Biomass Groundbreaking at UMM

More than 100 people attended the biomass groundbreaking ceremony on July 27, 2007, for the new biomass gasification facility to be constructed at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Many dignitaries attended the event and commended UMM on its renewable and sustainable energy initiatives.

The biomass project received one of 12 USDA/DOE (United States Departments of Agriculture and Energy) energy grants for $1.89 million to conduct additional research using this project. This grant, the largest received by the Morris campus to date, allowed UMM/WCROC to add the USDA Agricultural Research Service - North Central Soil Conservation Research Lab into the partnership to conduct research on carbon sequestration. The total project cost is $8,956,000, which includes grant money. Construction of the facility is scheduled for completion in Spring 2008.

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Groundbreaking attendees enjoyed beautiful weather.

Chancellor Johnson delivered a welcome and opening remarks.

Here's Lowell Rasmussen, UMM associate vice chancellor for physical plant and planning.

Dr. Abdullah A. Jaradat is the North Central Soil Conservation Research Lab Director.

UMM is located in the west central Minnesota community of Morris. Morris' mayor is Sheldon Giese.

We were pleased to be joined by Minnesota State Senator Gary Kubly...

...and Minnesota State Representative Al Juhnke.

Mike Reese is the Director of Renewable Energy, West Central Research and Outreach Center...

...joined here by (left to right) Bob Stein (CFANS Associate Dean), Doug Maust (with HGA Architects), and Mike Bull (of the Minnesota State Commerce Department).

Here comes the hard part.

Ground broken! Well done!

Our thanks to everyone involved in making this great day possible!