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In November 2003, the principal in-house research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), celebrated its 50th anniversary. While increasing crop yields and quality, ARS researchers have also made significant gains in improving agricultural sustainability of feedstocks, along with addressing other environmental issues. The research that the ARS has conducted over the years has also benefited biomass through the discovery of new uses for agricultural commodities and new bio-based products. Research related to biobased products at ARS has focused on developing technologies leading to new and improved non-food products, including alternative fuels that expand markets for farm products, replace imports and petroleum-based products, and offer opportunity to meet environmental needs. This research also addresses the development of appropriate feedstocks for biobased products and bioenergy.

ARS research is organized into 22 national programs, two of which hold special interest to the National Biomass Coordination Office; the Bioenergy and Energy Alternatives National Program, and the Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products National Program. More specifically, the Bioenergy and Energy Alternatives National Program's mission is to create jobs and economic activity in America, reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, and improve the environment by developing alternative energy sources and increasing the use of agricultural crops as feedstocks for biofuels. Likewise, the Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products National Program's aim is to generate new knowledge, technologies, and processes to expand markets for U.S. agricultural products and make U.S. agriculture more competitive in the global economy.

The research components for these two programs include:

• Biofuels
• Biobased Products
• Energy Crops

For the past 50 years, ARS has strengthened U.S. agriculture and is poised to do the same for biomass through the two programs highlighted above by addressing problems like feedstock quality, conversion technologies, feedstock costs, and storage stability. In fact, ARS research often addresses multiple problems at the same time. For example, research to develop a biofuels industry based on biomass crops such as switchgrass could convert subsidized idle land into an energy factory, leading to reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels while maintaining or improving soil and water quality.

Looking ahead, some of the projected outcomes of the Bioenergy and Energy Alternative National Program over the next five years involve:

• Improved processes for enzymatic saccharification of corn fiber into component sugars, a necessary preliminary step for conversion of biomass to ethanol and other fermentative products.
• New technologies that integrate feedstock pretreatment, biological conversion, and product recovery processes, as well as fundamental knowledge regarding fermentation, milling and membrane separations. The information gained will result in a reduction in capital and processing costs associated with biofuel production.
• Higher value coproducts generated from current low-value production byproducts. Envisioned coproducts include specialty oils, novel polysaccharides that will compete with imported gums, sugar alcohol food additives that are currently imported, enzymes, and inexpensive aquaculture feeds.
• Improved low-temperature properties of biodiesel, such that it may be blended with petro-diesel with no significant effects on low-temperature start-up and operability performance.
• Reduced exhaust emissions from combustion of biodiesel and biodiesel-petrodiesel blends that meet environmental regulations.
• Increased understanding of the principals governing small engine efficiency when run on biofuels. This knowledge will have direct application for farm use of biofuels in remote areas and for specialty farm applications.

Some of the anticipated outcomes over the next five years regarding the Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products National Program are as follows:

• New knowledge derived from improved understandings of the structure, properties, metabolism, and function of crop and animal components, particularly carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, will generate development of a variety of new food, feed, and industrial products.
• Improved knowledge regarding the genetic and biochemical control of value-added traits in plants and animals will allow for the development of improved animal products and plant varieties, and also create the potential for high-value designer crops.
• Improved products and processes to extend the useful life of products during storage will reduce waste, improve efficiency, and allow new uses that are not now feasible.
• New technologies to convert commodities and processing byproducts into important value-added products such as fat substitutes, high-quality animal feeds, improved textiles, pharmaceutical ingredients, enzymes, and cosmetics will fill demonstrated needs.
• New high-value biomaterials, such as biodegradable plastics, adhesives, lubricants, and natural rubber from domestic plants, will be created and made available. The new materials will fill specific needs such as reducing the bulk of inert, non-biodegradable plastics currently going to landfills or reducing dependence on imports. They will also diversify the economic base of agriculture and stabilize income streams for farmers.

