University Research into Alternative Energy
Decades of tree and biomass research jointly
conducted by Florida Statue University and Shell Energy have resulted in
the planting of the largest single “Energy Crop Plantation” in the
entire United States. This Plantation spans approximately 130 acres and
is home to over 250,000 planted trees including cottonwoods (native to
the area) and eucalyptus (which are non-invasive) along with various row
crops such as soybeans. This organization of “super trees” was brought
into being as a result of the University's joint research with other
agencies including Shell, the US Department of Energy, the Common
Purpose Institute, and groups of various individuals who are working to
develop alternative energy sources (those not dependent on fossil fuels)
for the future. This research is focused on the planting and processing
of biomass energy supplies from fast-growing crops known as “closed loop
biomass” or simply “energy crops”. The project seeks to develop “power
plants” such as wood-pulp or wood-fiber providing plants; clean biogas
to be used by industries; plants such as sugarcane which can be used for
ethanol development; and crops such as soybeans for biodiesel fuel
production.
University involvement in alternative energy research is also going on
at Penn State University. At Penn State, special research is focused on
the development of hydrogen power as a practical alternative energy
source. The researchers involved are convinced that mankind is moving
toward a hydrogen-fueled economy due to the needs for us to reduce air
pollution and find other sources of energy besides petroleum to power up
the United States. Hydrogen energy burns clean and can be endlessly
renewed, as it can be drawn from water and crop plants. Hydrogen power
would thus be a sustainable energy resource to be found within the US'
own infrastructure while the world's supply of (affordable) oil peaks
and begins to decline. The University seeks to help with the commercial
development of hydrogen powered fuel cells, which would be usable in
place of or in tandem with combustion engines for all of our motor
vehicles.
When President Bush announced his alternative energy initiative, he
determined that the government would develop five “Sun Grant” centers
for concentrated research. Oregon State University has the honor of
having been selected as one of these centers, and has been allocated
government grants of $20 million for each of the next four years in
order to carry out its mission. OSU will lead the way in researching
alternative energy as it represents the interests of the Pacific
Islands, the US' Pacific Territories, and nine western states. OSU
President Edward Ray says, the research being conducted through OSU’s
Sun Grant center will contribute directly to our meeting President
Bush’s challenge for energy independence. Specific research into
alternative energy being conducted at OSU by various teams of scientists
right now include a project to figure out how to efficiently convert
such products as straw into a source of renewable biomass fuel, and
another one aimed at studying how to efficiently convert wood fibers
into liquid fuel.
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