Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Bioenergy Engineering Education Program (BEEP) is an educational outreach program of Virginia Tech's Department of Biological Systems Engineering. The primary goal of this extension program is to increase participant's knowledge and awareness of the basics of bioenergy. Specifically, the program seeks to inform participants on the many different forms of bioenergy, discuss the feedstocks typically used for the generation of bioenergy, and explain how the bioenergy conversion technologies actually work.  Over the years, outreach programming has grown to include information on other alternative energy technologies as well as energy efficiency.

The goal of the Biological Systems Engineering Extension program is to meet the engineering needs of the Commonwealth and the nation by conducting vital, dynamic extension education, technology transfer and applied research activities to promote an environmentally sustainable and profitable agricultural production and processing system. BSE provides outreach support through Virginia Cooperative Extension by addressing environmental concerns about water quality, waste management, energy use, and safety, as well as production agriculture. Virginians who develop and use land, water, and other resources, must make important decisions about production facility design, equipment selection, and operating parameters. The ability to make wise decisions requires technical literacy. Except for the land-grant university system, few unbiased sources exist that provide technical information.

The mission of the Biological Systems Engineering Department is to develop and disseminate engineering knowledge and practices that protect natural resources and improve sustainable production, processing, and utilization of biological materials. 

Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments.  Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Jewel E. Hairston, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg.