June Member of the Month: RPM Ecosystems, LLC
ACORE’s member of the month is RPM Ecosystems LLC, a pioneering company at the forefront of dedicated biomass feedstock production.
RPM Ecosystems is a long time ACORE and Biomass Coordinating Council member focusing on environmental solutions and project development using a patented plant growing technique, the Root Production Method ™ (RPM). The company brings native trees and other plants to the table as viable sources for biomass production, carbon sequestration and other environmental applications. Headquartered in New York State, RPM Ecosystems has satellite nursery facilities and interests throughout the U.S. including in the Southeast and Gulf Coast.
The company’s completely natural Root Production Method accelerates faster native tree growth, up to 3 times that of traditionally-grown trees. The picture to the left shows root balls from the same seed stock, planted at the same time and grown side by side under identical conditions – both are one year old. To the right, cross-sections were taken from 2 black oak trees of the same seed stock, planted at the same time and grown side by side under identical conditions. For scale, the RPM tree is 20 cm in diameter (approx. 7 inches) and the bare-foot grown tree is 9 cm diameter (approx. 3.5 inches).
The accelerated growth of RPM native trees provide a significant contribution to the production of dedicated biomass for renewable energy, while at the same time providing a wide range of environmental benefits such as improving water and air quality. Proven RPM advantages include high survivability and establishment, early fruit and nut production for wildlife and regeneration benefits, and accelerated growth for early maturation of woody species. These advantages result in early project success and early return on investment for energy and environmental projects.
The company works collaboratively with a diversity of partners to develop large-scale projects that meet strict national and international criteria while providing social and community benefits and addressing multiple global environmental concerns. RPM Ecosystems is collaborating with other ACORE members--including two biomass combined heat and power plants providing 60mw in central New York--who are exploring options for dedicated biomass feedstock resources.
Biomass from RPM dedicated energy crops can be grown in a “closed-loop process”, and offer high BTU levels; predictable, 
reliable, sustainable, renewable energy; and environmentally beneficial options for reducing fossil-based energy use.
RPM Ecosystems has planned for a combined heat and power plant to provide energy to its Platinum LEEDS office building, and its 160 acre nursery operation in New York State. They are also in the development phase of a renewable energy project for an Accelerated Woody Biomass Demonstration Plantation. Upon receipt of federal funding, RPM will begin the installation of 500-acres of a planned 1,000-acre commercial demonstration site using Root Production Method native plants. The goal of project is to define biomass commercial production metrics; set economic baselines/yield rates; fix plantation-gate to power-heat-bio-products manufacture metrics and set the global commercialization benchmark for growing woody biomass for bioenergy.
For more information, please visit: www.rpmecosystems.com.