Seeing the opportunity to increase the diversity of the U.S. energy supply, aid in rural economic development, and enhance environmental quality, the Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Resources Alliance (SAFER) has initiated the creation of a Southern Bioenergy Roadmap.

In order for the South to be a leader in bioenergy production, the myriad of individuals and organizations in the bioenergy environment need to work together. This means guiding actions toward a common vision involving bioenergy’s research, commercial, and policy landscapes through the lens of sustainability. The first step in creating a common pathway is to identify the assets within the landscape and the activities already taking place. The second is to involve the multitude of actors in a participatory process to gather input on needs and priorities. The third is to synthesize this information into coherent policy recommendations. The project described below is a description of these activities under the title of a Southern Bioenergy Roadmap.

Two outcomes will result from this effort. First, the roadmap will provide regional recommendations for the research, commercial, and policy landscapes. Second, it will identify specific actions for SAFER and its partners to implement those recommendations.

Scope
This project will encompass the following Southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Project Description
The Southern Bioenergy Roadmap will:

1. Identify the bioenergy assets of the South in the areas of research, industry, and policy through a literature review, data collection, and GIS mapping;
2. Gather input from institutions and individuals involved in bioenergy in the South through regional stakeholder meetings and other appropriate means;
3. Create a coherent set of recommendations based on the findings of (1) and (2) aimed at improving sustainable bioenergy industries in the South;
4. Provide a plan of action to implement those recommendations; and
5. Communicate this information to practitioners, decision makers, businesses and the public through a published report, presentations and website.

A primary goal of this project is to leverage the activities already present in the South and to create collaborative and synergistic opportunities to ensure optimal results from these efforts. In reviewing the Steering Committee members of SAFER, the diversity of partners already begins to emerge including the efforts of 25x’25, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Southern Alliance for the Utilization of Biomass Resources, Mississippi Farm Bureau, universities, and landowners.

Upon completion of the report, SAFER will disseminate the findings and recommendations of the Roadmap. This will be done through:

• A published report of the findings and recommendations
• Presentations across the region
• Website focused on findings of the report, promoting events, and news updates
• Press releases to regional media outlets and SAFER distribution lists
• Southern Growth’s Southern Compass e-newsletter which has 4,000 recipients

SOUTHEAST AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY ENERGY RESOURCES ALLIANCE
c/o SOUTHERN GROWTH POLICIES BOARD
P.O. BOX 12293, RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC 27709
PHONE: 919-941-5145 • FAX: 919-941-5594
CHARITY PENNOCK — PROJECT COORDINATOR, SAFER • cpennock@southern.org