Purdue Receives Funding for Biofuels Research

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued up to $24.5 million in funding through grants to research and develop technologies to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. The grants were established under the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, which was authored and passed by Senator Lugar. Purdue University was included in the list of grantees. Advanced biofuels produced through this funding are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent.

Purdue University will receive up to $933,883 to develop an analysis of the global impacts of second generation biofuels in the context of other energy technologies and alternative economic and climate change policy options. This project will modify, extend and link established modeling frameworks to capture the strengths of each framework in a hybrid, multidisciplinary system.

“This award is a visible recognition of Purdue’s world-class research and teaching in biofuels science,” Lugar said.

Projects announced must contribute a minimum of 20 percent of matching funds for research and development projects and 50 percent of matching funds for demonstration projects. Funding is provided through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and DOE’s Biomass Program. Selected projects are aimed at increasing the availability of alternative fuels and biobased products that are produced from a diverse group of renewable sources of biomass.

For more than a decade, Lugar has stressed the strategic importance of energy security and the economic burdens associated with the dependence on imported foreign energy sources. He has supported legislative efforts to promote sustainable energy production and utilize incentives for renewable fuels. The Lugar Energy Initiative, http://lugar.senate.gov/energy highlights the repercussions of America's alarming dependence on imported oil; provides information on the energy-related legislation introduced by Lugar; includes commentary by outside experts; and presents information on alternative and renewable energy sources.

Questions regarding the federal grants application process may be directed to Andrew Mills, Grants Coordinator for Senator Lugar, by phone at 202-224-4814 or by email at grants@lugar.senate.gov.

Source: Office of U.S. Senator Richard Lugar