Seneca business leader showcases carbon-neutral technology
GOWANDA- Seneca businessman Ross John recently signed a memorandum of understanding with a Central New York biomass company, Summerhill Biomass Systems, to install an innovative heating system on his property that utilizes powder made from corn, grass, wood, and other renewable energy sources found throughout the Cattaraugus Territory.
The thermostat-controlled system, which utilizes a fine powder, allows a solid material to burn as intensely as a gas without smoke or odor. Other businesses in the region could eventually take advantage of this affordable energy system.
Maybe even in other regions you think maybe huh?
I am frankly awed by how fast the 80+ year old inventor has managed to move his latest invention. Wonder if the patent office has even gotten around to unwrapping the package sent them?
I am sure everybody here will recall that an asthmatic lady stood beside a giant "blow torch" burning wood "flour" during a demonstration I diaried. [snark] The woman couldn't stand to be near a wood stove when it was used for heating.
"This is the most efficient way to extract stored solar energy out of waste biomass," said McKnight, who helped develop products for DuPont and Johnson & Johnson as an organic chemist. "With our system, everything can be used - leaves, stalks, branches, twigs. Nothing is wasted."
Yeah but think of all the landfill operators who could go out of business, not to mention the hurt that could be done to the likes of BP and T. Boone Pickens. Some people have no consideration.
Installation and operation dates for incorporating Summerhill's technology on the Cattaraugus Territory as well as additional business partners participating in the product trials will be announced at a later time.
Be a day or two. Count on it. Besides the little matter of tooling up to convert the former soup can demo unit to a commercial unit, there is the much more difficult problem of explaining to regulators and Sierra Clubbers that waste is a much better fuel for the environment than natural gas.
I wouldn't count on the biomass-powder fueled automobile real soon. In fact my guess would be never but who am I to say?
Best, Terry