree programs, and educational material put in place during the first four years of the project. We will also work toward using the programs we have built to leverage further support and build regional excellence in the connected fields of agriculture, water, and energy. A critical component of Year 5 work will be to investigate how these highly successful educational programs can continue after the AHB project concludes.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Feedstock The Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest project (AHB) is demonstrating the economic viability of poplar as a Pacific Northwest feedstock to support ZeaChem's future biorefinery operations. Five tree farms have been established; four in the Pacific Northwest and one in the Southeast. These tree farms are between 50 and 100 acres and are all doing well. Trials of 50-75 clones are being evaluated at all sites for coppice biomass production. Two sites planted in year two were successfully harvested using the Case New Holland FR Bioharvester at the conclusion of their second growing season; the efficiency of the harvest operations was quantified by time and motion studies. Soil and water studies on the tree farms generally show no difference between the poplar fields and proximate reference fields. The tree farms have a higher abundance of wildlife than the proximate fields. The Feedstock production team also advanced a number of AHB projects to improve the silviculture and long-term sustainability of feedstock plantings. Highlights of that work include development of sterile poplar trees that have normal appearance and growth and successful application of endophytes to reduce leaf rust and improve drought resistance. Conversion Conversion research is being conducted at both the demonstration scale at ZeaChem's Boardman facility and at the University of Washington laboratories. We are providing operating data and technologies to enable ZeaChem to construct and successfully operate a commercial facility producing ethanol in the near term and drop-in hydrocarbon fuels in the future when the market for those fuels strengthens. ZeaChem is currently engineering the first cellulosic biorefinery in the Pacific Northwest with a goal of construction in 2016. This year, six pretreatment trials were conducted at ZeaChem's Boardman demo plant. These trials validate system performance thus providing a reliable base for future testing of commercial design conditions. In addition, 400 gallons of potassium acetate fermentation broth were produced, which will be provided to companies for production evaluation. We have studied the influence of using whole 2-year-old hybrid poplar trees on the overall sugar production via bioconversion; we established the optimum steam pretreatment condition for maximum sugar recovery. Results show that converting the whole poplar mixture may be challenging, with sugar yields of only 180 kg/tonne of biomass. The removal of leaves increased the overall sugar recovery to 350 kg/tonne of biomass. Efforts are underway in collaboration with the Feedstock team to limit the leaf material in whole tree chip. A harvest trial conducted at the Boardman site during November 2014 showed little in the way of leaf material with marked improvements in ash, extractives, and storage stability. Production of drop-in fuels using ZeaChem's advanced fermentation technology requires catalytic reactors to convert ethanol to ethylene and catalysts to oligomerize ethylene to hydrocarbon molecules of the correct composition and molecular weight. A new nickel oligomerization catalyst made from Zeolight Beta powder was synthesized at the University of Washington. Preliminary research with this catalyst show excellent results. Good yields of ethylene conversion into C4-C12 olefins, paraffins, and highly desirable napthenes were obtained. Sustainability The Sustainability research team completed the following tasks: 1. Development and application of poplar plant growth model for the Pacific Northwest region including development of an online interactive web application (http://alder.bioenergy.casil.ucdavis.edu/3pgModel/). 2. Economic land use change analysis to determine the poplar adoption behavior at different market prices. Land use analysis will be supplemented to include water use estimates from 3PG model and development of online farm budget tools. 3. Techno/economic and cradle to grave LCA analysis of producing acetic acid from poplar feedstock. Analysis is being supplemented with investigation of a novel acetic acid recovery process. 4. Geospatial refinery siting analysis for jet fuel and acetic acid production in the Pacific Northwest region. Analysis includes both large scale biorefineries that will be built as the technology matures and more modest scale factories that will be built as the commercialization begins. 5. Expansion and improvement of the natural resource lands database. An analysis that identifies the areas of the Pacific Northwest best suited for growing hybrid poplar under current natural rainfall and irrigated conditions was completed. An altered climate analysis using IPCC scenarios identified areas of the Pacific Northwest where the lands suitable for growing hybrid poplar are likely to experience the most dramatic change over time, as well as areas that are more resilient for production. Extension The Extension team develops all AHB outreach materials and works with each project team to ensure we have thoroughly integrated programs. Extension reaches out to all potential AHB stakeholders including landowners, policy makers, and the general public. The Extension team has completed the following work this year: Documented the research activities at all five demonstration tree farms. Collaborated with counterparts at the complementary USDA-funded NARA project. Nine policymaker briefings have been delivered. Hosted two national conferences: a Short Rotation Woody Crops conference and a National Energy Extension Summit. Engaged in significant outreach efforts to build awareness of the AHB project and the biofuels industry, reaching approximately 6,600 direct contacts. Led the development of an online presence, including a comprehensive project website with approximately 170 different content pages, and four social media sites. Conducted needs assessment surveys of agriculture and natural resources. The Social Impact and Feasibility Team (SFIA) continues with speaking engagements and surveys of the public and key stakeholders. The SFIA Team has completed two general public surveys of perceived impacts, social feasibility and acceptability (140 responses) with two more surveys in progress. Preliminary findings from the analysis of the survey of community's perceived impacts of hybrid poplar plantations focused on whether and how such impacts predict community acceptability and perceived social feasibility (whether community members think it would work) of poplar feedstock plantations. Education The AHB Education team developed programs for middle school students and teachers all the way through a professional master's program. Oregon State University (OSU) and Walla Walla Community College are the lead institutions for the AHB Education program. Project partner OSU SMILE (Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences) developed and delivered Bioenergy middle and high school education and outreach activities. The community and technical college level programs were developed and delivered by project partners at the Agriculture Center of Excellence in partnership with Walla Walla Community College. We now have a two year associates degree program in Plant Operations and certificate programs ranging from Biorefinery Operations to Industrial Maintenance. The Summer Bridge Into College program was delivered by OSU. Participants are college students entering OSU who are underrepresented minorities and/or from rural and underserved high schools. The program uses a Bioenergy-based curriculum to introduce skills needed to succeed in college. The Bioenergy Minor is open to undergraduate students at OSU and has been very popular with students. Courses in the minor are on line and will be broadly available to educators in the bioresource area. Graduate level bioenergy education pathways were developed and delivered by OSU partners.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Y. Li, P. Tittmann, N. Parker, B. Jenkins. The impact of combined torrefaction and pelletization process on forestry biomass supply in California. Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting, Washington DC, 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jenkins B, V. Bandaru, N. Parker, Q. Hart, Q. Hart, B-N. Yeo, J. Medellin-Azuara, Y. Pei, Y. Li, J. Crawford, E. Budsberg, P. Tittmann, J. Mertz, J. Hanna, and S. Kaffka. 2015. Comprehensive assessment of the sustainability of biofuel production in the U.S. Pacific Northwest region from hybrid poplar. 23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Vienna, Austria: June 1-June 4, 2015.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Budsberg, E., Crawford, J., Morgan, H., Ivarson, N., Bura, R., Gustafson, R. Techno economic and life cycle assessment research of bio-based acetic acid production. 2015 Symposium for Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals April 27-30, 2015 in San Diego, CA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Grzyb, K., Hartman, B.A., & Field, K.G. 2015. Determining Essential Components of a College-level Bioenergy Curriculum Using the Delphi Technique. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Athens, Georgia.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Grzyb, K., Hartman, B.A., & Field, K.G. 2015. Determining Essential Components of a College-level Bioenergy Curriculum Using the Delphi Technique. National Association for Research in Science Teaching Annual International Meeting, Chicago, Illinois.�
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hartman, B.A., Grzyb, K., & Field, K.G. 2015. A Framework for K12 Bioenergy Engineering and Science Concepts: A Delphi Consensus Study. American Society of Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Seattle, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Halsey Randall, M., L. Robichaux, D. Russ Eft, and K. G. Field. 2014. Sustainable programs in sustainable bioenergy education. 28th annual Conference of the American Evaluation Association, Denver.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Oregon State University. "Sustainable Programs in Sustainable Bioenergy Education." Submitted to: Journal of College Science Teaching.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Li, Z., S. Freitas, and K. G. Field. 2015. BRR 350 : Introduction to Regional Bioenergy, an interdisciplinary course to introduce bioenergy concepts. National Energy Education Summit. 15th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy and the Environment: Energy and Climate Change, Washington, DC.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Gryzb, K., and K. G. Field. 2015. Determining Essential Components of a College-Level Bioenergy Curriculum Using the Delphi Technique. National Energy Education Summit. 15th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy and the Environment: Energy and Climate Change, Washington, DC.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Field, K. G. 2015 Bioenergy Education. National Energy Education Summit. 15th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy and the Environment: Energy and Climate Change, Washington, DC.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Busby, P.E., Lamit, L., Keith, A.R., Newcombe, G., Gehring, C., Whitham, T.G., and Dirzo, R. 2015. Genetics-based interactions among plants, pathogens and herbivores define arthropod community structure. Ecology 96: in press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bubsy, P.E., Newcombe, G., Dirzo, R., and Whitham, T.G. 2014. Differentiating genetic and environmental drivers of plant-pathogen community interactions. Journal of Ecology 102: 1300-1309.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Ostry, M., Ramstedt, M., Newcombe, G., and Steenackers, M. 2013. Diseases of Poplars and Willows. Chapter 8 in The Poplar and Willows Book. Edited by Jud Isebrands and Jim Richardson. Published by the International Poplar Commission of UN FAO.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bubsy, P.E., Newcombe, G., Dirzo, R., and Whitham, T.G. 2013. Genetic basis of pathogen community structure for foundation tree species in a common garden and in the wild. Journal of Ecology 101: 867-877.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Doty, S.L., Sher, A.W., Fleck, N.D., Khorasani, M., Bumgarner, R.B., Khan, Z., Ko, A.W.K., Kim, S.-H., and DeLuca, T.H. 2015. Nitrogen fixation in wild Populus. Nature Plants. Under Review.