Biofuels research center coming to UNL

Journal Star
By KEVIN ABOUREZK / Lincoln Journal Star JournalStar.com Posted: Friday, October 22, 2010 7:55 pm

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is poised to get a full tank from the federal government to use in its drive to become a leader in alternative fuels research.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking to make UNL home to one of five federal biofuels research centers that it wants to create across the country.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans Thursday to include $10 million for the five research centers in the agriculture appropriations bill.

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The USDA says five regional biofuels research centers would be created. The centers, a collaboration between the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the U.S. Forest Service (FS), would be established at:

* Northeast Center -- Madison, Wis., led by the Forest Service
* Central East Center -- UNL, led by ARS
* Southeast Center - Boonesville, Ark., and Tifton, Ga., (both ARS) and in Auburn, Ala. (FS)
* Western Center -- Maricopa, Ariz.
* Northwestern Center -- Pullman, Wash., (ARS) and Corvallis, Ore. (FS)

Funds are also to be made available to assist in the construction of new biorefineries, starting in 2011. One refinery would be built in each of the regions serviced by the new biomass research centers, but no locations were announced.

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