|
Congratulations to Dr. Raymond Cross, Grand Marshall of
the 2009 Hamilton Morrisville State College President Ray Cross, Ph.D. joined Morrisville State College in April, 1998. He has a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, an M.S. from Central Michigan University, and a B.S. from Ferris State University. He served as Head of the Engineering Technologies Department at Ferris State University in Michigan, President of Northwest Technical College, and has worked as a consultant to the auto industry. Cross has leveraged the college’s roots in agricultural and technical programs, becoming a leading proponent of using New York agricultural feedstocks to develop biofuels. He has also made rural entrepreneurship a priority at the college with the development of an agri-business center, small-scale food processing plant and entrepreneurship institute. Several renewable energy projects and related research have been implemented at Morrisville State College under Cross’s leadership: The college, through a public/private partnership, is building an oilseed crushing facility and a biodiesel processing plant. A 10 kW wind turbine has been installed at the college’s dairy complex. Power generated by the turbine reduces energy costs at the complex by an average of $700 per month. An anaerobic methane digester has been constructed at the college’s dairy complex. The digester treats manure from 250 milking cows and provides 50 kW of power to the dairy complex. The college, along with several partners, is in the process of testing an integrated controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) system to evaluate year-round production of locally-grown vegetables and fruit, fish, and biofuel and feed from algae. The college and O’Brien & Gere Engineers are conducting a study to assess the feasibility of creating a regional food waste anaerobic digester which would be used to power the manufacturing of biodegradable serviceware made from locally grown potatoes. Cross was born and raised on a small dairy farm in Michigan. He and his wife, Miriam, have four children and four grandchildren. They live in Morrisville. For more details about these projects and to see some other innovative measures taken by Morrisville State College, see below: http://www.morrisville.edu/alternativeenergy/ Morrisville State College Controlled Environmental Agriculture Project Morrisville State College, along with several partners, is in the process of testing an integrated controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) system to evaluate year-round production of locally-grown vegetables and fruit, fish, and biofuel and feed from algae. The project will include design and testing of an algae photo-bioreactor and use existing technologies from aquaculture and hydroponics. Hybrid aquaculture-hydroponics systems, often referred to as aquaponics, have the potential to reduce costs and environmental impacts through shared energy requirements and utilization of waste products from one system component by another (e.g., fish waste fertilizes plants, and plants “clean” the water). Integration of algae into the system adds potential benefits via sequestering carbon, providing oxygen to the aquatic species, producing oil for biodiesel, and producing a feed additive for fish or livestock. A power plant or boiler system would burn fuel made from plant or animal sources to be used on-site or for export to the grid. The carbon dioxide emitted from this process would enter the greenhouse to enhance the growth of hydroponically grown vegetables such as leafy greens, tomatoes or strawberries. The carbon dioxide would also be pumped into tanks to help grow algae, which can be used to feed fish or other animals. Heat given off from power generation would be used to warm fish tanks in the greenhouse. Fish would be harvested for sale. Waste from the fish would be used to fertilize the vegetables. The system also has potential application at power generation facilities with excess heat and carbon dioxide waste streams. Organic Waste to Energy Facility Morrisville State College, teamed with O’Brien & Gere Engineers, proposes to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of regional organic waste to energy facilities in New York State. It is proposed that these facilities receive organic wastes from large venues (such as colleges, schools, hospitals, restaurants, grocery stores, food production and processing facilities, recreational facilities and municipalities). These organic wastes would be used in such a facility as feedstock for an anaerobic process to create renewable energy as well as saleable compost, liquid fertilizer, and carbon dioxide products. To minimize the carbon footprint by this concept it is proposed to use natural gas trucks that can be powered by the methane generated by the anaerobic process. Each large venue will be equipped with a separate sealed organic waste collection container for collection of organic wastes. Collecting food waste at individual households is difficult and adds complexity and cost to the concept. However, once a few of these facilities are up and operating, extra capacity could be added to each facility at that time to handle household food wastes if this becomes desirable to the state of New York. In the meantime, for concerned and environmentally friendly citizens, a separate organic waste container could be located at local municipalities for drop-off if organic wastes if desired. Biodegradable Serviceware This concept can be coupled with a study of the feasibility of locating a biodegradable serviceware manufacturing facility adjacent to the regional organic waste to energy and recycling facility. This facility would receive New York grown feedstocks from local farmers, which in return could receive compost or liquid fertilizer products. The renewable energy can be used to provide power and heat to this facility which would help keep the cost of the biodegradable serviceware competitive. The biodegradable serviceware can be sold and delivered to the large venues when food waste is picked up to minimize truck runs. The biodegradable serviceware can be thrown away with food waste at the large venue areas, which then will be returned to the regional organic waste to energy facility to create renewable energy and recycle organic products. Renewable Energy Activities and Research Morrisville State College (MSC) has been active in renewable energy initiatives and education. Recent initiatives at MSC include the creation of the Renewable Energy Training Center (RETC) through a US Department of Labor Community-Based Job Training grant (~$2M for 3 years). The RETC creates an alliance of employers, training providers, economic development partners and K-12 schools to address the short- and long-term skill needs of New York State’s growing renewable energy sector. The RETC will provide regional courses for unemployed youth or adults, dislocated workers and incumbent workers, basing its curriculum on employer-identified skills gaps. Existing college classes are being adapted, new courses created, and a new degree program in renewable energy developed.
Facilities supporting renewable energy education and initiatives at MSC include an anaerobic digester and a 10kW Bergey Excel wind turbine installed at the College’s dairy complex. The anaerobic digester biologically treats dairy manure and other organic waste generated from the campus’ dairy complex and produces biogas (about 60% methane) which is combusted in a 50kW engine generator set producing power (900+ kWh per day) and heat for use on site. The 10 kW wind turbine produces about 26 kWh of electricity per day electricity, and like the digester, it is used as a real-world teaching laboratory. Additional facilities and projects relating to renewable energy at MSC include a batch biodiesel processor used to convert fryer oil from campus dining facilities, a composting program utilizing food waste from the dining hall and manure from the equine facilities, research on growing algae for use as a biofuel/animal feed, and research/demonstration of a controlled environmental agriculture system for year-round production of locally-grown fish, produce, and biofuel. Other “Green” Initiatives in Place at Morrisville Administrative Action · Signatory of American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment · Formation of College Conservation Committee Buildings/Energy Consumption · Use of fluorescent lighting (switch from incandescent) on campus · Purchase and use of sub-meters to monitor and assess individual building energy usage · Any new construction will be at least to Silver LEED standards · Power from methane digester and windmill provide almost 100 % of power for Dairy Complex · Use of Energy Star washers in residence halls · Development of a “Dark Green Hour” – reduce energy use for an hour each week Transportation · Purchase of three hybrid vehicles; plans to replace entire fleet · Use of GEM electric cars (8) Products/Waste Elimination · Focus on using as many local products as possible in dining services · Potato starch products at Mustang Alley · Compost waste experiment · Tray less Tuesdays, Weigh-In Wednesdays (waste assessment in dining hall)
|