INVASIVE SPECIES (PHRAGMITES) BEING USED TO PRODUCE BIOGAS

Last Saturday's Waterloo Region Record carried this story "His high-octane biogas message". A University of Guelph post grad student is studying whether an invasive plant known as phragmites can be used as a feedstock for biogas production. Phragmites is an extremely tall plant which spreads rapidly and tends to takeover wetland areas. It is being removed where possible as it tends to reduce bio-diversity because of its' thick roots and shoots. Student Kurtis Baute is trying to determine if it could be harvested and used to help produce biogas which runs engines to generate electricity. Here in Elmira, Woolwich Bio-En are still trying to increase their raw feedstocks hence perhaps down the road this research could be beneficial to them.