Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I - Pulaski) encouraged students interested in learning more about biomass energy to become a summer intern. Eight paid summer internships will be available in Central New York for college students interested in biomass energy through the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), and the Syracuse Center of Excellence and CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, participating companies include Antares Group, ACT Bioenergy, Mascoma, Mesa Reduction Engineering and Processing, New England Wood Pellet, O’Brien and Gere, ReEnergy and Sunoco.

“With the cost of fuel escalating, biomass energy is experiencing an increase in popularity,” said Barclay. “These internships provide college students with opportunities in a growing area of study and development that is both economically efficient and environmentally safe, as well as creating job opportunities right here in our own communities.”

Biomass, which includes wood, crops and other organic material, is a renewable source of heat and power. The deadline to apply is March 9. For more information on the internships or to apply, please contact Aimee Clinkhammer at the Syracuse Center of Excellence at aclinkhammer@syracusecoe.org or 315-443-3741 or Timothy Volk of ESF at tavolk@esf.edu or 315-470-6774. To view the application, visit http://www.esf.edu/outreach/projects/documents/StudentFlyerSummerBiomassInternship2012.pdf.