2009 Summit Highlights
On October 28 and 29, 2009, Wisconsin biofuels leaders and stakeholders gathered in the spirit of “Growing
Wisconsin’s Future in a Bio-Based Economy” at the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative’s (WBI’s) Second Annual Wisconsin Bioenergy Summit.
WBI Director Troy Runge spoke about the collaboration of academia, private industry, governmental and non-governmental organizations that created the foundation of the WBI. Runge highlighted WBI’s mission to promote a biobased economy, its organizational structure, and its goal to showcase bio-industry work throughout Wisconsin.
Keynote speaker Lee Edwards, president and CEO of Madison’s Virent Energy Systems, discussed the opportunities and potential for innovative technologies to expedite the use of biomass as a renewable energy source and replace a long-standing dependence on petroleum.
Kicking off day two, Molly Jahn, dean of UW-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, offered a warm welcome and opening remarks for Summit attendees. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle followed with a forward-looking analysis of Wisconsin’s progress and the challenges that still lie ahead. Doyle emphasized the importance of a renewable energy portfolio, the need for regional energy research cooperation, the cost of carbon and affordability of alternative fuels. View clips from his talk below.
Throughout the day, university, state and private industry leaders presented during concurrent panel sessions, engaging participants on the following topics:
• Biomass Supply, Demand and Sustainability
• Biomass Conversion: Thermal Conversion
• Bioenergy Economics and Incentives
• Conversion Projects: Biofuels
• Bioenergy Education and Retraining
• Conversion Projects: Biorefineries
Professor Tim Donohue, director of the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), delivered closing remarks, sharing noteworthy GLBRC accomplishments as well as his perspective on biofuels.
