University research into alternative energy is occurring at multiple institutions: - Florida State University and Shell Energy have established the largest "Energy Crop Plantation" in the US spanning 130 acres with over 250,000 trees and row crops being used to develop biomass energy sources. - Penn State University is focusing on developing hydrogen power as a practical alternative energy source through fuel cells usable in vehicles. - Oregon State University was selected as one of five "SunGrant" centers to receive $20 million in grants annually for four years to research alternative energy, such as converting straw and wood fibers into renewable fuels.

1. University Research Into Alternative
Energy
Decadesof tree and biomassresearchjointlyconductedbyFloridaStatue UniversityandShell
Energyhave resultedinthe plantingof the largestsingle“EnergyCropPlantation”inthe entire
UnitedStates.This Plantationspansapproximately130 acresand ishome to over250,000 planted
treesincludingcottonwoods(native tothe area) andeucalyptus(whichare non-invasive) alongwith
variousrowcrops such as soybeans.Thisorganizationof “supertrees”wasbroughtintobeingasa
resultof the University’sjointresearchwithotheragenciesincludingShell,the USDepartmentof
Energy,the CommonPurpose Institute,andgroupsof variousindividualswhoare workingto
developalternative energysources(thosenotdependentonfossilfuels) forthe future.Thisresearch
isfocusedonthe plantingandprocessingof biomassenergysuppliesfromfast-growingcropsknown
as “closedloopbiomass”orsimply“energycrops”.The projectseekstodevelop“powerplants”such
as wood-pulporwood-fiberprovidingplants;cleanbiogastobe usedbyindustries;plantssuchas
surgarcane whichcan be usedforethanol development;andcropssuch as soybeansforbiodiesel
fuel production.
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Universityinvolvementinalternative energyresearchisalsogoingonat PennState University.At
PennState,special researchisfocusedonthe developmentof hydrogenpowerasa practical
alternative energysource.The researchersinvolvedare convincedthatmankindismovingtowarda
hydrogen-fueledeconomydue tothe needsforusto reduce airpollutionandfindothersourcesof
energybesidespetroleumtopowerupthe UnitedStates.Hydrogenenergyburnscleanandcanbe
endlesslyrenewed,asitcan be drawn fromwaterand crop plants.Hydrogenpowerwouldthusbe a
sustainable energyresource tobe foundwithinthe US’owninfrastructure while the world’ssupply
of (affordable) oilpeaksandbeginstodecline.The Universityseekstohelpwiththe commercial
developmentof hydrogenpoweredfuelcells,whichwouldbe usable inplace of orintandemwith
combustionenginesforall of ourmotor vehicles.
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WhenPresidentBushrecentlyannouncedhisalternative energyinitiative,he determinedthatthe
governmentwoulddevelopfive “SunGrant”centersforconcentratedresearch.OregonState
Universityhasthe honorof havingbeenselectedasone of these centers,andhasbeenallocated
governmentgrantsof $20 millionforeachof the nextfouryearsin orderto carry out itsmission.
OSU will leadthe wayinresearchingalternative energyasitrepresentsthe interestsof the Pacific
Islands,the US’PacificTerritories,andnine westernstates.OSUPresidentEdwardRaysays,the
researchbeingconductedthroughOSU’sSunGrant centerwill contribute directlytoourmeeting
PresidentBush’schallengeforenergyindependence.Specificresearchintoalternative energybeing
conductedat OSU by variosteamsof scientistsrightnow include aprojecttofigure outhow to
efficientlyconvertsuchproductsasstraw intoa source of renewable biomassfuel,andanotherone
aimedat studyinghowtoefficientlyconvertwoodfibersintoliquidfuel.
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