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Doty, S.L. 2013. Presentation to the DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office's (BETO) Biomass 2013 Conference, Washington, D.C., 7/31/2013-8/1/2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Doty, S.L., Khan, Z., Knoth, J., Sher, A.W., Fleck, N.D., and Baum, A. 2014. Increasing Biomass with Reduced Inputs Using Symbiosis. Presentation to the 4th Pan-American Congress on Plants and Bioenergy, Ontario, Canada, 6/6/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Doty, S.L. 2014. Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Non-Legumes. Presentation to Plant Biology 2014: Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists, Portland, Oregon, 7/15/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Doty, S.L. 2014. Delivered Keynote Lecture: Improving biomass production and phytoremediation using nature endosymbionts, to the International Association for Plant Biotechnology Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 8/14/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Doty, S.L. 2014. Biological nitrogen fixation in poplar trees: Applications for bioenergy and agriculture. Presentation to the 14th International Symposium on Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes, Chengdu, China, 11/1/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Doty, S. The plant microbiome: an ecosystem within. Presentation to the American Society for Microbiology Northwest Branch Meeting, Seattle, Washington, 10/18/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Doty, S. Increasing biomass with reduced inputs using symbiosis. Participated in Breakout Session: Innovative Method for Increasing Biomass Availability. Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy, San Diego, California, 12/8/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Doty, S. Increasing growth and drought tolerance using symbiotic microorganisms. Presentation to the to the 6th International Poplar Symposium, Vancouver, British Columbia, 7/23/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Guerra, F.P., Fein, O., Richards, J.H., Stanton, B.J., Sykes, R., Davis, M.F., and Neale, D.B. 2014. Analysis of variation in growth, water use efficiency, chemical properties and metabolome of wood, in Populus trichocarpa provenances. Presentation to the 6th International Poplar Symposium, Vancouver, British Columbia, 7/21/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kallestad, J. Vole and Deer Feeding Preferences for Conal Variants of Poplar: A Role for NIR Spectroscopy in Predicting Consumption Based on Known and Unknown Compounds in Foliage and Bark. Presentation to the 10th Biennial Short Rotation Woody Crop Operations Working Group, Seattle, Washington, 7/18/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kallestad, J. Vole and Deer Feeding Preferences for Varieties of Poplar: A role for near infrared spectroscopy in predicting consumption based on known and unknown compounds in foliage and bark. Presentation to the 6th International Poplar Symposium, Vancouver, British Columbia, 7/20/2014-7/23/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Moser, B.M. Wildlife use of hybrid poplar plantations. Poster presentation to the 10th Biennial Short Rotation Woody Crop Operations Working Group, Seattle, Washington, 7/18/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Busby, P.E., Miller, J., Fraser, S., Smith, D., Peay, K., and Newcombe, G. 2014. Fungal leaf endophytes alter Melampsora severity in Populus trichocarpa. Presentation to the 6th International Poplar Symposium, Vancouver, British Columbia, 7/22/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Stanton, B.J. 2014. Plant domestication in a changing world: poplar markets, plantations, and science. Closing Keynote presentation to the 6th International Poplar Symposium, Vancouver, British Columbia, 7/23/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Nuss, J. 2014. Growing the Future with SRWC. Keynote address to the 10th Biennial Short Rotation Woody Crop Operations Working Group, Seattle, Washington, 7/18/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Townsend, P. 2014. Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest: Renewable Biofuels for the Pacific Northwest. Keynote address to the 10th Biennial Short Rotation Woody Crop Operations Working Group, Seattle, Washington, 7/18/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Parker, N. 2014. Evaluation of the economics of drop-in biofuel production from coppiced poplar grown on suitable rangeland and cropland in the Pacific Northwest. Presentation to the 10th Biennial Short Rotation Woody Crop Operations Working Group, Seattle, Washington, 7/19/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bell, B., Coleman, M., and Bhattarai, B. 2014. How do land management practices affect greenhouse gas budgets? Poster presentation to the 10th Biennial Short Rotation Woody Crop Operations Working Group, Seattle, Washington, 7/17/2014-7/19/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bhattarai, B., Coleman, M., and Heinse, R. 2014. Study of nutrient flux in soil: poplar plantation versus agricultural land. Poster presentation to the 10th Biennial Short Rotation Woody Crop Operations Working Group, Seattle, Washington, 7/17/2014-7/19/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Coleman, M.D. 2014. Using biomass of microbial guilds and soil exoenzymes to assess sustainability of woody biofuel feedstock productions. PS 28-133. Poster presentation to the 99th Ecological Society of America (ESA) Annual Meeting, Sacramento, California, 8/12/2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bura, R., Moving towards commercialization of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. 2013 BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, June 16-19, 2013 Montr�al, Canada.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Hart. Q., O. Prilepova, J. Merz, V. Bandaru, N.C. Parker, B.M. Jenkins. 2015. Modeling Poplar Growth as a Short Rotation Woody Crop for Biofuels. PLOS biology. Under Review.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Bandaru, V., N. C. Parker, Q. Hart, B-L Yeo, O. Prilepova, J. Merz, M.Jenner, S. Kaffka and B. Jenkins. 2015. Hybrid Poplar as a Green Energy Supply Source in the Pacific Northwest Region. California Agriculture. Awaiting Publication.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Yuanzhe, L., P.W. Tittmann, B.M. Jenkins. 2015. The impact of combined torrefaction and pelletization process on forestry biomass supply chain in California. Bioresource Technology. Under Review.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2015 Citation: Budsberg, E., Crawford, J., Bura, R., Gustafson, R., Puettmann, M. Ethanologens vs. Acetogens: Environmental impacts of two bioethanol fermentation pathways. Biomass and Bioenergy. Under Review.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bandaru V, C.D. Jones, R.C. Izaurralde, Q. Hart, and B. Jenkins. 2014. Modeling Hybrid Poplar As Short Rotation Crop Using EPIC model. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual meeting, Long Beach, CA: Nov 2Nov 5, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Y. Li, Y. Fan, N. Parker, Q. Hart. 2014. Modeling the Biofuel Supply Chain System from Dedicated Energy Crop under Uncertainty. Presented at the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) Annual Meeting 2014. San Francisco, CA. November 9-12, 2014.


Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences include the USDA, legislators, policy makers, foresters, land managers, farming contractors, Native American tribes, rural communities, researchers, educators, students, and the general public. Changes/Problems: The renewable fuels business environment has changed, and AHB has modified our approach to meet our Conversion program objectives. Prior to last year, Conversion work primarily focused on ZeaChem developing an alcohol to hydrocarbon process at a demonstration facility (Boardman biorefinery) scale. We completed catalysis development and engineering for this process up through the dehydration step. In addition, our team developed a novel sensor which will significantly improve hydrolysis and fermentation processes in commercial biorefineries. ZeaChem halted this work because of their difficult financial situation. Feedback from the AHB Advisory Board and USDA at the AHB 2013 annual project review strongly suggested that we focus on near-term strategies toward commercialization while maintaining research lines that will facilitate deployment of a large scale biofuels industry of the Pacific Northwest. ZeaChem is now on sound financial footing and AHB is adjusting the Conversion program to support the commercialization of a moderate scale biorefinery producing acetic acid and fermentable C6 sugars while continuing the research necessary to develop a process to produce hydrocarbons that can be deployed when the market for these biofuels becomes stronger. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Undergraduate Students: The project provided training to over 50 undergraduate students, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: trained in techniques to prepare leaf and wood samples for phenotypic analyses assisted in the laboratory and field to gain valuable research skills introduced fluorescent protein markers into some of the endophyte strains for verifying the ability of the endophytes to colonize the GreenWood clones increasing drought tolerance in poplar with endophytes molecular characterization of endophytes from wild poplar quantification of N fixation in poplar trained on plant microbiology and plant physiology worked on fermentation of sugars to acetic acidmodeling acetic acid purification technology focused on process modeling, especially acetic acid and other co-product purification and production participated in training and administration of Computer Assisted Telephone Survey (CATS) assisted with a poplar community survey transcribed social impact interview records developed bioenergy education curriculum presented teacher workshops as part of the bioenergy education program staffed the Summer Bridge to College Program performed program development and assessment of the bioenergy education program developed evaluation tools necessary to collect data long-term impacts and outcomes for the bioenergy education program enrolled in the Bioenergy Minor program enrolled in the BioResource Research Bioenergy Option enrolled in the BioResource Research and Microbiology: Bioenergy Option program Graduate Students: The project provided training and professional development to 29 graduate students, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: worked on RNA extraction and qPCR worked on TALEN constructs and ZFN transformation and analysis worked on the endophyte project inoculated GreenWood Resources poplar varieties with wild poplar endophytes tracked colonization using fluorescence quantified impacts of endophytes on poplar growth and health helped with the poplar microbiome study assisted with the assembly of the reactor system, catalyst synthesis, and experimental runs mentored undergraduate research students interested in learning about biofuels participated on the conversion experiments and will carry out the tests to evaluate combustion properties led bioconversion efforts of whole poplar tree to acetic acid using steam pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation worked on the utilization of Raman spectroscopy to follow in real time conversion of sugars from steam pretreated whole poplar tree and white wood poplar chips to acetic acid via fermentation worked on both the process conversion sensor and control work provided technical support for the life cycle analysis research led ASPEN modeling and techno-economic analysis trained in the use of the GBSM model and in spatial analysis of fuel demand and other spatial modeling and consumer choice assessment trained in use of the GBSM model and expanded model to incorporate additional pretreatment alternatives for supply chain optimization developed assessment of air quality regulations and methods for project spatial emissions to incorporate into the GBSM model environment worked on development of the 3PG model for poplar growth and yield assessment performed administration and supervision of general population computer assisted telephone survey worked on participant recruitment and scheduling of farmer focus group interviews; pre-analysis of focus group interviews supervised focus group and interview transcription work worked on literature review of public perceptions and attitudes towards bioenergy assisted with administration of survey of community perceived impacts, support, and social feasibility of hybrid poplar plantations Post-Doctorates: The project provided training and professional development to 9 post-doctorates, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: worked on project management learned techniques of sample collection worked on statistical and