National and regional biofuel, biopower and bioproducts experts will convene in Syracuse for the Northeast Sun Grant 2010 Regional Conference, hosted by Cornell, at the Renaissance Syracuse Hotel, May 24-26.

Among the bevy of speakers will be Peter Woodbury, senior research associate in Cornell's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, who will address feedstock and land use assessment in the Northeast region. Larry Walker, Cornell professor of biological and environmental engineering and director of the Northeast Sun Grant Institute of Excellence, will be session moderator and give opening remarks.

Patrick Hooker, New York Commissioner for Agriculture and Markets, will present a keynote address on the potential economic impact of biofuel and biopower for New York agriculture, May 25 at 6:30 p.m., at the hotel.

Other key speakers include: Tiffany Westendorf, lead chemical engineer at General Electric Research, discussing the research and development of bioenergy; and Zia Haq, a team leader in the U.S. Department of Energy's biomass program, discussing the research and development of biofuels.

At the general meeting, groups will develop research-needs lists, estimate the region's budgets and priorities and give presentations on the soon-to-be-released New York Renewable Fuels Roadmap.

For schedule, information and registration, http://nesungrant.cornell.edu.