Biofuels Center expands sector development capabilities with $1.14M investment in western NC, enhances innovative opportunities

OXFORD, N.C.—As a chief component of its 2012-2013 grants award process targeting biofuels development in the western part of the state, the Biofuels Center of North Carolina will award $766,256 to a consortium of partners led by AdvantageWest Economic Development Group to fortify the biofuels sector and trigger its expansion in the region. The project, “Planting the Seeds for a Robust WNC Biofuels Sector,” will be collaboratively executed by AdvantageWest and 13 other entities, including: N.C. State University Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Catawba and Transylvania counties, Appalachian State University Energy Center, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bent Creek Institute, Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Biofuels, Land-of-Sky Regional Council, Renewable Developers, Mountain Research Station, and communities and organizations brought together by a unique multiparty partnership.

The project partners will invest a 50-percent matching contribution of $383,128, for a total project investment of $1,149,384. The project also dovetails well with ongoing Biofuels Center-supported projects from previous grant cycles, including feedstock efficiency projects, woody biomass-to-biofuels feasibility analyses, and the Field to Fryer to Fuel (F3) initiative. $130,593 (North Carolina State University) ∙ Woody Biomass In-Field Drying Techniques for Thermochemical Conversion; This project will investigate in-field drying techniques in western North Carolina to improve woody biomass delivery systems. $102,000 (Caldwell Green Commission) ∙ Crude Glycerin Refining and Purification; This project will produce higher-value, technical-grade glycerin from crude glycerine derived during biodiesel production. $43,750 (Mars Hill College) ∙ Modeling Site Suitability for Biofuels Production in Western North Carolina; This project will develop a spatial model of site suitability for biofuels production.  $28,000 (North Carolina State University) ∙ Availability of Woody Biomass for Biofuels in Western North Carolina; This project will assess availability of soft hardwoods for potential facility locations in western North Carolina.