News from my SME Daily Briefing

[jillithian]

Blogger suggests building up biomass industry in Michigan.

In a blog for Michigan's Tri-Cities Business Review (9/11), Chris Schilling, who "holds the Charles J. Strosacker Chair and is a" professor of engineering at Saginaw Valley State University, wrote that he thought "how easy it would be for [Michigan] to" collect "all manner of biomass," compress it "into pellets or briquettes," and deliver it "to homes, businesses, and electric power stations alike." Schilling queried, "Why not follow the lead of European countries having strict environmental rules that allow making pellets or briquettes only from clean, safe-to-burn materials?" Schilling pointed out that, in Sweden, where the "countryside looks much like the Saginaw Valley," small farms grew native grasses and "salix (a native shrub)...that are sold to make biomass fuel pellets, briquettes or methane biogas." He suggested that "Michigan start a similar industry." The state is capable of "growing plenty of native grass," and also has "plenty of waste wood." Furthermore, Michigan has "a smart population of farmers, manufacturing engineers, and skilled tradespeople who can build the industrial infrastructure," he pointed out.

Comments

[verucagonff.livejournal.com]

And, let me tell you, we could use the new industry. Our government needs to get on ideas like this and start thinking like Wisconsin in terms of tourists and outdoor recreation. We need some money.