NDSU will host a daylong conference to explore how the northern Great Plains fit into the national energy vision. The conference, “2009 Northern Plains Bioeconomy: What Makes Sense?” will be Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Ramada Plaza Suites and Conference Center in Fargo. The cost of the conference is $100 and includes conference materials, lunch and refreshments during breaks.

The conference will start with a welcome address by D.C. Coston, NDSU vice president for Agriculture and University Extension.

“Those attending will hear discussions about the production of fuels and materials from cellulosic biomass and the potential impact on North Dakota and the surrounding region, the technology and economics of various aspects of biofuels and bioproducts, and projects currently under way in the region,” says Nancy Hodur, NDSU Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics research scientist and one of the conference organizers. “Participants will explore how the northern Plains fits into this national vision and how it can benefit.”

Topics include biomass projects today and tomorrow, the indirect land use debate, biomaterials initiative research and development efforts in the commercialization of biobased nanofibers and biocomposites, preliminary engineering and design of a cellulose-to-ethanol pilot plant, and pretreatment of biomass by ammonia fiber explosion. Other topics include the next steps to developing a biomaterials industry in North Dakota, discussion on whether the market or the supply comes first and a review of regional bioenergy research.

Participants will have an opportunity to view exhibits at a poster session highlighting NDSU’s research, educational and development efforts related to energy and bioproducts.

For more information, contact Hodur at nancy.hodur@ndsu.edu or 1-7357. More information and online registration are available at www.ndsu.edu/ndsu/bioopportunities/conference/index.html.