Weyerhaeuser Announces Participation in Jet Biofuel Research
Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY) today announced that it is a participant
in the portion of the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance consortium
led by Washington State University to study the feasibility of producing
jet biofuel from woody feedstocks in the Pacific Northwest.
The WSU-led project is one of two five-year, $40 million grants
announced this morning in Seattle by Thomas Vilsack, U.S. secretary of
agriculture. The University of Washington received the other $40 million
grant.
The WSU-led grant aims to address the urgent national need for a
domestic biofuel alternative for U.S. commercial and military air
fleets. NARA researchers envision developing a new, viable, aviation
fuel industry using wood and wood waste in the Pacific Northwest, where
forests cover almost half of the region. The project also will focus on
increasing the profitability of wood-based fuels through development of
high value, bio-based co-products to replace petrochemicals used in
products such as plastics.
As a subcontractor to the WSU-led grant, Weyerhaeuser will focus on
three areas:
Determining the feasibility of sustainable production of woody
feedstocks for use in biofuel and value-added products;
Understanding how to more cost-effectively collect currently
under-utilized harvest material; and
Exploring ways to convert woody biomass lignin components into
value-added bio products.
'The consortium is designed to capitalize on the unique contributions of
the participants, and Weyerhaeuser is pleased to be part of that,? said
Dan Fulton, Weyerhaeuser president and CEO. 'Sustainability is
absolutely critical to the successful production of feedstocks and
aviation biofuel on an economical scale, and we′re proud to bring more
than a century of forest science and innovative solutions to the effort.?
As part of its involvement, Weyerhaeuser will establish a new research
site near Springfield, Ore. to better understand the effect of forest
management practices on soil, water and wildlife. The site is intended
to provide information on the effect of biomass removal, compaction and
fertilization on soil, water and wildlife. Weyerhaeuser scientists Greg
Johnson and Scott Holub will lead the study.
Weyerhaeuser also will work with collaborators to understand how to
develop more cost-effective ways to collect currently under-utilized
harvest residuals for emerging bio-fuel and bio-product applications.
Gevan Marrs is the lead Weyerhaeuser scientist on the aspect.
Lignin is the second most abundant polymer in nature, but today is
mainly used in basic applications such as being burned for green energy
in the pulp mills or as an additive in cements. Weyerhaeuser will study
ways to create high value bio products from residual lignin. John
Westland is the Weyerhaeuser lead on the lignin study.
Throughout its 110-year history, Weyerhaeuser has been dedicated to
providing sustainable solutions for people and the planet. External
indices such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good
index have recognized the company′s leadership in sustainability.
Weyerhaeuser NR, the company′s wholly-owned taxable REIT subsidiary, is
conducting work in the consortium.
NARA includes a broad consortium of scientists from universities,
government laboratories and private industry. More information about
NARA, its work and its partners is available at http://www.nararenewables.org.
Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest forest products
companies, began operations in 1900. We grow and harvest trees, build
homes and make a range of forest products essential to everyday lives.
We manage our timberland on a sustainable basis in compliance with
internationally recognized forestry standards. At the end of 2010, we
employed approximately 14,000 employees in 10 countries. We have
customers worldwide and generated $6.6 billion in sales in 2010. Our
stock trades on the New York Stock exchange under the symbol WY.
Additional information about us is available at http://www.weyerhaeuser.com.
Weyerhaeuser Company
Media
Bruce Amundson, 253-924-3047
or
Analysts
Kathryn
McAuley, 253-924-2058
