The Catskill Grass Bio-Energy Project aims to develop a local grass biomass economy. It has surveyed farmers, educated them on feedstock production, and tested grass feedstock quality. A grass pelleter was assisted in developing high quality grass pellets. Nine demonstration sites show that off-the-shelf combustion technology can successfully heat with grass pellets, displacing up to 50% of heating fuel and reducing costs by 47%. Outreach activities spread awareness of grass bioenergy.

1. The Catskill Grass Bio-Energy Project
Cerosaletti. P.E. 1, Kiraly, M.1, Ruestow, G.E.2
1Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, PO Box 184 Hamden NY, 13782 pec6@cornell.edu
2Fermata Consulting, Unadilla, NY 13849
Producing Grass Biomass Feedstock: Education and Outreach
Activities:
Activities: • Developed a project website with virtual site tours, fact sheets, and links to
• Surveyed farmers to determine production capacity and desired other grass biomass sites
feedstock price. • Regular contributor to “Grass Energy in the Northeast”, a statewide blog
• Grower education on feedstock production. developed by the New York Biomass Alliance to foster grass bio-energy.
• Tested feedstock for composition and variability: • Developed a grass bio-energy poster “From Hay to Heat!” to educate the
general public on the concept .
Impact: • Have created several multi-media presentations on the concept of grass
• Helped grass pelleter set price point for feedstock bioenergy and the project.
• Grass Feedstock production adequate for demand • Developing grass biomass section of Delaware County energy plan
• Feedstock quality consistent.
Impact:
• Invited presentations at 2011 Heating the Northeast with Renewable
Biomass conference, including “Best In Class” project presentation.
International conference with over 500 attendees.
ABSTRACT: • Invited speaker and poster – 2011 NACAA AM/PIC. Over 1000 attendees.
The Catskill Grass Bio-Energy Project (available at: • Distributed over 900 sample bags of grass pellets as awareness.
www.ccedelaware.org), is a ongoing program developed and
implemented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware
County that is fostering the development of a local grass bio-
energy economy to meet residential and small business
thermal heating needs through direct combustion of grass
Processing Grass Biomass into Pellets: pellets. The project approach is a production-to-consumption
research and demonstration project, providing education to Research and Development
Activities: local farmers interested in producing grass biomass, assisting
• Tested pellets to determine energy and mineral content. Activities:
New York State’s first commercial grass pelleter, EnviroEnergy • Collaborating with Cornell University on testing of grass biomass and pellets.
• Determine optimal pelleting methods and feedstock.
• Helped processor develop feedstock selection criteria. LLC in developing grass pellets using local biomass, and • Collaborated with pellet processor on development of high quality grass
demonstrating the use of grass pellets in real world heating pellets.
Impact: applications. These applications include indoor pellet stoves • Collaborating with manufacturers on development of grass-compatible
• Processor controlling quality through feedstock prescreening for combustion technology.
and outdoor pellet furnaces heating a variety of public
critical variables. buildings at nine sites in a three county area in the Catskill
• Produce grass pellet with BTU value 95% of premium wood pellet. Impact:
region of New York State. Outreach methodologies include • Have proven that high quality pellets can be produced from 100% native
• Pellet quality as consistent as premium wood pellet.
open houses, written media, static poster displays, oral grasses and burned effectively.
presentations at local and regional conferences, as well as a • Have worked with three furnace manufacturers to test grass pellets in their
robust website that provides general information and links to products and suggested design modifications.
resources on grass biomass as well as virtual tours of all of the • Have identified seven commercially available combustion units that work well
with grass pellets.
project demonstration sites.
Utilizing Grass Pellets for Heating: Real World Demonstration Sites
Activities:
• Established nine demonstration sites heating with grass pellets.
• Heating with off-the-shelf combustion technology (stoves and furnaces)
• Collecting data on function and fuel savings with grass pellets.
Impact:
• Have consumed over 100 tons of grass pellets to heat demonstration sites to date.
• Have been successful burning grass pellets in both indoor stoves and outdoor furnaces.
• Several sites displace on average over 50% of heating fuel oil with grass pellets for a
47% net fuel cost reduction.