genetic analyses of phenotypic and genotypic data worked on DNA constructs, gene expression, and flower morphology performed literature analyses worked on biorefinery siting model (GBSM) trained in BCAM and IMPLAN models performed analyses and reporting of speaking engagement study implemented community perceived impact and social feasibility of hybrid poplar plantations survey Research Staff: The project provided training and professional development to 6 research staff, who have contributed to this project in the following ways: trained in techniques to prepare leaf and wood samples for phenotypic analyses, as well as in protocols for genotyping by sequence capture worked on increasing drought tolerance in poplar using wild poplar endophytes quantified impacts of endophytes on poplar growth and health assisted with teaching. In 2013 (20 students) and 2014 (12 students) tought: Plant microbiology lab class of undergraduate and graduate students characterized wild poplar endophytes in terms of phosphate solubilization, phytohormone production, and growth impacts on plants worked on the optimization of sugars from hybrid poplar to acetic acid fermentation led ASPEN modeling and techno-economic analysis worked on low impact pest control trained in quality chemical measurements of condensed tannins and protein and collection of NIR spectral data assisted with the captive deer feeding preference study at the Wild Ungulate Facility in Pullman Students and Teachers: 24 students and 49 teachers were trained by the AHB Education program at Oregon State University 10 teachers and one staff member participated in bioenergy workshops 40 teachers, two staff members, and two paraprofessionals participated in SMILE teacher workshops and served as afterschool science club advisors 15 students participated in the 1st cohort of the Bioenergy/Plant/Resource Recovery Operations program How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Our researchers completed several outreach activities to high school and college students, as well as to the general public. The Extension team assisted GreenWood Resources, Inc. in identifying and leasing four demonstration sites. We have documented research activities and conducted public field tours at all four sites. Extension, the UW Social Impact Assessment team, and the Rural Technology Initiative team collaborated in their efforts to identify focus group members and parcel level data in states beyond Washington. Our Extension team also collaborated with the Extension teams from the other AFRI CAPs through the formation of a national working group. The Extension Team has convened meetings with other Extension personnel in the four-state region and has cooperated with personnel from NARA, the complementary USDA-NIFA funded woody biofuels grant, to develop a unified outreach effort to policy makers. Surveys conducted and meetings held have helped the team identify outreach opportunities and barriers with landowners as well as other Extension personnel in the region. The extension team engaged in significant outreach efforts including 38 presentations, 12 poster presentations, 6 display booths, 5 webinars, and 7 tours and demonstrations. These endeavors reached approximately 4,000 people. We released 7 newsletters, 5 policymaker briefings, and created a variety of posters, pamphlets, and fact sheets. We established a comprehensive website, along with 4 social media sites, featuring 5 professionally-produced streaming videos. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Feedstock The Feedstock Team will focus on the following tasks in Year 4: Establishment and Operation of Phase I Farms Exploratory Poplar and Alder Hybridization Genomics of Hybrid Poplar ZFN Tools for Poplar Genetic Transformation Endophytes for Low-Input Poplar Silviculture NIR Screening for Low Impact Pest Control Biomass Production Study Optimization of Harvest Efficiency and Logistics Sustainability-Environmental Conversion The work plan for the Conversion Team has been adjusted to reflect increased focus on near-term commercial outcomes. The deteriorating business environment for biorefining is driving the industry to “capital light” deployment strategies that take advantage of existing infrastructure and improve profitability by co-producing chemicals along with fuels. Adjustments to the original work plan de-emphasize the Alcohol-To-Hydrocarbons component, add new work components along the entire conversion chain, and improve integration between the Feedstock and Conversion teams. The modified work plan is responsive to feedback provided to the Project Director and Team Leader from the USDA, the Advisory Board, and the rest of the project team. 1. Alcohol-To-Hydrocarbons The original scope of work considered the installation and operation of a set of four skids to implement a complete Alcohol-To-Hydrocarbons demonstration at ZeaChem’s IBR Facility in Boardman, Oregon. This set of work components was de-emphasized as part of re-scoping for near-term commercial outcomes. The plan now consists of installation and operation of an alcohol dehydration skid to produce olefins, and a lab-scale catalysis program on the conversion of ethanol/ethylene into hydrocarbon fuels. 2. Hydrolysis Production of low-cost hydrolyzates suitable for fermentation remains a key technical hurdle for biorefinery deployment. This set of tasks is aimed at ensuring hydrolyzates produced from enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated leafy coppiced hybrid poplar chips are suitable for commercial operations. These subtasks enable the “capital light” commercial deployment strategy of adding a biomass hydrolysis unit to an existing industrial fermentation facility, and thus are aligned with ZeaChem’s near-term commercialization plans. 3. Enzymatic Hydrolysis ZeaChem’s IBR Facility is currently configured to produce hydrolyzate using two-stage dilute acid technology. This task will install and operate an upgrade to the system that enables enzymatic hydrolysis on a trial basis. 4. Fermentation and Recovery Conversion of hydrolyzates into higher-value chemicals is a strategy the industry is following to improve profitability beyond a fuels-only biorefinery. ZeaChem plans to produce acetic acid and acetate salts as the chemical products from its initial biorefineries. Acetic acid is a ~12.7 million metric ton/year market and the material is used as an intermediate in the production of a number of chemicals including: vinyl acetate monomer, a precursor for latex paints and athletic shoe soles; acetic anhydride, a precursor for cellulose acetate fibers; solvent for terephthalic acid manufacture, a precursor of PET resins used in plastic soda bottles and man-made fibers for clothing; acetate esters used as coatings and solvents; monochloroacetic acid, a precursor for herbicides and other specialty chemicals; and acetate salts, used as de-icers for airport runways and roadways in environmentally sensitive areas. 5. Pilot Plant Upgrades ZeaChem currently uses the seed-train subsystem at its IBR Facility as a pilot plant to test concepts prior to their implementation at larger scales. ZeaChem’s laboratory work to date has shown that advanced fermentor designs result in significant improvements in acetic acid yield, titer, and volumetric productivity compared to the standard batch protocols currently in use at the IBR Facility. Furthermore, ZeaChem’s potential commercial customers are requesting drumscale samples of commercial-grade potassium acetate de-icers (50 wt% aqueous solution, per specifications in SAE AMS1435), which are currently difficult for ZeaChem to produce. 6. Lab-Scale Microbiology and Acetic Acid Recovery ZeaChem practices continuous improvement to drive down production costs of its products over time. Two key drivers of acetic acid process economics are the performance of the fermentation micro-organism(s) and improved methods for recovery of acetic acid from dilute fermentation broths. 7. Raman spectroscopy to follow real time conversion of sugars from steam pretreated poplar chips Use of Raman spectroscopy to follow in real time production of acetic acid from steam pretreated whole poplar tree poplar chips during fermentation will be assessed. Progress of sugars (whole poplar tree and white wood poplar chips) to acetic acid fermentation using Raman spectroscopy will be analyzed in laboratory fermenters. Raman models to follow in real time production of acetic acid during fermentation will be developed. Sustainability Planned activities for Year 4 build upon sustainability research in years 1 – 3 and leverages long standing expertise in our laboratories. Our goal is to support the near-term launching of a moderate scale commercial acetic acid production facility while maintaining the research on the production of drop-in fuels. The sustainability research is broken down into the following major areas: Model 100,000 ton/yr biomass capacity biorefinery for acetic acid production Refine and enhance biorefinery models of ZeaChem C2 platform with emphasis on producing a portfolio of products Perform an in-depth study of water usage within the biorefinery Configuring GBSM to determine the optimum locations of 100,000 ton/y biomass feedstock capacity biorefineries for acetic acid production Modeling environmental impacts associated with regional poplar production Multi-criteria optimization for biorefinery siting Incorporating time function in GBSM Integration of depot-model with GBSM Stochastic analysis of the biofuel supply chain Developing a module in IMPLAN for representing bio-refinery technology Developing decision support tools Improving the natural resource lands database Refining the site suitability analysis Extension The Extension Team will continue their outreach activities and the development of materials and tools that landowners interested in growing poplar feedstock may use. The Extension Team will support near-term commercialization by communicating the economic potential and environmental benefits of an industry producing renewable biofuels and bio-based chemicals to all stakeholders. Social impact assessment will focus on environmental professionals and potential poplar tree farm land owners. Social impact analysis will continue with interviews, surveys, and compilation of results. Education The overall goals for Year 4 for all components of the Education project are to expand collaborations, outreach, and communication; to increase the regional and national impacts of the educational programs, while building stronger connections between elements of our educational pipeline; and continuing to develop, assess and revise the courses, degree programs, and educational material put in place during the first three years of the project. We will also work toward using the programs we have built to leverage further support and build regional excellence in the connected fields of agriculture and energy.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Feedstock The Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest project (AHB) is demonstrating the economic viability of hybrid poplar plantations as a source of feedstock in the Pacific Northwest that supports ZeaChem’s future biorefinery operations. Four regions were identified where potential commercial biorefinery operations will likely be established. Demonstration farms varying in size between 50 and 100 acres were successfully established within each region. Two sites planted during year one were successfully harvested using the Case New Holland FR Bioharvester at the conclusion of the second growing season; the efficiency of the harvest operations was quantified by the State University of New York’s time and motion studies. Two 2013 plantings will be harvested in the fourth year. A fifth planting was established in Year 3 in the southeast, in collaboration with AFRI’s Integrated Biomass Supply System project. The Feedstock production team also advanced a number of AHB projects to improve the silviculture and long-term sustainability of feedstock plantings. Conversion Accomplishments of the Conversion Team for the first three years of the project centered on development of scalable conversion technologies to profitably produce biofuels and bio-based chemicals. This research includes development of processes to convert alcohols to hydrocarbons, and new sensors and control systems to improve the efficiency of sugar recovery from poplar feedstock. Recently we have begun research to improve the process yields and lower costs associated with steam pretreatment and carbohydrate enzymatic hydrolysis, especially when whole tree feedstock are being used. Sustainability The sustainability research team focused on six different objectives: 1. Completed a cradle to grave life cycle assessment analysis of producing jet biofuel using ZeaChem’s C2 platform 2. Completed a techno-economic analysis of jet biofuel using ZeaChem’s C2 platform 3. Completed site suitability analysis that