Often, ARS is used as a case study to implement the programs it is developing. For instance, on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 ARS, the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses and USDA's Assistant Secretary for Administration offered the first training on steps being taken by USDA to implement mandatory biobased purchasing requirements for the Federal Government. The Beltsville Agriculture Research Center (BARC) was used as a case study and has been a model for success. A condensed video of the training can be found on the USDA Biobased Products and Bioenergy Coordination Council web site: http://www.ars.usda.gov/bbcc/. Included in the streaming video is a six minute video program, "Greening BARC" that details how BARC is leading the way at USDA in environmental management systems.

As agriculture's contribution to America's energy future grows in importance, ARS will continue to develop biomass research programs to provide pathways for a domestic, plentiful, and environmentally sound energy supply.

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In 2000, Michigan residents consumed approximately 3,122 trillion Btu of energy. Petroleum accounted for about 34 percent of total consumption. Other major energy sources were natural gas and coal; these sources accounted for about 30 and 25 percent of the state's total energy consumption, respectively.¹ Biomass use in the state consisted of 90 trillion Btu of wood and waste used in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors (wood-fueled electric generation accounts for approximately 1 percent of Michigan's electricity)² and 8 trillion Btu (2,267 thousand barrels) of ethanol for the transportation sector.³ Michigan's first The facility has a production capacity of 40 MGY, is 95 percent computer controlled, and includes an on-site microbiology laboratory.⁴ In Michigan, approximately 17.7 billion kWh of electricity could be generated using biomass, enough electricity to supply the annual needs of 1,769,000 average homes.⁵

The Michigan Biomass Energy Program(MBEP) sponsors regular solicitations with with average amounts of $25,000 to $30,000 awarded.⁶ Earlier this year, MBEP awarded funding to six biomass projects through such a solicitation, among which are four education efforts: 1) a project by Urban Options to educate students about biofuels and conduct a biofuel motor rally, 2) an effort by Kettering University to create a Web page about ethanol, 3) Grand Valley State University's education project concerning the use of biodiesel in marine applications, and 4) an effort by Calhoun Conservation District to educate teachers, students, and farmers about biomass energy. In addition to these projects, MBEP awarded funding for a feasibility study run by Michigan Allied Poultry Industries to create energy from poultry litter and Michigan State University's anaerobic digestion demonstration project.⁷ MBEP plans to release its next solicitation early next calendar year.

One notable project MBEP has funded is its $10,000 matching award to Kettering University to configure a snowmobile engine to run on E-85, a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, for it to participate in the Clean Snowmobile Challenge. This is a significant project for Michigan, since over 278,000 snowmobiles were registered in the state in 2000⁸ and Michigan is home to more than 6,100 miles of designated snowmobile trails.⁹ Kettering University's Gregory W. Davis recently reported some of the project's findings regarding emissions reductions. When a snowmobile run on E-10 (a blend of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline) was compared with a typical two-stroke control snowmobile, Southwest Research Institute tests showed emissions reductions in the vehicle run on E-10 of almost 95 percent in unburned hydrocarbons, 67 percent in carbon monoxide (CO), and 91 percent in nitrogen oxides (NOx). Addition reductions of 50 percent in unburned hydrocarbons, 47 percent in CO, 58 percent in particulate matter, and 18 percent in NOx were shown when E-85 was used.¹⁰

In addition to its regular grants, MBEP offers a maximum of $2,500 for each workshop or event that increases public awareness about energy or fuel derived from biomass. This award is geared towards fleets, farmers, students, flexible fuel vehicle owners, and other relevant groups. Thus far, four biomass energy workshops have been conducted using funding provided by MBEP. Also, Michigan's Energy Office solicits proposals for energy efficiency and renewable energy education projects, including projects related to bioenergy and biofuels annually. The maximum amount awarded through one of these grants is $6,000.¹¹

Currently, four ultilities offer green power programs in Michigan. The Lansing Board of Water and Light's program includes biomass power. An addtional $7.50 per month will buy a Lansing a customer a 250 kWh block of power generated primarily from hydropower and biomass. Participants are required to commit to purchasing green power for a minimum of three years. As of September of 2003, the company had sold 741 blocks of green power. Also, Mainstay Energy allows customers with renewable energy systems to sell their green tags (or renewable energy credits) to the company.¹²

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