Double A Willow Strengthens Biomass Supply Chain by Providing Willow Plantings to Biofuels Industry

(Northeast Woody/Warm-season Biomass Consortium - NEWBio) As the largest supplier of shrub willow planting stock in the United States, Double A Willow is a critical link between research and the commercial development of renewable energy.

Double A Willow in Fredonia, New York, is the main source of shrub willow planting material for biomass energy and other uses in the United States. Owned by Dennis and Sue Rak, its nursery produces willow planting stock for landowners, institutions, and companies in the bioenergy industry.

The planting stock, in the form of dormant stem cuttings, comes from hybrid cultivars developed through breeding programs and research trials at the State University of New York School of Environment and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) and Cornell University. As such, Double A Willow is an essential link between research and the larger renewable energy industry.

When planted in properly prepared ground, dormant shrub-willow stem cuttings from one-year-old plants produce new roots, stems, and leaves and grow into a new plant. This makes propagation of new willow plants that are genetically identical to the hybrid cultivars from which they were sourced relatively quick and easy compared to planting a rooted shrub. The hybrid cultivars are bred for traits such as fast growth, high biomass yield, and disease and pest resistance.

Double A grows about 150 acres of willow at its Fredonia nursery. In addition to selling the willow stem cuttings, the company helps customers establish willow plantings and does custom planting and harvesting. For the last decade, Double A Willow has been the only commercial nursery licensed to grow and distribute hybrid shrub willow cultivars developed and patented by SUNY-ESF. Growers sign a license agreement with Double A for the right to raise the willow varieties for commercial use.

The majority of Double A's willow cuttings destined for bioenergy are growing on 1,200 acres in northern New York, operated by Celtic Energy. Willow biomass from these plantings is being sold to ReEnergy Holdings LLC, which is using willow and other sources of woody biomass for renewable power and heat in converted coal-fired power plants in the region. With the continued funding under the 2014 Farm Bill of the USDA Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), Dennis Rak hopes there will soon be the opportunity to plant more willow in New York. READ MORE