SUNY-ESF and Honeywell Harvest Camillus Shrub Willows to Produce Sustainable, Green Energy

Innovative Project Can Return Solvay Settling Basin to Productive Use

CAMILLUS, N.Y. - January 31, 2007 - Generating a new source of sustainable energy, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) and Honeywell began harvesting one acre of shrub willows on Solvay Settling Basin #13 in Camillus. For the next week, the shrubs will be cut, stacked, weighed, sampled for moisture and energy content, chipped and transported to the Lyonsdale Biomass Plant in Lyons Falls, N.Y., for use in its 19-megawatt electric power facility.

The rapid growing shrubs were planted in spring 2004 as part of a pilot project to develop a living cover for the Solvay Settling Basins. More than 35,000 willows have been planted. 

ESF President, Cornelius B. Murphy, Jr. said, "We, at ESF, are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with Honeywell on this innovative and sustainable biomass project. We also want to recognize Congressman Jim Walsh for his long-standing efforts in supporting our biomass research and demonstration program."

Based on the success of the pilot, future biomass crops would:

• reduce the amount of salt and runoff from the Solvay waste carried by normal regional rainfall that sinks into the groundwater, which flows into Nine Mile Creek and Onondaga Lake;
• increase the diversity of vegetation and wildlife on the settling basins;
• and turn the settling basins into an area that could sustainably produce woody biomass for the production of renewable "green" energy and biofuels in Syracuse.

"Honeywell and ESF have a long history of partnering in Central New York," said John McAuliffe, Syracuse Program Director. "The sustainable and renewable shrub willow biomass project illustrates the creative and innovative projects that we can bring to the communities around Onondaga Lake."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7 Director Ken Lynch, Camillus Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan and Camillus town officials toured the shrub willow site with Murphy and McAuliffe to observe the harvesting process.

"The town of Camillus is excited to be home to this important and innovative project that, if it continues to be successful, will provide long-term benefits to both the community and the environment," said Camillus Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan.

Preliminary modeling also shows that the shrub willows can substantially reduce the amount of water that percolates through the settling basin and into the groundwater and Onondaga Lake.

Similar to common shrubs, cutting the shrub willows every three years is a pruning process that allows them to re-sprout with new growth in the spring. Each shrub can be harvested at least seven times before replanting.

Prior to harvesting the shrubs, willow chips were tested at an independent New York State certified laboratory. There were no detections of mercury, chlorobenzenes or other hazardous compounds.

Honeywell and ESF plan to plant  additional willow shrubs on Solvay Settling Basins # 9-15.

Lyonsdale Biomass, LLC is a biomass wood-fired energy plant. The facility receives more than 260,000 green tons (wood chips, lumber scraps, etc.) and produces electricity for delivery to the New York Independent System Operator and steam flow to Burrows Paper Corporation. The Lyonsdale facility consumes an average of 700 tons of wood chips per day for fuel.

For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.

###

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, founded in 1911, is the only institution of higher learning in the United States dedicated solely to the study of natural resources and the environment. SUNY-ESF faculty, students and staff are involved in teaching, research and environmentally friendly development projects on every continent in the world. For more information, visit www.esf.edu.

Honeywell International is a $31 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com.