The Capital Times, WI
06-26-07
UW-Madison to lead federal biofuels consortium
Anita Weier
The University of Wisconsin-Madison and its partners have been selected as one
of three consortiums nationally that will receive $125 million each in federal funds
to find new ways to turn plants into energy.
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the centers will
accelerate basic research in the development of cellulosic ethanol and other
biofuels. The goal is to make biofuel production cost-competitive on a national
scale by 2012, furthering national energy security.
Research at the centers over a five-year period is expected to improve
conversion of plants other than increasingly costly corn kernels to ethanol. Wood
chips, switchgrass and the cobs and stalks of corn are possible sources, Tim
Donohue, the lead UW-Madison scientist involved in the project, has said
previously.
Another possibility is breeding plants and microbes for increased production of
ethanol and other bioenergy compounds.
The other Joint Bioenergy Institutes announced today by the Department of
Energy are led by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and the
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory near Berkeley, Calif., according to the
New York Times.
The University of Wisconsin's collaborative effort -- known as the Great Lakes
Bioenergy Research Center -- includes major partner Michigan State University
and several others. They include the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in
Washington state, Lucigen Corp. of Middleton, the University of Florida in
Gainesville, Illinois State University at Normal and Iowa State University at
Ames.
"It is with great pride and excitement that I can now confirm that UW-Madison
has been chosen to lead one of the three federally funded bioenergy research
centers," said Molly Jahn, dean of UW-Madison's College of Agricultural and Life
Sciences, which led the application process for the grant.
Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who led a joint delegation with Michigan to promote
selection for the grant, congratulated the two universities on their selection to
collaboratively operate the center, which will be headquartered at Madison.
"For many years now, UW-Madison has led the way in developing new
technologies that make their way seamlessly from the research lab to our farms,"
Kohl said in a written statement.
"Today's announcement is a reflection of that, but more importantly, it solidifies
our state and our flagship university's position at the head of the burgeoning
renewable fuels industry."
Kohl said the research would help Americans wean themselves from carbon fuel
energy sources so that biofuels developed and produced in Wisconsin could heat
homes and fuel cars.
"Wisconsin is leading the way toward energy independence in this country," said
Matt Canter, a spokesman for Gov. Jim Doyle, adding that the state will be
making a major investment in this project.
Details of that investment were expected to be announced at a news conference
this afternoon.