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Shrub Willow Biofuel Offers New York an Alternative to Gas Fracking

cleantechnica.com -- Wow, that was fast. Just last summer, we noticed that scientists at Cornell University were developing shrub willow biofuel as a means of helping New York farmers to squeeze extra income from marginal land, and before the ink has dried on the research papers, we’re getting news of a 1,100 acre shrub willow biofuel operation that is already providing biomass for power plants in the state. If shrub willow energy really does catch on, it could provide farmers in New York and elsewhere with a more sustainable source of extra income than natural gas fracking, despite mounting pressure from the drilling industry.

The new shrub willow operation, called Celtic Energy Farm, is located upstate by Lake Ontario. Land preparation began in 2009 and, according to a report in auburnpub.com, the crop is

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Submitted Dec 26, 2012 By: teafortwo

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KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,282 Points:641,755 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Dec 29, 2012 8:21:07 PM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse Great to get rid of those shrub willows -- scotch broom next?
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,893 Points:618,470 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 27, 2012 6:14:38 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Great alternative if it works.
teenitup Champion Author Houston Posts:1,842 Points:275,910 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 10:00:53 PM Ignore teenitup Report Abuse Great article Teafortwo, one ill gladly pump.
livedream Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,840 Points:781,785 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 9:40:29 PM Ignore livedream Report Abuse Excellent point from PDQBlues -- "The more we can generate power from non-fossil fuels, the better this country will be and less dependent on foreign countries, many of which would otherwise be enemies of the US." The more we can develop good alternatives, the better off we will be.
sillywagon Champion Author New York Posts:15,113 Points:1,468,820 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 8:18:22 PM Ignore sillywagon Report Abuse What do they mean by marginal land? What about farmers turning marginal land into usable cropland to grow food crops for domestic and export use? I have read on GasBuddy about how depleted cropland that is unusable can in five years be turned back into usable cropland.
joekool1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:1,099 Points:131,280 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 3:33:29 PM Ignore joekool1 Report Abuse more news for cave dweller wannabees
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,491 Points:1,270,050 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 2:10:19 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Interesting. How long before the powers that be shutdown the biomass fueled plants and insist on cleaner natural gas power plants?
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,209 Points:1,475,050 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 11:33:45 AM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse The more we can generate power from non-fossil fuels, the better this country will be and less dependent on foreign countries, many of which would otherwise be enemies of the US.
vandamme Champion Author New York Posts:1,159 Points:132,800 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 10:23:55 AM Ignore vandamme Report Abuse Better than fracking, corn, or burning dino juice. This stuff grows on old strip-mines.
car253 Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,425 Points:1,494,370 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 9:19:17 AM Ignore car253 Report Abuse More nonsense, people will claim anything to get tax payer money.
Luckylindy Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,650 Points:1,153,795 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 9:16:17 AM Ignore Luckylindy Report Abuse We are saved by the shrub willow. Oh please.
doeslayersr Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,298 Points:898,730 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 9:08:12 AM Ignore doeslayersr Report Abuse The Save Our Willows (SOW) organization has a different opinion about this.
peabeax55 All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:713 Points:186,165 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 8:53:20 AM Ignore peabeax55 Report Abuse But, until then, we are going to get the fuel we need NOW.
daytonabiker Champion Author Florida Posts:1,073 Points:228,345 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 7:10:51 AM Ignore daytonabiker Report Abuse no one needs to squeeze anything,gasoline prices are going back up as predicted,even with all the false stories here about oil oversupplies,oil going down,my prices are 3.35 at the pump.some of the stories here are just to give hope when there isn't any,same old story,if speculators want more money,just manipulate the gas prices
Radar1992 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,460 Points:336,890 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 6:25:51 AM Ignore Radar1992 Report Abuse So what do you do with the Biofuel byproducts or leftovers?
DeserTBoB Champion Author California Posts:1,466 Points:224,975 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 3:26:44 AM Ignore DeserTBoB Report Abuse I have to be nice to people in here. It's a shame...it's a TARGET-RICH ENVIRONMENT for IDIOTS!
JohnofGB Champion Author Flint Posts:5,561 Points:1,123,895 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 3:21:10 AM Ignore JohnofGB Report Abuse Yean, right , uhuh, ....................
KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,282 Points:641,755 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 2:08:05 AM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse I think you are patronizing them by calling them 'these' willows, their mothers love them and they are 'shrub' willows, and the moose love them too, and the grouse hide under them for safety. And these are in NY, not MN, and what does someone from OK know about MN? [Edited by: KAR120CSII at 12/26/2012 2:11:46 AM EST]
cdrrod Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:4,286 Points:809,525 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 2:02:40 AM Ignore cdrrod Report Abuse Much better idea!
KAR120CSII Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,282 Points:641,755 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:53:09 AM Ignore KAR120CSII Report Abuse Why do people hate shrub willows? Ever try to climb Mt.Bierstadt?
