THE DEVELOPMENT OF A ROBUST AND SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY OF LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS FOR A BILLION-TON U.S. BIOENERGY INDUSTRY BY 2030 IS A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE CURRENT NATIONAL ENERGY PLAN. HOWEVER, THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFICIENT AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES TO MEET THE NATIONAL TARGET WHILE BALANCING THE COST AND QUALITY OF BIOMASS IN A LOGISTICS SYSTEM HAS BEEN CHALLENGING. PRE-PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE FEEDSTOCK SIZE AND MOISTURE CONTENT COULD POTENTIALLY ENHANCE BIOREFINERY INFRASTRUCTURE ECONOMICS. IN THIS STUDY, WE PROPOSE TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE PRE-PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES IN FEEDSTOCK LOGISTICS SYSTEMS FOR HARDWOOD LOGGING RESIDUES AND AN ENERGY CROP, HYBRID POPLAR, TO SUPPLY BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHEASTERN REGION. IN ADDITION, THE QUALITY OF BIOMASS COLLECTED FROM EVALUATED LOGISTICS SYSTEMS WILL BE ASSESSED AND INCORPORATED INTO THE ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS. OUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TO PERFORM THE EMPIRICAL ANALYSES FOR BIOMASS COSTS AND QUALITY, AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AT KEY POINTS IN VARIOUS FEEDSTOCK LOGISTICS SYSTEMS. THE KEY OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT WILL BE A REGIONAL BIOFUEL DEVELOPMENT PLAN UTILIZING WOODY BIOMASS IN THE SOUTHEAST. THIS CONTRIBUTION IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE CONTINUOUS EFFORTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS AND TECHNIQUES THAT CAN PRODUCE RELIABLE AND CONSISTENT QUALITY OF FEEDSTOCK IN A FEASIBLE LOGISTICS SYSTEM WOULD EXPEDITE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIOFUEL INDUSTRY IN THE REGION AND THE NATION. IN ADDITION, A SUCCESSFUL BIOENERGY SECTOR WILL ENHANCE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION IN THE RURAL AREAS AND PROMPT RURAL PROSPERITY.