identifies the areas of the Pacific Northwest best suited for growing hybrid poplar under non-irrigated and irrigated conditions 4. Completed the development and application of a poplar plant growth model in the Pacific Northwest region 5. Completed the land use change analysis using the Bioenergy Crop Adoption Model (BCAM) to determine the poplar adoption behavior at different market prices in the Pacific Northwest region 6. Completed a geospatial analysis of the Pacific Northwest study region for optimized biorefinery siting and systemwide sustainability analysis Extension Extension serves as the communication hub for the entire AHB project. The team develops all the AHB outreach materials and works with each project team to ensure we have thoroughly integrated programs. Extension reaches out to all potential AHB stakeholders including landowners, policy makers, and the general public. The work with landowners is especially noteworthy as they will be critical to development of a regional biofuels and bio-based chemical industry. The AHB Extension team has strong connections with the Extension teams on all the AFRI CAP projects, especially the Washington State University-based NARA program. Social impact assessment research is included with Extension. Data from the social impact assessment will enable us to develop an outreach strategy that addresses stakeholder needs and concerns. Education The AHB Education team developed programs for middle school students and teachers all the way through a professional master’s program. Oregon State University (OSU) and Walla Walla Community College are the lead institutions for the AHB Education program. AHB Education is training the next generation of operators, engineers, and managers for the emerging biofuels and bio-based chemicals industry. In addition, the team is developing education materials for all students interested in renewable fuels and energy and is using renewables as a vehicle to stimulate interest in math and science for middle school and high school students – especially those in rural and poor communities.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Klocko, A., Stanton, B., van Oosten, C., and Strauss, SH. (2013) Green Revolution Plantations: Could Short Trees be a Big Thing? Information Systems for Biotechnology News Report, May 2013: 7-9. Available online at: http://www.isb.vt.edu/isb-news-report.aspx
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Klocko, A., R. Meilan, R.R. James, V. Viswanath, C. Ma, P. Payne, L. Miller, J.S. Skinner, B. Oppert, G.A. Cardineau, and S.H. Strauss 2014. Cry3Aa transgene expression reduces insect damage and improves growth in field-grown hybrid poplar. Can. J. For. Res. 44: 2835.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Raghavendra, A.K.H. & Newcombe, G. (2013) The contribution of foliar endophytes to quantitative resistance to Melampsora rust. New Phytologist, 197, 909918.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Busby, P. 2013. Presentation of results in endophyte research at the annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America (2013).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Doty, S. 2014. Endophyte research results at the International Poplar Commission meeting in Gisbourne, New Zealand (Mar 2014).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Doty, S. 2013. University of Washington Genome Sciences symposium on June 13, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Baum, A. 2013. Tracking symbiotic nitrogen-fixing microbes inside hybrid Populus. Invited speaker at the 2013 Northwest branch meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Seattle, Washington. November 16, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Gantz, C. 2014. Poplar Tree Improvement for Biomass Production in the Pacific Northwest, 2014 Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels+Co-Products Conference in Seattle, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Strauss, SH. March 2014. Sterility technologies in trees as a means for avoiding the wilding problem with exotic and transgenic forest trees: State of science. New Zealand national government multi-agency meeting, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Strauss, SH. March 2014. Status of crop biotechnology in the USA: Science and regulation. New Zealand national government agency meeting, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Strauss, SH. March 2014. Forest biotechnology: The communication challenges and opportunities. Scion Research Institute, New Zealand.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Strauss, SH. February 2014. The controversy over GMO crops: Finding our way. Institute of Food Technology, Oregon Division, Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Summers, B. 2014. Bruce Summers: Agricultural Solutions for Forestry Problems 2014 Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels+Co-Products Conference in Seattle, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Zerpa, J.: 2014. "Poplar Plantation Management for Biomass Production in the PNW", 2014 Northwest Wood-Based Biofuels+Co-Products Conference in Seattle, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Schmitt, E., Ehsanipour, M., Bura, R., and Gustafson, R., Kinetic modeling of M. thermoacetica growth on single and dual substrates, 36th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Clearwater, Florida, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bura, R., Biofuels and Bioproducts Laboratory, TAPPI Conference, Seattle, Washington, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bura, R., and Gustafson, R., Online analysis and process control essential for development of economically viable and sustainable processes converting biomass to fuels and chemicals, II National Symposium of Biorefineries, Brasilia, Brazil, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bura, R., Needs for real time process monitoring for biomass to biofuels and biochemicals industry, CPAC Conference, Seattle, Washington, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Dou, C., and Bura, R., Post steam explosion refining to increase cellulose conversion during enzymatic hydrolysis, 35th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Portland, Oregon, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bura, R., Ewanick, S., Budsberg, E., Crawford, J., Marquardt, B., Gustafson, R., Moving towards commercialization of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. Northwest Bioenergy Research Symposium, Seattle, Washington, 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bura, R., Ewanick, S., Thompson, W., Gustafson, R., and Marquardt, B., Utilization of Raman spectroscopy to measure in the real time progress of processing lignocellulosics to biofuels and biochemicals, NSERC Bioconversion Network Pretreatment Workshop, Vancouver, Canada, 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bura, R., Ewanick, S., Revolutionary sensor to measure in the real time the progress of hydrolysis and fermentation for production of biofuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass, 34th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, New Orleans, 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bura, R., Ewanick, S., Thompson, W., Gustafson, R., and Marquardt, B., Advanced biorefinery processes and measurements, Centre for Process Analytical Chemistry (CPAC) Conference, Seattle, Washington, 2012.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Murphy. C and N. Parker. 2014. Effects of Air Pollution Control Costs on U.S. Biofuel System Development. Environmental Science and Technology. 48(4) 2157-2164.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Prilepova. O., Q. Hart, J. Merz, N. C. Parker, V. Bandaru, B. Jenkins. 2014. Design of a GIS-based Web Application for Simulating Biofuel Feedstock Yields. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information (submitted).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Budsberg, E., Crawford, J., Bura, R., Gustafson, R. Ethanologens vs. acetogens: Comparing environmental impacts of two fermentation pathways to produce bioethanol Washington Pulp and Paper Foundation 2013 Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington. May 23, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Budsberg, E., J. Crawford, W.S. Chin, R. Bura, R. Gustafson. 2013. Life Cycle Assessment for Advanced Biofuel Production from Poplar Feedstock. 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops. Washington DC October 14.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Budsberg, E. 2013. Life cycle assessment of biofuels produced from short rotation woody crops. Master of Science thesis defense. Seattle Washington November 22.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Crawford, J. 2013. Techno-economic analysis of hydrocarbon biofuels from poplar biomass. Master of Science thesis defense. Seattle Washington December 5.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Yeo, B.-L., N. Parker, M. Jenner, S. Kaffka. 2014. The Bioenergy Crop Adoption Model (BCAM): Economics of sustainably producing hybrid poplars as a short-rotation woody biomass feedstock in the Pacific Northwest. Northwest Wood-based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, Washington, April 28- 30, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Gustafson, R., Crawford, J. Techno/economic Analysis of Biojet Fuel 2013 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, Montreal, June, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Gustafson, R. Budsberg, J. LCA of Biojet Fuel 2013 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, Montreal, June, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Gustafson, R. et al. AHB  Sustainable Production of Fuels and Chemicals from Woody Biomass, 2013, Plenary lecture, AIChE Annual Meeting, San Francisco, November, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Crawford, J., E. Budsberg, W.S. Chin, R. Bura, R. Gustafson. 2013. Techno-economic analysis of Hydrocarbon biofuels from poplar biomass. Washington Pulp and Paper Foundation 2013 Annual Conference. Seattle Washington. May 23.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Gustafson, R. 2014. Sustainable Production of Fuels and Chemicals from Wood Biomass  A Comprehensive Approach. 36th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. Clearwater, Florida, April 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bandaru. V., Q. Hart, O. Prilepova, J. Mertz, N. Parker, B. Jenkins. 2014. Can Short Rotation Hybrid Poplar Be a Promising Sustainable Energy Supply Source in Pacific Northwest Region? Northwest Wood-based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, Washington, April 28-30, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Parker. N., M. Jenner, J. Crawford, Q. Hart, S. Boucarum, Y. Li, P. Tittmann, S. Kaffka, B. Jenkins. 2014. Understanding the Economics of Poplar-based Jet Fuels in the Pacific Northwest. 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany June 23-June 26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hart. Q., O. Prelipova, N. Parker, J. Merz, P. Tittmann, B. Jenkins. 2014. Modeling poplar growth as a short-rotation woody crop for biofuels in the Pacific Northwest. Northwest Wood-based Biofuels + Co-Products Conference, Seattle, Washington, April 28-30, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bandaru. V., N. Parker, Q. Hart, O. Prilepova, J. Mertz, S. Kaffka, B. Jenkins. 2014. Developing an integrated sustainability framework for the assessment of poplar based bioenergy systems. International Bioenergy & Bioproducts Conference, Tacoma, Washington, September 17- 19, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hart. Q., O. Prelipova, N. Parker, J. Merz, P. Tittmann, B. Jenkins. 2014. Modeling poplar growth as a short-rotation woody crop for biofuels in the Pacific Northwest. 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany June 23-June 26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bandaru. V., Q. Hart, O. Prilepova, J. Mertz, N. Parker, B. Jenkins. 2014. Net Energy and Water Implications Associated with Regional Poplar Production for Biofuels on Marginal Lands. 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany June 23-June 26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Bandaru. V., N. Parker, Q. Hart, O. Prilepova, J. Mertz, Y. Li, S. Boucarum, S. Kaffka, B. Jenkins. 2014. Integrated Modeling Framework for Bioenergy Sustainability Assessment; A Case Study Determining Sustainable Biorefinery Systems in the State of California, USA. 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany June 23-June 26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Murphy. C. and A. Kendall. 2014. Life Cycle Analysis of Biochemical Cellulosic Ethanol Production Using Corn Stover and Switchgrass Feedstock, Under Multiple Scenarios. 