Biomass workshop at EERC begins July 18 A record number of attendees are registered for the fourth annual Biomass '06: Power, Fuels, and Chemicals Workshop set for July 18-19, at the Energy & Environmental Research Center. The workshop will focus on key advances in technologies for making power, chemicals, and transportation fuels from biomass (or agricultural products such as straw, corn, and wood residue). Advances in conventional and new methods for production of biodiesel and ethanol will be highlighted as well as the production of hydrogen from biomass. "We have received an outstanding response for this event," said Chris Zygarlicke, deputy associate director for research at the EERC. "With only a week to go, we already have nearly 150 registrants and an impressive group of exhibitors attending which represent some of leading organizations in this industry from around the region." The Biomass '06 program features top industry representatives from companies such as Cargill, Great River Energy, Xethanol, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Siemens Power Generation, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce. "This event will help stimulate growth in the biopower and biofuel industry in the upper Great Plains," said EERC Director Gerald Groenewold. "We are seeing significant global interest in our renewable energy programs at the EERC, which are indeed one of the pathways to energy security and energy independence in our country." Biomass '06 is sponsored by the Center for Renewable Energy, one of the EERC's 10 Centers of Excellence, and the U.S. Department of Energy. More than 85 people from eight states and three countries attended the Biomass II Heat and Power Workshop held at the EERC in November 2003. For more information on the workshop, visit www.undeerc.org/biomass/ . -- Derek Walters, EERC communications manager, 777-5113 or dwalters@undeerc.org.