NiSE Contributes to Biojet Project in Missoula, MT
By Samantha Steinbring
On September 13 and 14, a group of engineers, chemists, and economists gathered in Missoula, Montana as part of the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance (NARA). The group aims to turn waste wood into jet fuel, an innovation that will prove advantageous for the biofuel industry as well as Montana’s remaining loggers.
The recent NARA conference served as an update on the first year’s accomplishments and scoped the next four years of the project. Representatives included researchers from the University of Minnesota, University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Oregon, University of Idaho, USDA representative Bill Goldner, U.S. Forest Service, and other stakeholders from forestry organizations.
As part of this five-year, $40 million research project, NiSE director Tim Smith and graduate research assistant Rylie Pelton are developing a life cycle assessment which will inform the project by providing an assessment of process steps and material input flows. This recent meeting allowed NiSE researchers to connect with fellow researchers regarding other aspects of the project and identify contacts from which to gather information necessary to conduct the life cycle assessment. The methodology developed
for the Sustainable Procurement Initiative is being further tested through NiSE’s work on the NARA biojet project.
To learn more about the project, visit the NARA website or consult the recent articles published in Missoula press (below).
“Biojet Project Takes Off in Missoula” in MissoulaWorks.org.
“Northwest researchers look to turn waste wood into jet fuel” in Missoulian.com.
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