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany June 23-June 26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Murphy. C., G. Lade, L. Price, B. Yeo, and A. Kendall. 2014. Soil Organic Carbon Impacts from Corn Stover Harvest: An Aggregated Analysis of 20 Experimental Studies. 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany June 23-June 26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Zobrist, K.W., P. A. Townsend, S. Kar, and N. Haider. National Energy Extension Conference. Fort Collins, Colorado. April 30, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kar. S.P. Producing Transportation Fuels from Sustainably Grown Hybrid Poplars: A Pacific Northwest Initiative. North American Agroforestry Conference and Poplar Council. Prince Edward Island, Canada. June 21, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Zobrist, K.W., P. A. Townsend, S. Kar, and N. Haider. 2013. Information, development, and transfer to accelerate deployment of advanced biofuels in the Pacific Northwest. 25th Annual AAIC Meeting, Washington, D.C. October 2013.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Townsend P. A., N. Haider, S. Kar, and K. W. Zobrist. Biofuels: Solutions for Renewable Energy in the Pacific Northwest. Sound Living. November 9, 2013, Everett, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Zobrist, K.W. AHB Overview and Update. North Puget Sound Society of American Foresters. Burlington, Washington. February 26, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Funck, J.W., Kar, S., Townsend, P.A., & Zobrist, K.W. (2012). Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest: Project Overview. Northwest Bioenergy Research Symposium, Seattle, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Kar, S., Townsend, P.A., Funck, J.W., & Zobrist, K.W. (2012). Preparing the Northwest for Hardwood Biofuels: Extension's Role. Bioenergy Research Symposium, Seattle, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Kar, S., Townsend, P.A., Funck, J.W., & Zobrist, K.W. (2012). Preparing the Northwest for Hardwood Biofuels: Extension's Role. Society of American Foresters National Convention, Spokane, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Kar, S., Townsend, P.A., Funck, J.W., & Zobrist, K.W. (2012). Preparing the Pacific Northwest for Hardwood Biofuels: Extensions Role. Future Energy Conference, Seattle, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Funck, J.W., Kar, S., Townsend, P.A., & Zobrist, K.W. (2012). Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest: Project Overview. Future Energy Conference, Seattle, Washington.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Townsend P. A., N. Haider, S. Kar, and K. W. Zobrist. Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest: Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Biofuels. International Biomass Conference and Expo. Minneapolis, Minnesota. April 9, 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Townsend, P.A., Kar, S., Haider, N., Funck, J., & Zobrist, K.W. (2013). Extension: A Critical Component to a Successful Hardwood Biofuels Industry. Forest Products Society and Society of Wood Science and Technology convention poster session SWST Annual Convention, Austin, Texas.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Zobrist, K.W., P. A. Townsend, S. Kar, and N. Haider. 2013. Potential barriers to growing hybrid poplar as biofuel feedstock. 25th Annual AAIC Meeting, Washington, D.C.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Talamantes, Adam, M. Halsey-Randall, L. Robichaux, D. Russ-Eft, J. Well, and K. G. Field. 2014. Impacts of the Bioenergy Summer Bridge to College Program. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Bozeman, Montana.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Field, K. G., K. Grzyb, M Halsey-Randall, L. Robichaux, D. Russ-Eft, and J. Well. 2014. Interdisciplinary, Research-based Bioenergy Minor at Oregon State University. North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Annual Conference, Bozeman, Montana.


Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences include the USDA, legislators, policy makers, foresters, land managers, farming contractors, Native American tribes, rural communities, researchers, educators, students, and the general public. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Undergraduate Students: The project provided training to 37 undergraduate students, who have contributed to this project: characterized strains as part of the undergraduate research program worked on the drought tolerance project trained in condensed tannin measurements, field sample collection and preparation, and greenhouse work, and generated laboratory reference data used in the NIR calibrations conducted experiments in the greenhouse and in the field, and analyzed data worked on field trial management helped with Raman sensor development helped with ASPEN modeling assisted with life-cycle assessment (LCA) research conducted some key informant interviews transcribed interviews participated in the Summer Bridge to College program enrolled in Oregon State University’s Bioenergy Minor enrolled in Oregon State University’s Bioresource Research Bioenergy Option Graduate Students: The project provided training and professional development to 31 graduate students, who have contributed to this project: focused on the question of offsite transport and developed protocol for leaching losses reviewed the isoprene literature helped to identify pertinent values to use for impact assessments focused on greenhouse gas emissions and soil exoenzyme activities, and applied these techniques in a managed forest bioenergy system where residual biomass is utilized for biofuel production led the colonization studies using fluorescent microscopy worked on TALEN constructs worked on ZFN transformation and analysis led the control system development, worked on both the process conversion sensor and control work as well as provided technical support for the LCA research led the Raman sensor development led the life cycle assessment research led the ASPEN modeling research and the techno/economic assessment trained in the use of the GBSM model and in spatial analysis of fuel demand and other spatial modeling and consumer choice assessment trained in use of the GBSM model and expanded model to incorporate additional pretreatment alternatives for supply chain optimization developed assessment of air quality regulations and methods for project spatial emissions to incorporate into the GBSM model environment worked on development of the 3PG model for poplar growth and yield assessment assisted with interviews and performed media content analysis participated in survey design and administration conducted some interviews participated in program development and student recruitment served as staff for the Summer Bridge to College Program developed courses for Biorefinery Processes, Biorefinery Operations, Bio-Chemical Conversion, and Thermo-Chemical Conversion developed curriculum presented to teacher workshops developed evaluation tools necessary to collect data long-term impacts and outcomes worked on program development and assessment Post-Doctorates: The project provided training and professional development to 9 post-doctorates, who have contributed to this project: worked on leaf and wood sample collection and preparation, and statistical and genetic analyses of phenotypic and genotypic data worked on DNA constructs, gene expression, and flower morphology worked on literature analysis helped with project management and with the Raman sensor development led the geospatial modeling, including the GBSM model, and transportation modeling managed the implementation of the GBSM model conducted most of the interviews Research Scientist: The project provided training and professional development to one Research Scientist, who led the drought tolerance study. SMILE Teacher Workshop Participants and Afterschool Science Club Advisors: The project provided training and professional development to 21 teachers through the SMILE teacher workshops. Each of the 21 teachers serves as an aftershool science club advisor. Instructors: Dr. Carri LeRoy provided project participants with training in condensed tannin extraction methods and the acid-butanol assay method. She also provided essential assistance in field sample collection, and has provided consulting services for analyzing the data. Dr. Kari VanZee served as an instructor for the SMILE August teacher workshop and Summer Bridge to College Program. Professor Sharon Doty initiated a new plant microbiology lab course in spring 2013 in which she trained over 20 students in characterizing the poplar endophytes in terms of growth, phytohormone production, and plant growth promotion. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? FEEDSTOCK: Our feedstock researchers completed several outreach activities to high school and college students, as well as to the general public: Busby, P. “Fungal endophytes for disease resistance,” presentation to University of Washington Professor Sharon Doty’s College of Natural Resources 522 Plant-Microbe Interactions class, February 2013. Doty, S., and Baum, A. Workshops to high school girls at the Expanding Your Horizons conference in Edmonds, WA in 2012. Doty, S. Workshops to high school girls at the Expanding Your Horizons conference in Edmonds, WA in 2013. Doty, S. Exhibit of our endophyte research at the Pacific Science Center during the University of Washington Paws on Science event, 2012, teaching hundreds of people about plant-microbe symbioses. Doty, S. Exhibit of our endophyte research at the Pacific Science Center during the University of Washington Paws on Science event, 2013, teaching hundreds of people about plant-microbe symbioses. LeRoy, C. Used our study as a case study in her Masters in Environmental Studies Program teaching at Evergreen State College (2012). Strauss, S. Workshop/lecture to high school students in Apprenticeships in Science and Engineering Midsummer Conference: “Genetic Engineering of Plants: How it works and why it’s controversial.” 19 July, 2012. EXTENSION: Broader outreach efforts have included 15 oral presentations, 7 poster presentations, and 6 display booths. This has reached more than 2,500 people, of which over 15% were minorities. We have established a robust online presence, including a completely redesigned website and regular social media engagement. The Extension team facilitated selection of four feedstock demonstration sites and is regularly documenting the activities at those sites with photos and video footage. We have held a public information meeting for neighbors at one of the sites. Joint AHB/NARA fact sheet and quarterly newsletters have been developed for key policymakers and a joint AHB/NARA meeting for Oregon state agency personnel was held. We are working with Extension counterparts from the other AFRI bioenergy CAP projects around the nation to share ideas and resources. A central database of interested parties and constituents has been created. The Social Feasibility and Impact Assessments Team (SFIAT) has done 34 speaking engagements and 9 key informant interviews, with a total of 201 participants. The speaking engagements were distributed throughout the study area, with 10 in Washington, 9 in Oregon, 7 in Idaho, 3 in Montana, and 5 in California. SFIAT is developing two social marketing strategies for promoting the production of feedstock: one for farmers who have grown hybrid poplar before, and the other for those who have never grown hybrid poplar. EDUCATION: We established a curriculum outline and a program evaluation logic model that serves as a detailed, long-term guide for bioenergy K-12 education outreach. We held workshop sessions for the High School Science and Math Investigative Learning Experience (SMILE) teachers. Eleven hour-long teaching activities linked to state and national science standards were presented to teachers during workshops last year. These workshops deliver curriculum and materials necessary to engage unrepresented minority youth in bioenergy education. Ten high school programs (over 200 students) participated in activities designed to increase their scientific knowledge and increase their interest in pursuing future academic programs/careers related to bioenergy. Eleven students participated in a 13-day residential “Bridge to College" program. These students were selected from underrepresented minorities, first generation college students and/or from underserved high schools. We delivered a bioenergy themed workshop session to middle and high school teachers as part of the NASA funded Oregon State University College of Forestry Climate Change workshop. Oregon State University offered an introductory interdisciplinary bioenergy themed U-Engage course for first year students to raise awareness and interest in the field of Bioenergy. Oregon State University’s Bioenergy Research-Based Minor has attracted and interdisciplinary group of students, consisting