GoodFuels

NSF’s plan for biofuel development center

The Argus Leader ran a story this morning on the National Science Foundation’s plans to create a Center for Bioenergy and Development at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, along with the support of several other universities, including Kansas State University and North Carolina State University.

The goal of the center, says the Leader, is to refine current biofuel technology while researching and developing next-generation ethanol.

“South Dakota has a long track record of leadership in biofuels, dating back to the late 1970s, when we operated the first corn ethanol research facility,” SDSU professor Bill Gibbons told the Leader. “The Research in the  CenterBioenergy will focus on creating similar breakthroughs in converting lignocellulosic biomass into ethanol.”

The membership fee ranges from $20,000 to $50,000, and each university is required to recruit five governmental or industry companies to the center.

 Check out the Leader’s website here for more details.