Impact Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 5)

feature Florida State Rep. Larry Cretul, left, and Lonnie Ingram discuss state energy needs Jan. 28, 2008 at a new biofuels plant located at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Gainesville. The research and demonstration facility will improve methods for turning cellulosic biomass, such as crop residues and yard waste, into ethanol. photo by thomas wright overnor Charlie Crist and members of the Florida House and Senate visited the University of Florida recently to learn more about a breakthrough technology that will produce fuel ethanol from biomass at a new $20 million research and demonstration facility in South Florida. During their visits, they met with UF faculty, staff and students, including Lonnie Ingram, a distinguished professor of microbiology in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences who developed the bioconversion technology for creating ethanol from plant waste. Ingram’s technology — genetically engineered E. coli bacteria — produces fuel ethanol from inedible plant biomass, such as sugarcane residues, rice hulls, municipal green waste, forestry and wood wastes and other organic materials. The demonstration plant, funded by the 2006 Florida Legislature, is designed to further the technology of making ethanol from biomass. The facility will be owned by UF and operated in partnership with Florida Crystals Corp. in West Palm Beach, Fla. and Verenium Corp. based in Cambridge, Mass. Verenium holds an exclusive license to the UF technology. Gaston Cantens, vice president of corporate relations for Florida Crystals, said the plant will be located in Okeelanta, near Belle Glade, and the facility is expected to be operational within two years. It will be utilized as a research facility to explore the production of ethanol from a variety of inedible biomass, including sugarcane and other crop residues, hardwoods and softwoods as well as new energy crops being developed in Florida. “Florida Crystals believes there’s a bright future for renewable energy in Florida that can help alleviate America’s dependence on foreign oil,” Cantens said. “Because of the industries native to the state, Florida is the largest producer of biomass in the country. Florida Crystals has been using biomass as fuel to produce renewable energy for more than a decade.” Cantens added, “We believe our cellulosic ethanol partnership with the University of Florida is an important step in securing clean, reliable energy G IMPACT | Spring 2008 5

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Impact Magazine - Spring 2008

Impact Magazine - Spring 2008 Contents A Big Boost for Biofuels Top Priority Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture Eliminating the Evil Weevil Invasive Pest Defeating Resistant Roaches Biodiesel Boon User-Friendly Updates for FAWN Flat-Out Great for the Grill! Laser Labeling Cashing in on Caviar Saving Water with Soil-Moisture Sensors Spotlight IFAS Development News

Impact Magazine - Spring 2008

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