University Place[series info]

Sustainable Bioenergy in Wisconsin: How Could It Work?

In a state with no fossil energy resources, homegrown bioenergy is especially attractive. However, biomass production for energy carries its own environmental and economic risks. We will discuss the important aspects of sustainable bioenergy production in Wisconsin, and highlight the balance points between environmental quality, farm management, and economic feasibility. Many of these are contained in the Sustainable Planting and Harvest Guidelines for Non-forest Biomass on Public and Private Lands, a report recently released by the Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Agriculture Trade and Consumer protection (DATCP), and a team from UW-Madison. We will also describe the bioenergy-sustainability research at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and the WIsconsin Bioenergy Institute, both housed on the UW-Madison campus. Finally, we will present case studies that explore the economic feasibility of biomass production for Wisconsin farms.

6:52 am Tuesday, April 24 on The Wisconsin Channel