The Northern New York region of New York State has become an important incubator for the development of bioenergy crops to support interest in renewable energy sources.
Northern New York Agricultural Development Program small grants projects have pioneered grass-for-energy trials and the on-farm development of grass-based energy products. For example, farmer Tom Lee of Madrid, NY, has built his own pelletizer and developed a partnership with local businessman Jim Thew to supply bioenergy briquettes to heat an apartment complex in Waddington, NY.
Click on the links below for the results of bio-energy crop research in NNY.
Belleville-Henderson School Field Trials
Grass Biomass Potential in NNY
Optimizing Grass Biomass Yield and Quality for Combustion
Production and Evaluation of Perennial Grasses for Energy Conversion
Switchgrass grower/processor Tom Lee’s story
Additional Bio-Energy Resources
Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of NNY
Cornell University Bioenergy Feedstock Project