West Virginia University’s Appalachian Hardwood Center and Biomaterials and Wood Utilization Research Center will partner with the West Virginia Division of Energy to a conference on biomass and coal opportunities on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown, W.Va.

“West Virginia is the nation’s second largest coal-producing and third most heavily forested state in the nation,” said Shawn Grushecky, assistant director of the Appalachian Hardwood Center. “Opportunities exist for the co-development of biomass and coal energy which combine the sustainable qualities of woody biomass and the fuel density of West Virginia coal.”

Topics at the one-day event include biomass and coal development opportunities, bioenergy research and development, torrefied biomass and coal blends, energy policy and environmental impacts, and the technical and financial feasibility of coal and biomass as feedstocks for liquid transportation fuels.

The meeting will consist of a number of presentations as well as detailed question and comment sessions with the goal of developing coal and biomass opportunities in the region. Speakers include scientists from West Virginia University, the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory, and Agri-Tech Producers, LLC.

The meeting will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., beginning with a light breakfast networking session. Lunch will be provided to attendees.

To register for the free event, please visit http://ahc.caf.wvu.edu. Registration will close on Sept. 12, 2012.

For more information, contact Grushecky at 304-293-9417 or [email protected].

Source: West Virginia University