WASHINGTON -- Growing hybrid poplar trees in Oregon is among four new initiatives of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)..

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the BCAP projects for areas in six states to expand the availability of non-food crops to be used in the manufacturing of liquid biofuels.

One of the BCAP project areas, part of an effort sponsored by cellulosic biofuels company ZeaChem, will encourage growth of hybrid poplar trees in Oregon. The goal is to enroll up to 7,000 acres as part of a series of measures that comprise USDA's Wood-to-Energy Initiative. The project area surrounds a biomass conversion facility in Boardman, OR.

Read about this and other new biomass projects announced by the USDA.

Posted by Rich Christianson