Centralia College, the University of Washington and the Economic Alliance of Lewis County are partnering to host a Bioeconomy Conference in the college’s TransAlta Commons from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 26.
The conference will focus on Lewis County and Washington state’s propensity for a natural resource-based economy and energy through biomass, rather than fossil fuels. Broadly, biomass is defined by Merriam Webster or as the volume of living matter in a given area. In the context of energy, biomass is defined as “plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel.”
According to a recent UW story on the subject, “Sustainable development of renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels will require careful planning, resource conservation and committed policy support.”
The conference is being put on by the Renewables Task Force, an ad-hoc committee of volunteers that, though the Alliance, is promoting bioeconomy and technology locally, according to Bob Russell, a member.
Drs. Rick Gustafson and Renata Bura from the UW will present on the university’s biomass research, along with other researchers. Attendees can also hear from Jordan Solomon, president and CEO of the Ecostrat Corporation, a biomass consulting firm. His presentation includes “understanding the bioeconomy development opportunity,” according to an event flier.
Mark Peck, a former county commissioner from Libby, Montana, will present on a case study of Libby as a bioeconomy development area.
The event will close with a networking opportunity.
Learn more by calling the Economic Alliance at 360-748-0114 or visiting https://lewiscountyalliance.org/contact.
