Xcel Energy begins biomass plantations in Lake Superior basin

Plantings began in early June on two innovative woody biomass energy plantations in the Lake Superior basin that will be testing hybrid species of poplar and black willow trees. The plantations at the Ag Experiment Station in Ashland and Morning View Farm in Port Wing were made possible by grants from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Xcel Energy. The Lake Superior Woody Biomass Initiative (LSWBI) will promote the scientific research and development of the two biomass energy plantations.

The LSWBI includes a number of research-based projects that are necessary to support sustainable biomass production and utilization in northwest Wisconsin. To be sustained, production and harvest of woody biomass must protect or enhance soil quality, surface and groundwater quality and biodiversity. The LSWBI will:

• Evaluate advanced selections of woody biomass crops by establishing hybrid poplar and black willow germplasm clone trials. The trial will be conducted in cooperation with Bill Berguson, Natural Resources Research Institute, Duluth, Minn., who has one of the largest hybrid breeding programs in the United States.

• Optimize woody biomass production systems by establishing poplar and black willow production trials to evaluate and demonstrate management and harvest options. The trials will be used to demonstrate basic site preparation, planting and weed control management options to farmers and the public.

“These innovative plantations will help us learn more about the performance of woody biomass crops in northwest Wisconsin,” says David Donovan, Xcel Energy manager of Regulatory Policy. “With the increasing demand for woody biomass, Wisconsin’s northwest region, with its forests and agricultural lands, has an opportunity to provide a substantial and diverse supply of biomass.”

UW-Stout reports record summer attendance

School never really is out at University of Wisconsin-Stout, and that has never been as true as it is this summer. UW-Stout’s summer session is booming.

University officials report an extraordinary increase of 15 percent in registrations for summer session course credits: 19,597, up from 17,040 in 2009. The increase since 2007 is even more remarkable at 29 percent.

Janice Coker, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, says the increase can be attributed to a number of factors, including summer course variety and the ability to take coursework online.

“UW-Stout offers general education courses, courses required in students’ majors and professional development courses and certificates for working professionals in an effort to meet a wide variety of student needs,” Coker says. “Flexible scheduling also plays a role in meeting student needs.”

UW-Stout also has worked hard at marketing the summer session to current students and the public, she says.

“Many students find it easy to get a few credits taken care of through the many online courses that UW-Stout offers,” says Pam Holsinger-Fuchs, admissions director and executive director of enrollment services.

University officials also say summer session will grow in importance because, starting this fall, UW-Stout will offer a three-year degree program for three undergraduate majors: Psychology, business administration and hotel, restaurant and tourism. These are three of the largest programs on the UW-Stout campus, and the three-year degree program involves summer session classes.

MOVERS

>> The St. Croix Economic Development Corporation has elected its new officers. Tom Schumacher, an attorney with Bakke Norman S.C., is the new president. Ryan Sicard, an employee of the Somerset School District, is first vice president. Humphrey Engineering and MarketGraphics Owner Roger Humphrey is second vice president. Marian Furlong was elected corporate secretary-treasurer. She is the president and CEO of Hudson Hospital & Clinics.

>> David McAninch, P.E. has joined Clark Dietz as a Sr. Mechanical Engineer focusing on energy services.

>> Charity Speich, manager of the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, was recently elected to a one-year term as president of the Wisconsin Airport Management Association.

>> James Hanke is the new economic development manager at Xcel Energy.

>> Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-Superior recently added Johanna Garrison to its faculty. Garrison will be the instructor of the new Human Services Associate program starting in the fall.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

EAU CLAIRE: Dr. Rama Yelkur, professor of marketing and coordinator of international business programs at UW-Eau Claire has received a $190,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The Business and International Education Program grant will support the development of an international business major, international study scholarships and international scholarships for students, faculty, travel, conferences and related activities.