The Northeast Sun Grant Initiative Competitive Grants Program announces the availability of funds to support research, education and outreach projects in the strategic areas of Biologically-Based Fuels (BioFuels), Biologically-Based Power (BioPower), and Biologically-Based Products (BioProducts). The Northeast Sun Grant Initiative (NE-SGI) expects to award up to $1,053,000 in competitive grants in 2009 and seeks proposals from qualified institutions that address the three strategic goals elucidated in the 2004 NE-SGI Roadmap, e.g., BioFuels, BioPower and BioProducts. In 2009, Northeast Sun Grant Initiative will seek proposals with emphasis on northeast region feedstock inventories, systems modeling, industrial ecology and environmental impact, and distributed scalable technologies.
Research Proposals: Grants that address the Northeast Sun Grant priorities will be provided to single investigators or small teams for up to $150,000 (total Sun Grant dollars) (1-3 years in duration). Single or multi-component (research and/or education and/or outreach) proposals are appropriate. (15 page proposal narrative limit.)
Cooperative Extension and Education Mini-Grant Proposals: Education and/or outreach proposals may seek up to $30,000 (total Sun Grant dollars over the duration of the project) (1-3 years in duration possible) in support of graduate students, cooperative extension educator training or outreach programs. (10 page proposal narrative limit).
Resubmitted proposals from the 2007 or 2008 NESGI competition should include a explanation, not to exceed one page, describing how the reviewers’ comments have been addressed. Invitation for resubmission does not preclude or guarantee selection for funding.
Letters of intent (pre-proposal) and full proposals should be submitted through the online Webnibus System.
Deadlines: Letters of intent to apply are required by October 31, 2008. Full proposals are due by 5 pm Eastern) (2 pm Pacific), February 2, 2009.
Webnibus System URL:
2008 NORTHEAST RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE - State College, PA
The annual Northeast Sun Grant conference will be held at Pennsylvania State University this year, on August 26-28, 2008. The 2008 NE Renewable Energy Conference, will be held at the Penn Stater Conference center in State College, Pennsylvania and will showcase renewable energy and energy efficiency research, demonstration, and university-industry-government partnerships for sustainable economic development. The audience will be drawn from across the northeastern U.S., from Michigan and Ohio to Maryland and Maine. Sun Grant project Principal Investigators will present their findings to date.
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS AROUND THE NATION AND REGION
Short Rotation Crops International Conference, August 18-22, 2008, Bloomington, MN
Syracuse, New York German American Renewable Energy Conference - Biomass: Power, Heat, and Fuels June 24, 2008 - June 24, 2008 Syracuse, New York
Energy From Biomass Waste October 14, 2008 - October 16, 2008 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
PAST NESGI CONFERENCES (2007):
Northeast Sun Grant Regional Feedstock Summit
November 11-13, 2007 in Ithaca, NY at Cornell University.
The 2007 New York Renewable Energy Summit
June 24-26, 2007 in Ithaca, NY on the Cornell University Campus.
Biomass Technology Study
Biomass Magazine, June 2008 article reports that a research partnership between ConocoPhillips, the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Iowa State University will collaborate to compare biomass conversion technologies. The research will compare the conversion of several biomass feedstocks (i.e., nonfood agricultural residues, grasses and fast-growing trees) and several conversion processes (including gasification, pyrolysis and fermentation) to assess the most cost-effective biomass conversion technologies. An initial report is expected from the partnership by January 2009.
Dr. Gregory W. Roth, Professor of Agronomy in The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. In my position as the extension grain crops specialist, I develop educational programs for extension agents, agribusiness groups and producers on timely issues such as managing crops during drought stress, GMO issues, potential of specialty corn hybrids, managing for grain quality, organic grain production and producing corn for silage. I also conduct applied field research on various issues. A key research focus has been managing corn for silage production using different hybrids and management strategies and then using various models to estimate the profitability of the these practices on dairy farms. We also evaluate the yield and quality traits of transgenic corn hybrids and their adaptability to our region. We are also studying the potential of added value wheat and barley varieties to try to create more opportunities for crop producers in the state.