of undergraduate students from a wide variety of majors including Chemical Engineering, Biological/Ecological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Forestry/Renewable Materials, Botany and Plant Pathology, and Business Management. The AAAS degree program in Bioenergy Operations aims to attract Veterans, Incumbent Workers, Career Transition seekers, and Dislocated/Displaced Workers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? FEEDSTOCK: Phase 1 Farms: manage all farms to maintain optimum growth harvest 2 farms Exploratory Poplar and Alder Hybridization: establish additional trials of exploratory taxa collect growth data at all sites harvest 2 trials analyze yield data treatment effects Harvesting and Processing Equipment for Sloped Sites: engage a contract crop harvester to provide poplar biomass harvesting services harvest 84 acres in Oregon and 59 acres in Idaho conduct harvesting time trials by varietal plots for each variety, compare recovered green tons leaving field to pre-harvest inventories evaluate forwarding and transfer equipment for each variety, perform compositional analyses Genomics of Hybrid Poplar: complete phenotype and genotype analyses of experimental population initiate bioinformatic processes to associate genomic and phenotypic information ZFN Tools for Safe Poplar Genetic Transformation: conduct experiments to increase efficiency of ZFN nuclease mutation technology conduct experiments to determine effects of RNAi efficacy observe field trial of sterility-transformed varieties for flowering, other traits propagate additional ZFN-mutated varieties for a 2014 field trial Endophytes for Low-Input Poplar Silviculture: elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying foliar versus root endophyte effects on rust infection conduct mechanistic studies of poplar-endophyte-rust interactions undertake transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of endophyte- and rust-inoculated leaves conduct field trial to study inoculation with individual endophytes versus endophyte communities and effect of timing of inoculation complete molecular and microbial characterization of best-performing endophytes quantify degree of nitrogen-fixation and drought tolerance conferred to host plant by endophytes establish additional field studies to quantify poplar growth benefits of endophytes Screening for Low Impact Pest Control: conduct controlled feeding preference study utilizing selected poplar varieties conduct replicated feeding trial develop additional taxon-specific NIR calibrations develop newly introduced chemical assay as an improved indicator of insect resistance apply NIR technology in a P. trichocarpa phytochemical inheritance study Environmental Sustainability: continue studying sustainability of soil and water resources continue studying impacts on wildlife populations and habitat quality collect reproductive data from lab analyses CONVERSION: Sustainable Jet/Diesel Fuel Production: deploy and test conversion technologies under integrated operating conditions complete installation of skids for drop-in fuels production operate skids to produce truck-load quantities of Jet/Diesel blendstock distribute test quantities of Jet/Diesel blendstock for evaluation by potential customers Biorefinery Sensors and Control: optimize Raman spectroscopy for online monitoring of carbohydrate consumption and acetic acid production during lignocellulosic hydrolyzate to acetic acid fermentation develop a mechanistic model for fermentation of M. thermoacetica using lignocellulosic hydrolyzate develop an advanced control process (APC), that utilizes MPC to make predictions, while simultaneously optimizing system performance SUSTAINABILITY Process Modeling and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): complete techno/economic modeling of ZeaChem C2 platform investigate operational scenarios and new processing technologies provide conversion economic modeling results to project partners modify C2 platform conversion simulation to model production of renewable gasoline using C3 platform modify ASPEN simulation for C3 platform assess capital and operating costs to produce renewable gasoline complete LCA for production of jet fuel investigate methods to account for water use incorporate land use change scenarios into LCAs model life cycle impacts of specific crop conversions to poplar production if indicated, assess broader impacts associated with global land use change upload all appropriate processes into USDA data commons Biorefinery Siting and Rural Economic Impacts: compile integrated Geospatial Bioenergy Systems Model-Bioenergy Crop Adoption Model (GBSM-BCAM) using detailed development scenario datasets extend model integration; refine GBSM and BCAM analysis frameworks and revised 3PG poplar growth model validate poplar growth model against field data conduct scenario analysis using economic results from spatial analysis models through IMPLAN model develop and enhance web-enabled tools to allow more general access to results from spatial analysis models Lands Study: finish collecting and standardizing parcel and tax roll data for Oregon, California, and Idaho finish identifying and prioritizing suitable poplar growing locations continue to develop web-based map service make data sets available for download to public and project collaborators EXTENSION: Extension: develop a communications plan and logic model create significant overall project multimedia including a new website and project videos continue networking and public relations activities develop impact measures investigate economic and environmental factors Social Impact Assessment: develop blue-print social marketing plans for extension to promote hybrid poplar production interview 80 farmers in all states in region identify motivations and perceived barriers inform social marketing plans conduct a survey of the general public to examine perceived impacts of hybrid poplar crops conduct a survey in Boardman, Oregon, where a biofuels refinery is located EDUCATION BioenergyMinor: refine and deliver 2 courses to a new cohort of Bioenergy Minor students develop online/blended versions of these 2 courses develop and offer a new bioenergy themed University-Engage course support faculty development of new Bioenergy courses establish protocols to place Bioenergy students in internships and research projects work to place the first cohort of Bioenergy Minor students in research projects Bioenergy Master’s Degree Pathway: work with pre-existing graduate programs develop a variety of bioenergy tracks/focal areas Bioenergy Evaluation and Administration: implement assessment tools begin to gather long-term data on program elements present new Bioenergy Minor curriculum materials disseminate developed content Bioenergy Outreach: increase participation in Summer Bridge to College program develop and deliver high school-level lesson plans develop and deliver bioenergy education middle school activities refine educational framework investigate bioenergy themed problem-based learning projects and an annual capstone with students from grades 6-12 finalize overall framework for curriculum being developed continue reaching underserved youth in rural communities increase formal outreach and spur greater learning outcomes for program's Ph.D. candidates Community College Programs: expand marketing of Bioenergy Operations program explore an experience-to-credit pathway deliver 6 new core Bioenergy Operations courses distribute scholarships to Northwest Community and Technical Colleges (NW CTCs) secure MOUs with interested NW CTCs for the Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences degree in Bioenergy Operations finalize articulation agreements with Oregon State University and University of Washington for Associate in Science (Option I/Life Sciences) transfer degree pathway draft articulation agreements with University of Idaho, Washington State University, and University of California-Davis produce an Occupational Guide develop a series of courses/Certificate(s) in Biomass Feedstock Management; seek SBCTC approval purchase bioenergy-related instructional equipment hold Lab Instructor training workshop(s) for Bioenergy Operations begin to engage NW CTCs with labs and activities in Bioenergy initiate development of evaluation tools and assessments

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? FEEDSTOCK: established two demonstration poplar farms in spring 2012, and two more in 2013 Jefferson and Hayden farms performed extremely well during the 2012 growing season with survival in excess of 95% and mean stand height up to six to seven feet established replicated screening trials of 75 experimental poplar varieties of the standard inter-specific hybrid taxa (P. xcanadensis, P. xgenerosa, P.deltoides x P. maximowiczii)at all four Phase I farms established trial of novel alder hybrids at Jefferson evaluated P. trichocarpa breeding population isolated DNA for each variety in the population for SNP detection and Sequence Capture Genotyping successfully created putative sterile poplar varieties using two genetic modification strategies initiated flower induction trials developed genetic selection models for pest resistance greenhouse trials showed that foliar fungal endophytes dramatically reduced leaf rust infection by up to 16 times, whereas bacterial and fungal root endophytes result in more modest declines in poplar rust infection in a field inoculation experiment at Jefferson, leaf endophytes were determined to have reduced leaf rust infection by 50% greenhouse trials showed a significant varietal-specific increase in root biomass in response to nitrogen fixing endophyte inoculums found putative nitrogen-fixing endophytes in poplars at GreenWood’s Boardman Tree Farm providing an explanation as to the high yields realized on a relatively infertile site without nitrogen fertilization established soil monitoring plots in three Phase I tree farms and adjacent agricultural reference fields; monitored soil biological responses and CO2 efflux obtained baseline population samples of birds, small mammals, herpetofauna, insect pollinators and gastropods at Jefferson and Hayden tree farms CONVERSION: completed lab testing of alcohol dehydration and hydrotreating catalysts selected Dehydration Catalyst designed skids for drop-in fuels production developed robust Raman sensor probe and chemometric analysis procedure developed mechanistic model, which will be the basis for an advanced model predictive control system SUSTAINABILITY: developed model basis for geospatial analysis of the Pacific Northwest study region for optimized biorefinery siting and systemwide sustainability analysis integrated Geospatial Bioenergy Systems Model (GBSM) with assessments of crop shifting scenarios for increasing poplar biomass production using the Bioenergy Crop Adoption Model (BCAM) integrated technoeconomic assessment of the ZeaChem biofuel production technology initiated development of poplar growth model based on 3PG biomass growth model expanded and tested GBSM included estimation of air pollution control costs on refinery siting optimization included projections of future ethanol/E85 fuel demand and implications for refinery production decisions and siting analyzed feedstock processing to intermediates and possible incorporation of storage depots in the overall feedstock supply chain design investigated alternative transport model to reduce computational intensity of spatial network analyses tested initial GBSM-BCAM model integration on a subregion (California Central Valley) of the study area developed detailed ASPEN models of the ZeaChem process, and modeled two approaches to hydrogen production completed economic evaluation of production of jet fuel from poplar feedstock, and found significant economies of scale completed crade to gate Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for production of poplar feedstock and found relatively minor impacts of direct land use change and below ground carbon developed LCI models for petroleum based jet fuel based on GREET data, and incorporated a GREET based model into the cradle to grave jet fuel life cycle inventory collected and combined parcel and tax roll data for Washington and Montana into a standardized format in our database collected parcel data for Oregon, and collecting tax roll data collected soil, climate, land classification, and some land use data for five-state region developed a web-based map service to display this data to collaborators and the public developed a process for combining these data to prioritize optimal, marginal, and unsuitable poplar habitat EXTENSION: created database of interested parties and constituents conducted outreach efforts including 15 oral presentations, 7 poster presentations, and 6 display booths. Reached more than 2,500 people, of which over 15% were minorities established a robust online presence, including a completely redesigned website and regular social