BIOMASS ENERGY

Biomass-Algae

The development of biomass for the production of biofuels is an energy development that requires significant agricultural resources and labor.  The refinery resources required for processing the biomass materials produced on the Reservation have been identified and the transportation requirements for these feed materials have been assessed.

There is no significant economic benefit that appears possible from current biomass development technology on the Reservation.  The production of conventional biomass for the production of biofuels is an energy development that requires significant agricultural resources, and labor.  The intense land, water, and manpower resources to produce conventional biomass crops (e.g., corn, soybeans, or switch grass) exceed the resources of the Reservation and the projected economic benefits from conventional biomass production and refinery processing has little potential for success.

However, universities are engaged in research developing, special, cultured algae as new biomass products.  These algae exhibit fast growing rates, high affinity for absorption of carbon dioxide, good photosynthetic efficiency, promise oil production yields in excess of 8,000 gallons per acre (compared to 50 gallons per acre for soybeans) and thrive in saline, brackish ground water available on the Reservation.  These attributes if realized could make such Algae production on the Reservation very attractive.

The Tribal Energy Management Team is supporting this important research and believes Biomass-Algae may have direct application and commercialization potential on the Reservation.  However, the actual development of these algae and potential economic benefit to the Tribal Energy Management Team will depend upon the successful demonstration of these special algae.

The Tribal Energy Management Team intends to support particular algae research activities that are applicable to the environment and conditions existing at the Reservation.  This policy will allow the practical assessment of development of Biomass-Algae on the Reservation and the potential for the development of such a specialized biomass product there.
Tentative Timeline for Biomass Energy Development

Site Assessment
Land selection and water (1 yr)

Cultivation and Test Planting
Evaluation of crop yield and economic return

Full Irrigation Development
Accessing water resources

Major Land cultivation
Planting, irrigating, and harvesting(2 years)

Crop processing for biomass
Processing and transportation of biomass product