Local Bioenergy Workshop (Decatur, IL)

LOCAL BIOENERGY WORKSHOP in Decatur
 
The Agricultural Watershed Institute invites you to attend the LOCAL BIOENERGY WORKSHOP at the Decatur Civic Center on Saturday, July 10.  This workshop is for farmers, landowners, and everyone interested in growing or using perennial grasses for biomass energy and conservation.  U of I Extension is a cosponsor.
Speakers and exhibitors will provide practical information about cellulosic energy crops from field to furnace, including a live demonstration of making grass pellets. Workshop sessions will also address market development and incentive programs for biomass energy. Participants are invited to tour local energy grass plots after the workshop.
While the workshop is designed to be "practical", rather than academic or "wonky", we extend a special invitation to environmental and agricultural scientists, agencies, and NGOs.  The emphasis on prairie polycultures and the conservation benefits of small-scale feedstock production presents opportunities for interdisciplinary research on synergies and trade-offs between biomass energy and ecosystem health.  The early adopter farmers and green energy entrepreneurs attending this workshop may be excellent cooperators for your research or demonstration projects.  We hope you can attend and help to shape an ecologically-sound, sustainable bioeconomy.
The workshop agenda is attached.  For online registration, go to http://extension.illinois.edu/go/bioenergy
We hope you can also join us for the annual Sangamon Watershed Celebration on Friday, July 9.  This will be an evening of good food and good music with good friends.  The theme is “Home on the Prairie”.  The reception will feature organic food from Central Illinois farms.  For more information, go to www.agwatershed.org.

For an information brochure about this event, click here.