Thursday, December 21, 2006
Work has been completed to convert Biomass (agricultural waste products) into pellets, which are processed through a gasification process. Over 2 million tons of agricultural waste is generated within a five county area of the Tri-Cities. The biomass gasification process will take these agricultural by-products, blend the waste streams and pelletize them. The pellets are burned and the heat is used to dry other FruitSmart® products. This process eliminates agricultural waste, creates jobs and reduces energy dependence from fossil fuels.
Participants in this Clean Energy & Environment include: the Port of Benton, FruitSmart®, The Center for Strategic Alliance, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and REL Associates. Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) provided a grant for this project.
Jim Early of FruitSmart® is holding a mixture of grape waste and straw. This biomass will be mixed with other ingredients, made into pellets and used to dry other FruitSmart® products.