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The Time is Right for Florida
Investment in
Biomass Energy Research and Development
By: Jimmy G.
Cheek
In his 2006 State of the Union
address, President Bush said the United States is "addicted
to oil."
Now, more than ever, rising
energy costs drive home the need for alternative energy
sources to replace oil and other fossil fuels. Building a
renewable and sustainable energy supply is one of the most
important scientific challenges of the 21st century, and our
success is crucial to the nation's future economic growth.
One of the most promising
alternative energy sources is biomass, which includes
agricultural crops, woody materials and organic residues.
These can be used to generate ethanol and methane gas, which
can be used for automobiles and serve as clean-burning fuels
for electricity.
In fact, ethanol generated from
biomass could replace half of our imported petroleum.
More than one billion tons of
biomass can be produced in the United States each year,
according to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
Fortunately, the University of Florida's Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) already has considerable
experience converting biomass to energy, and the time is
right for the state to become a national leader in the
commercialization of this technology. This can only be
accomplished by investing in research to make production
methods more practical and affordable.
Florida could lead the nation in
biomass energy production because we have the resources and
the demand for it. Thanks to strong agriculture and forest
industries, Florida is the nation's No. 1 biomass producer.
The state also ranks third in total energy consumption, and
fifth in per-capita energy consumption. It is also critical
to our economy that we meet the energy needs of more than 40
million visitors each year.
Another reason why Florida
should make this investment is that we have the technology
to bring biomass energy to the marketplace. The University
of Florida Center for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels was
formed five years ago to provide research and education in
the production of chemicals and fuels from biomass. The
center is directed by Distinguished Professor Lonnie Ingram,
who holds a dozen patents on ethanol production. More than
60 other IFAS scientists and extension faculty have
submitted proposals for biomass research in agronomy,
engineering, entomology, forestry, microbiology, plant
pathology, soil science and other disciplines. Support for
these research efforts will provide the knowledge to make
biomass energy successful.
We must move forward with a
strong commitment to innovation and efficiency. For example,
we propose to establish an ethanol research and
demonstration facility that tests all phases of producing
ethanol from woody materials (yard waste, crushed sugar cane
stalks and peanut hulls) as well as grasses and forest
trees. At the same time, we will be developing new and
improved production methods for high-yielding grasses, trees
and even potatoes with high starch content.
Methane, which can also be
produced from biomass, is a versatile form of energy and can
be used for all applications designed for natural gas. To
produce methane, we can use agricultural byproducts, such as
animal manure and culled fruits and vegetables. Florida's
farmers can provide a reliable supply of these materials and
earn extra income doing so. IFAS is already a leader in
waste-to-biogas energy systems, with a patent for the
production facility design at our Dairy Research Unit in
Gainesville where usable fuel is produced from manure.
The university is planning to
build a biodiesel plant on campus. Biodiesel is another
alternative fuel made from crops or waste vegetable oil to
power diesel engines.
Our extension faculty will play
a crucial role in educating the public about biomass. They
will help producers grow energy crops, assist business
owners with conversion to biomass fuels, and show consumers
how to use these new forms of energy efficiently.
This effort will require
cooperation from a host of partners, including Florida's
agricultural industries; state and federal government
agencies; builders and utilities; waste management officials
- and Florida residents.
Our state and our nation deserve
nothing less than an all-out effort to ensure reliable
energy supplies for the future. UF/IFAS is in a unique
position to provide that national leadership in biomass
fuels.
(Jimmy G. Cheek is Senior Vice
President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the
University of Florida.)
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