Associated Press
12-05-07
Department of Energy offers funding for biomass testing projects
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Iowa State University will receive up to $2 million in
federal funds for a biomass research project with ConocoPhillips Co., the U.S.
Department of Energy announced Tuesday.
The funding is part of $7.7 million the department is dispersing to four projects
across the country that will demonstrate the process of turning grasses, stover
and other materials into biofuel.
"These projects will help develop cleaner methods for turning a wide variety of
feedstocks into fuel," said Samuel Bodman, secretary for the Department of
Energy. "Successful completion of these projects stands to redefine the way we
produce America's fuels and follows the president's call to end our dependence
to oil."
Among other projects, the department will offer up to $1.7 million for a biomass
testing partnership between Salt Lake City-based Emery Energy Co., Ceramatec
Inc. and the Western Research Institute.
Up to $2 million will go to the partnership of Research Triangle Institute (Triangle
Park, N.C.), North Carolina State University and the University of Utah.
Another $2 million will go to a project involving Southern Research Institute
(Birmingham, Ala.), Pall Corp., Thermochem Recovery International and
Rentech.
The funding for Iowa State will help fund a project expected to cost $5.2 million.
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said the four projects are worthwhile and deserved
federal funding.
"Emerging technologies to convert biomass into clean, domestic fuels is the
future of our national energy security," Harkin said in a statement Tuesday. "No
where is that more evident than in Iowa, where we are literally growing the crops
that will lead to these advancements."