media engagement facilitated selection of feedstock demonstration sites, and documented the activities at those sites with photos and video footage held a public information meeting for neighbors at one of the sites developed joint AHB/NARA fact sheet and quarterly newsletters for key policymakers held a joint AHB/NARA meeting for Oregon state agency personnel working with Extension counterparts from the other AFRI bioenergy CAP projects around the nation to share ideas and resources Social Feasibility and Impact Assessments Team (SFIAT) completed 34 speaking engagements and 9 key informant interviews, with a total of 201 participants speaking engagements were distributed throughout the study area, with 10 in Washington, 9 in Oregon, 7 in Idaho, 3 in Montana, and 5 in California SFIAT is developing two social marketing strategies for promoting the production of feedstock: one for farmers who have grown hybrid poplar before, and the other for those who have never grown hybrid poplar EDUCATION: developed Bioenergy Research-Based Minor curriculum and took it through the University approval process began minor in Fall 2012 and awarded nine Bioenergy scholarships developed and delivered two bioenergy classes established curriculum outline and program evaluation logic model held workshop sessions for the High School Science and Math Investigative Learning Experience (SMILE) teachers presented eleven hour-long teaching activities linked to state and national science standards to teachers provided ten high school programs (over 200 students participated) with activities designed to increase students’ scientific knowledge and increase their interest in pursuing future academic programs/careers related to bioenergy offered 13-day residential “Bridge to College" program, in which eleven students participated – these students were selected from underrepresented minorities, first generation college students and/or from underserved high schools delivered a bioenergy themed workshop session to middle and high school teachers as part of the NASA funded Oregon State University College of Forestry Climate Change workshop conducted a thorough nationwide review of the Programs of Study at the Community and Technical College level focused exclusively on Biofuels, Bioenergy, Biomass Production, Bioprocess Manufacturing, or Biorefinery Technology was conducted, and found that none are located in the Pacific Northwest held two Develop-a-Curriculum sessions and produced Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes tables, along with Worker Profiles, for “Biomass Feedstock Workers” and “Biomass Plant Operators” drafted articulation agreements for Associate in Science: Option I/Life Sciences transfer degree Oregon State University and University of Washington received approvals for AAAS degree in Bioenergy Operations from Walla Walla Community College's Curriculum Committee and from Washington State's Board for Community and Technical Colleges -- curriculum will start fall 2013

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Doty, S. Presentation to the International Symbiosis Society conference in Krakow, Poland (July 2012).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Dow M, Etherington E, Ma C, Strauss S. Poplar sterility field trial in Corvallis. Tree Biosafety and Genomics Research Cooperative meeting. Corvallis, OR. 18 July 2011. Oral presentation.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Smithhart, X. Presented a poster, Systems For Advanced Bio and Jet fuel Production from Woody Biomass and Coniferous Logging Residuals and Thinnings in the Pacific Northwest at the Society of American Foresters National Convention, Spokane, Washington highlighting GreenWoods role in AHB and NARA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Summers, B. Presentation to the International Wood Composite Symposium, Seattle, Washington Hybrid Poplar, A Tree for all Reasons, (April 13, 2012).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Zerpa, J. Presentation to the IUFRO Conference on Nutrient Dynamics of Planted Forests, Vancouver, Washington (November 28, 2012).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bura, R., Ewanick, S., Ehsanipour, M., Schmitt, E., Budsberg, E., Crawford, J., Marquardt, B., and Gustafson, R. Advanced Biorefinery Processes and Measurements, CPAC conference, Seattle, WA, May, 2013 (oral presentation).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Bura, R., Ewanick, S., Ehsanipour, M., Schmitt, E., Budsberg, E., Crawford, J., Marquardt, B., and Gustafson, R. How can we improve the production of fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass? How to deal with heterogeneous biomass? 35th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Portland, OR, May, 2013 (oral presentation).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Ehsanipour, M., Schmitt, E., Ewanick, S., Gustafson, R., Marquardt, B., and Bura, R. Validating Raman spectroscopy as a method for measuring sugars to acetic acid in real-time during fermentation, 35th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Portland, OR, May, 2013 (poster).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Ehsanipour, M., Schmitt, E., Ewanick, S., Gustafson, R., Marquardt, B., and Bura, R. Validating Raman spectroscopy as a method for measuring sugars to acetic acid in real-time during fermentation, CPAC Conference, Seattle, WA, May, 2013 (poster).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Schmitt, E., Gustafson, R., and Bura, R. Advanced sensors and control systems for biofuels and biochemicals production, 35th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Portland, OR, May, 2013 (poster).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Schmitt, E., Gustafson, R., and Bura, R. Advanced sensors and control systems for biofuels and biochemicals production, CPAC Conference, Seattle, WA, May, 2013 (poster).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Budsberg, E., Crawford J., Bura, R., Gustafson, R. Life Cycle Assessment of Poplar Feedstock to Drop-in Fuels Future Energies Conference. Seattle, WA. 13-14 November 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Budsberg, E., Crawford J., Bura, R., Gustafson, R., Ethanologens vs. acetogens: Comparing environmental impacts of two fermentation pathways to produce bioethanol 35th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. Portland, OR. 29 April-2 May 2013.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Crawford, J., Bura, R., Gustafson, R. Techno-economic analysis of hydrocarbon biofuels from poplar biomass. Future Energy Conference, Seattle, WA. 13-14 November 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Gustafson, R. System For Advanced Biofuels Production From Woody Biomass In The Pacific Northwest, Pacific West Biomass Conference and Trade Show, San Francisco, CA, 16-18 January 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Gustafson, R. Drop-in fuels from hybrid poplar feed stock, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA (American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America) Annual Meetings, October 21-24, 2012.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Parker, N. 2012. Spatially explicit projection of biofuel supply for meeting renewable fuel standard, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2287:72-79.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Garcia, C. Presentation of paper: Forest Residuals versus Hybrid Poplar as Feedstock for Biofuels Production: Social Perspectives. National Convention of the Society of American Foresters, October 24-28, 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Garcia, C. Presentation of paper: Social Impact Assessment of a Sustainable Biofuels Industry in the Pacific Northwest: Community Perspectives. National Convention of the Society of American Foresters, October 24-28, 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Selwitz, J.L. 2013. Bioenergy Education in the Pacific Northwest. NSF Biofuels Workforce Summit, Honolulu, HI (invited presentation).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Jenner, Mark. 2012. Biomass Energy Outlook: The Quest For Advanced Biofuels. BioCycle 53 (11): 53.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2012 Citation: Ewanick, S.M., W. Thompson, B. Marquardt, and R. Bura. 2012. Real-time understanding of lignocellulosic bioethanol fermentation by Raman spectroscopy. Submitted to Biotechnology for Biofuels. October 2012
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Field, K. G., C. Frazier-Barthel, S. Freitas, K. Grzyb, and J. Well. 2012. Bioenergy Education at Oregon State University: The Bioenergy Minor. The Northwest Bioenergy Research Symposium, Seattle, WA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Hybrid Poplar as a Bioenergy Feedstock for the Pacific Northwest, 9th Biennial Short Rotation Woody Crop Operations Working Group Conference, Oakridge-Knoxville, Tennessee, November 6th, 2012. Presented by Dr. Jos� Zerpa, Research Silviculturist, GreenWood Resources, Inc.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: David B. Neale, Mark Davis, Andrew Eckert, Oliver Fiehn, Fernando Guerra, Jason Holliday, John D. Liechty, David Macaya-Sanz, Santiago Martinez-Gonzalez, Rich Shuren, Brian Stanton, Robert Sykes, Stacey Thompson, Chung-Jui Tsai, Giovanni G. Vendramin, Jill L. Wegrzyn, John Yu. Woody Feedstock Development. California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research (CIFAR) Technology Conference XXXI. University of California, Davis, Davis, CA. October 12, 2012.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Fernando Guerra, Mark Davis, Andrew Eckert, Oliver Fiehn, Jason Holliday, John D. Liechty, David Macaya-Sanz, Santiago Martinez-Gonzalez, David B. Neale, Jim Richards, Richard Shuren, Brian Stanton, Robert Sykes, Stacey Thompson, Chung-Jui Tsai, Giovanni G. Vendramin, Jill L. Wegrzyn, John Yu. Association genetics of wood chemical properties in Populus species. International Plant & Animal Genome (PAG) XXI, January 12-16, San Diego, California.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Doty, S. Improving biomass production and phytoremediation using natural endosymbionts of poplar and willow. Presentation to the 24th Session of the International Poplar Commission in Dehradun, India (Oct 29-Nov 2, 2012).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Murphy, Colin, and Nathan C. Parker. 2012. Effects of Air Pollution Control Costs on the Development of a Large-Scale Biofuel Supply System. INFORMS Operations Research Conference. Phoenix.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Pei, Yu, and Nathan Parker. 2012. Projecting Future E85 Demand to Find the Value of Drop-in Biofuels. NextSTEPS Fall Symposium. Davis.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Crawford, J., Gustafson, R., Bura, R., Budsberg, E., Chin, W. April 29-May 2, 2013. "Techno-economic analysis of hydrocarbon biofuels from poplar biomass. 35th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Portland, OR.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Kar, S.P. Preparing the Pacific Northwest for Hardwood Biofuels. ANREP Newsletter. Fall, 2012. pp. 11-13. Available online at: http://www.anrep.org/newsletters/ANREPfall2012newsletterb.doc/view, link verified 7/11/2013.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Vining KJ, Contreras R, Ranik M, Strauss SH. 2012. Genetic Methods for Mitigating Invasiveness of Woody Ornamental Plants: Research Needs and Opportunities. HortScience. 47(9):1210-1216.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Lu, H., Klocko, A., Dow, M., Ma, C., Amarasinghe, V., and Strauss, S. H. (2013) Zinc Finger Nuclease Based Mutagenesis for Genetic Containment in Poplar. National Institute of Food and Agriculture Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program Annual Project Directors Meeting (Poster). Riverdale, Maryland.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Strauss S, Ault K. 3rd generation sterility field trial. Tree Biosafety and Genomics Research Cooperative meeting. Corvallis, OR. 15 November 2012. Oral presentation.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2013 Citation: Busby, P, Zimmerman, N, Weston, DJ, Houbraken, J, Newcombe, G. 2013. Leaf endophytes and host genotype in Populus affect severity of damage from the necrotrophic leaf pathogen, Drepanopeziza populi Ecosphere.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Townsend, P.A., Funck, J.W., Kar, S.P., & Zobrist, K.W. 2013. Preparing the Pacific Northwest for Hardwood Biofuels: Extension Partnerships. Abstract. International Biomass Conference, Minneapolis, MN. April 8-10.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Doty, S. Presentation to the 2nd annual symbiosis conference in Yosemite (May 2012).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Doty, S. Presentation to the World Congress on In Vitro Biology conference in Bellevue (June 2012).


Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: FEEDSTOCK: Poplar plantations totaling 138 acres have been established. Initial wildlife and soil quality sampling has commenced. Lease agreements for two additional plantation sites are near completion. Greenhouse experiments on poplar trees have shown that foliar fungal endophytes reduce leaf rust up to 16 times. Bacterial and fungal root endophytes result in 25% declines in rust. Nitrogen fixing endophyte greenhouse experiments with poplar have commenced. Field studies of endophytes have been initiated. Development of zinc finger (ZFN) procedures for genetically modifying poplar trees continues. Four original recombinase-based ZFN constructs have been finished and one has been transformed into plants. Carbon isotope discrimination of poplar clones is complete. CONVERSION: Dehydration catalysis development is complete and demonstrates excellent conversion and selectivity at optimal conditions. The oligomerization catalyst was synthesized and characterized, and testing has begun. A fabricator was selected for the alcohol to hydrocarbon reactor skids, and detailed design work has begun. Application of Raman spectroscopy for real time measurement of hydrolysis and fermentation reactions has been successfully assessed. SUSTAINABILITY: Data collection and normalization for the Resource Lands Database is proceeding: Washington and Montana are complete; California, Idaho, and Oregon are on-going. The combined BCAM+GBSM (Bioenergy Crop Adoption Model and Geospatial Bioenergy System Model) is being tested. The BCAM model has been run at the regional scale using preliminary crop budgets. A preliminary ASPEN model of jet fuel production using the ZeaChem C2 platform is complete. An engineering economic analysis to accompany the ASPEN model is under development. All processes involved in the growth and harvesting of poplar have been modeled in SimaPro for the lifecycle assessment (LCA). An LCA of the ZeaChem process is being developed. Social impact is being assessed via speaking engagements, informant interviews, and surveys. 30 speaking engagements and four key informant interviews have been conducted; roughly half of the recordings have been transcribed and analyzed. EXTENSION: The full extension team has been hired. The team met with key project personnel as well as their counterparts in the Washington State University-led Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA) project. A database of interested parties/constituents is being created to aid in developing a targeted outreach plan. EDUCATION: Six new Bioenergy learning activities were developed for Science & Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) after-school clubs for K-12 students. The first Teacher Training Workshop was held, aimed at high school and middle school teachers leading SMILE clubs. New Alternative Energy Programs of Study have been developed for community college biofuels curricula: Biofuels/Bioenergy Feedstock Management and Biofuels/Bioenergy Plant Operations. Nine scholarships were awarded for students starting the new Bioenergy minor at Oregon State University in fall 2012. The Professional Master's program design has been completed. PARTICIPANTS: University of Washington: Rick Gustafson, Jordan Crawford, Erik Budsberg, Elliott Schmitt, Kathryn Cogert, Renata Bura, Stanley Asah, Cassandra Garcia, Hanna Lee, Ellen Weir, Miku Lenentine, Haley Lane, Sarah Schooler, Ashley Imhof, Katelyn Horvath, William Packard, Shira Stern, Sharon Doty, Zareen Khan, Amy Baum, Fardus Hassan, Kristina Sedneva, Ghee-Hee Yang, Brian Marquardt, Michael Roberto, Sergey Mozharov, Charles Branham, Wesley Thompson, Jon Weller, Luke Rogers, Andrew Cooke, Matt McLaughlin, Laura Davis. Agriculture Center of Excellence: Tony Dunnagan, Jason Selwitz, Mindy Stevens, Donald Miller, LaKatherine Stanger, Miguel Robles, Claudia Johnson, David Cunningham, Yesenia Gutierrez. GreenWood Resources: Brian Stanton, Jake Eaton, Rich Shuren, Jose Zerpa, Don Rice, Rick Stonex, Luke Maynard, Bruce Summers, Mike Berk. Rocky Mountain Wildlife Institute: Brian Moser. Oregon State University: Kate Field, Ryan Collay, Ursula Bechert, Jay Well, Kimi Grzyb, Shawn Freitas, Alicia Christensen, Wanda Crannell, Cathleen Ma, Kori Ault, Ankita Juneja, Erik Cram, Michael Dow, Liz Etherington, Andrea Kuchy, Carole Abou-Rached, Lukas Stein, Nichole Martin, Steve Strauss, Estafania Elloriaga, Amy Klocko. University of Idaho: Mark Coleman, Patrick Rahilly, George Newcombe, Posy Busby. University of California, Davis: Bryan Jenkins, David Neale, Stephen Kaffka, Peter Tittmann, Quinn Hart, Mark Jenner, Nathan Parker, Colin Murphy, Yu Pei, Yuanzhe (Roger) Li. Washington State University: John Stark, Jeff Kallestad, John Brown. Tacamahaca Ecological Consulting: Carri LeRoy. University of Wisconsin-Madison: Rick Lindroth. Washington State University Extension: Kevin Zobrist, Jim Funck, Shiba Kar, Patricia Townsend. ZeaChem Inc./ZeaChem Applied Technology, LLC: Tim Eggeman, Josh Taylor, Dean Kegler, Pete Wilhelm, George Stegner, Robert Bleecher, Brian O'Neill. Advisory Board: Clark Binkley, Brent Davies, Rick Dunning, Reg Modlin, Peter Moulton, Cory Wind. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include the USDA, legislators, policy makers, foresters, land managers, rural communities, researchers, educators, students, and the general public. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
All elements of Advanced Hardwood Biofuels - Northwest (AHB-NW) have been successfully launched. We will proceed with our scope of work to complete the following during year 2: FEEDSTOCK: A) Four poplar farms will be established, and studies will be conducted: a) assess hybrid clones for growth, yield, and suitability; genotypic and phenotypic analyses will support breeding research, b) assess abundance, diversity, and reproductive success of birds, mammals, and insects, c) monitor soil quality, greenhouse gas fluxes, and off-site transport, B) Supporting research and field trials will be conducted: a) evaluate endophytes for leaf rust and nitrogen fixation, b) determine the range of variability of tannins and phenolic glycosides (natural pesticides), c) improve efficiency of zinc finger mutations and determine if LFY and AG knock-downs are useful for imparting sterility in poplar. CONVERSION: Selection of dehydration catalysis is complete. Research on oligomer catalysis is ongoing. The alcohol to hydrocarbon design package has been submitted to an engineering firm and design of the addition to the demonstration biorefinery has commenced. The alcohol to hydrocarbon design will be completed; construction of the addition will commence. The goal is to produce the first lot of advanced biofuel at the end of year 2. A probe to measure the progress of hydrolysis and fermentation will be operational. SUSTAINABILITY: The resource lands database will be completed, and will support optimization research. The lands database, processing models, and production and enterprise budgets will be integrated into the Bioenergy Crop Adoption Model + Geospatial Bioenergy System Model (BCAM/GBSM). Baseline model runs and scenarios will define optimal biorefinery locations and size. Results will be expanded to assess economic impact of a commercial biorefinery network supported by poplar plantations. Results will be integrated into extension and education programs. A cradle to grave life cycle analysis (LCA) of jet fuel produced from poplar feedstock using ZeaChem conversion technology will be completed. LCA results will be packaged for use in extension and education programs. EXTENSION: The extension team has been hired. The team will continue building an Extension network for regional woody biofuel outreach and education. The team will help establish a national AFRI CAP Extension working group and a PNW woody biofuel network. Public outreach materials will also be developed. By the end of year 2 the social impact assessment team will complete community profiles and commence assessment of potential impacts of a biofuels industry. EDUCATION: The education program for AHB- NW will be operational by the end of year 2. Course content will be delivered to K-12 SMILE clubs. A Summer Bridge program will reach underrepresented groups. Associate Degree programs will be developed and offered in fall 2013. E-learning courses will be implemented. The Bioenergy Minor at OSU will be fully implemented and new courses based on project research results will be developed. The Professional Science Master's program will be implemented in fall 2013.

Publications

  • Agriculture Center of Excellence. 2011. USDA Biofuels. Agriculture Center of Excellence Quarterly Newsletter, December 2011, p.1. Available online at: http://agcenterofexcellence.com/about/, link verified 8/31/2012.
  • Agriculture Center of Excellence. 2012. Biofuels DACUMs. Agriculture Center of Excellence Quarterly Newsletter, March 2012, p.4. Available online at: http://agcenterofexcellence.com/about/, link verified 8/31/2012.
  • Agriculture Center of Excellence. 2012. Curriculum Development for a Biofuel Industry: USDA -- Advanced Hardwood Biofuels Northwest. Agriculture Center of Excellence Quarterly Newsletter, June 2012, p.6. Available online at: http://agcenterofexcellence.com/about/, link verified 8/31/2012.
  • Zobrist, K. 2011. Sustainable Hardwood Biofuels Northwest. Washington State University Snohomish County Extension, Extension 'Cord, v.2:no.5(2011:Dec.), p.1-2. Available online at: http://snohomish.wsu.edu/extension/extensioncords/Forestry112011.pdf, link verified 8/31/2012.