New Research Institute Will Turn Ag By-Product into Energy (Will Montana watch this parade go by?)

Four major Northwest research organizations are bringing together industry, processors, growers, universities and federal laboratories to develop new methods for converting agricultural and food processing residue and wastes into commercially valuable bio-based energy and industrial products.

(Many thanks to Al Jones for passing this article and the title question along- Russ)

Members of the new Northwest Bioproducts Research Institute include the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), DOE’s Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), Washington State University, and the University of Idaho.

Under terms of the agreement the participating universities and federal research laboratories will examine and develop methods for converting agricultural and food processing residue and wastes into bio-based fuels, power and industrial products, such as chemicals for plastics, solvents and fibers. Industry, processors and growers will be able to use and profit from the institute’s products and technologies and, in some cases, will profit from the discoveries through licenses.

A Bioproducts Advisory Committee that includes members from industry and grower organizations will be created to set research priorities and help ensure the rapid transfer of scientific discoveries to commercial products and processes.

"The institute will contribute to the nation’s desire to increase markets for agriculture and help reduce its dependence on imported petroleum," added PNNL Director Lura Powell. "The institute will develop the technologies necessary to create a robust bioproducts and bioenergy industry."

And Bill Shipp, INEEL president and laboratory director, noted: "To the degree possible, research conducted in this institute will contribute to the nation’s need to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and provide low-cost energy. Demand for petroleum feedstocks for products, fuels, and power production continues to increase, and it is intended that the institute will strive to address this increase by enabling the use of agricultural resources to partially offset this demand."

For more information, contact the Renewable Fuels Association at 202.289.3835 or visit their website at http://www.ethanolrfa.org.

http://www.ethanolmarketplace.com/byproduct_energy.asp