Current Competitive Grant

The University of Iowa Biomass Partnership Project

Project ID: XP2012-05

This 1-year grant for $25,000 was awarded in 2012.

Location: Johnson county

A unique Biomass Partnership Project (BPP) to plan and develop a large supply of biorenewable fuel is being funded by this project. The fuel will replace coal at the University of Iowa Main Power Plant, while simultaneously improving environmental performance of Iowa lands and resources and stimulating the local rural economy. The project objectives are to develop a plan to increase energy sustainability at UI, develop a biorenewable fuel financial and procurement work plan, and produce, disseminate and share processes and plans useful as a model to others.

Ferman Milster

Ferman Milster is an associate director in Facilities Management and has been with the University of Iowa since 1991, first as the Power Plant Manager, then in strategic planning for the utility system, and now focusing on procurement of renewable energy sources. His interest in biomass fuel started in 2001, when he was approached by Quaker Oats about using a biomass by-product of the cereal-making process as fuel. The Main Power Plant biomass project has been commercial since 2003, and became the springboard for testing a wide variety of biomass fuels in the University’s two solid fuel boilers. The UI will be increasing its use of renewable energy in order to achieve a 2020 goal of 40 percent renewable energy. Milster is developing resources and infrastructure to provide the majority of that renewable energy from local biomass sources. [Contact lead investigator]

Co-Investigator(s):

This competitive grant project is part of the Leopold Center's Cross-Cutting Initiative.

The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/grants/xp2012-05 on 01/20/2013