Posts Tagged Common Purpose

University Research into Alternative Energy

Posted by outside_voices on Monday, 22 March, 2010

Decades of tree and biomass research jointly conducted by Florida Statue School and Shell Energy have resulted in the planting of the biggest single energy Crop Plantation in the whole US. This Plantation spans roughly 130 acres and is home to over 250,000 planted trees including cottonwoods ( local to the area ) and eucalyptus ( which are non-invasive ) with assorted row crops such as soybeans. This organization of super trees was brought into being as a consequence of the College’s joint research with other agencies including Shell, the US Dep. of Energy, the Common Purpose Institute, and groups of different people who are working to develop alternative power sources ( those not reliant upon traditional fuels ) for the future. This research is concentrated on the planting and processing of biomass energy supplies from fast-growing crops known as closed loop biomass or just anergy crops? The project tries to development ower plants? Like wood-pulp or wood-fiber providing plants ; clean biogas to be utilised by industries ; plants like surgarcane which may be employed for ethanol development and crops like 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 lately asserted his alternative energy initiative, he determined the central authority would develop 5 sun Grant centers for concentrated research. Oregon State Varsity has the privilege of having been chosen as one of these centers, and has been allotted executive grants of $20 million for every one of the following 4 years 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 9 western states. OSU President Edward Ray claims, the analysis being conducted thru OSU’s Sun Grant center will contribute to our meeting President Bush’s challenge for energy autonomy. Categorical research into alternative energy being conducted at OSU by varios groups of scientists at this time include a project to work out the easiest way to efficiently convert such products as straw into a source of renewable biomass fuel, and another one directed at studying ways to efficiently convert wood fibers into liquid fuel.

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Evans D. Smith