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 surgarcane 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 recently 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 varios 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.