Bezalel Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:12,234 Points:2,317,460 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:51:40 AM Ignore Bezalel Report Abuse Most of northern Minnesota is swampy with evergreen or these willows. Check on the evergreen or logging waste, too.
MrLefty0706 Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,580 Points:378,560 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:46:47 AM Ignore MrLefty0706 Report Abuse Glad to see it.
gasmack Champion Author Ventura Posts:1,752 Points:679,840 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:32:07 AM Ignore gasmack Report Abuse Let's hear it for shrub willow as a biofuel! MORE RESEARCH,PLEASE!
crmedic Champion Author Arkansas Posts:2,909 Points:248,475 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:22:57 AM Ignore crmedic Report Abuse Sounds interesting! Good luck!
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,448 Points:1,253,500 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:22:49 AM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse Their is something wrong with this article. Something is missing. The whole story is not here.
sprocketsplines Champion Author Washington Posts:1,808 Points:887,085 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:22:07 AM Ignore sprocketsplines Report Abuse Hopefully shrub willow biofuel can replace the use of corn as the latter is more likely to be used as cattle feed. It has been a tough year of drought and the EPA has not moved on their stance of using corn for biofuel.
Bruno44 Champion Author Texas Posts:7,212 Points:1,794,920 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:21:17 AM Ignore Bruno44 Report Abuse Hope it works for NY.
afghaned Champion Author Hamilton Posts:11,978 Points:1,312,860 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:18:31 AM Ignore afghaned Report Abuse Good luck with this venture.
mrjames1818 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,681 Points:2,024,820 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:17:11 AM Ignore mrjames1818 Report Abuse ILVET - ditto
pa79th Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,922 Points:1,243,050 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:17:05 AM Ignore pa79th Report Abuse Let's stick to growing stuff out of the ground that we can eat...
335d1 Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,519 Points:785,770 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:15:53 AM Ignore 335d1 Report Abuse They are not using corn or other food plants.
LostInNY Champion Author New York Posts:1,859 Points:674,770 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:13:44 AM Ignore LostInNY Report Abuse Good to see alternatives
probedude2 Champion Author Akron Posts:12,693 Points:2,407,905 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:13:28 AM Ignore probedude2 Report Abuse At least it's not ethanol from corn
GAS1251 Champion Author Texas Posts:5,293 Points:1,653,910 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:11:55 AM Ignore GAS1251 Report Abuse Another "time will tell" possibility.
Thomtec Champion Author Nashville Posts:2,600 Points:635,395 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:09:36 AM Ignore Thomtec Report Abuse Take the offer NY so you can lag further behind.
ILVET Champion Author Illinois Posts:14,929 Points:2,952,190 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:05:55 AM Ignore ILVET Report Abuse Maybe this will eventually replace corn
cutter1330 Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:8,138 Points:1,719,450 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:05:45 AM Ignore cutter1330 Report Abuse bio fuels don't seem to work out.
KrsnaDragon Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,547 Points:558,250 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:05:03 AM Ignore KrsnaDragon Report Abuse I'm not sold on this.
DirtDauber Champion Author San Antonio Posts:6,922 Points:1,655,160 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:04:59 AM Ignore DirtDauber Report Abuse Most likely a limited source of material.
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,241 Points:1,379,620 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:03:49 AM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse ETHANOL, BIOFUELS FROM MOST GROWN CROPS IS A WASTE, BUT FROM LAND NOT SUITABLE FOR ANY OTHER USABLE CROPS, MIGHT NOT BE AS BAD.
EZExit Champion Author Phoenix Posts:10,747 Points:1,735,355 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:02:17 AM Ignore EZExit Report Abuse This is similar to nuclear fusion, more energy and resources go into making it than you get out of it. This could only work if it gets free money from the US taxpayers.
gcalleja Champion Author Miami Posts:1,049 Points:576,695 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 1:01:21 AM Ignore gcalleja Report Abuse I love variety!
LKnight598 All-Star Author South Carolina Posts:922 Points:208,265 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 12:59:52 AM Ignore LKnight598 Report Abuse Something new for the government to subsidise!
vibdata Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,181 Points:866,235 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 12:58:50 AM Ignore vibdata Report Abuse GO SOLAR. You will get more power more easily from that than from other sources, especially from biofuels.
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:8,881 Points:2,004,125 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 12:58:06 AM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Time will tell.
animal63 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:950 Points:1,049,675 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 12:57:47 AM Ignore animal63 Report Abuse Should have known that the federal government was involved but at least they didn't waste their money this time.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,999 Points:1,639,950 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 12:57:00 AM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse “About 800 acres of shrub willow can yield about 1 megawatt . . .” That’s a lot of land to use for just one MW. I guess if they are using poor farmland and not removing forest that would be OK.
Tigercat88 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,337 Points:644,565 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 12:54:49 AM Ignore Tigercat88 Report Abuse I will believe it when I see it on the market.
unicornpmb Champion Author Buffalo Posts:8,626 Points:1,656,240 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 12:52:55 AM Ignore unicornpmb Report Abuse Great.
MJIOWA Champion Author Iowa Posts:4,959 Points:1,104,670 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Dec 26, 2012 12:52:36 AM Ignore MJIOWA Report Abuse ok