The Loveliest Village

Auburn University realizes that our nation cannot rely on oil imports much longer. The Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering and the School of Forestry join efforts to develop an oil substitute by using renewable energy sources.

President Bush took notice of the research being conducted at Auburn discussed the work being done with Dr. David Bransby, Auburn professor of agronomy and soils. Bush recently spoke at the Hoover Public Safety Center in Birmingham on Sept. 28, 2006. Bransby was among select keynote speakers including Gov. Bob Riley and President of Central Alabama Clean Cities Philip Wiedmeyer.

The president acknowledged Bransby’s research in his address held at Hoover, stating, “The federal government has committed to spending a fair amount of your money to research other ways to make ethanol. One such place where such research is going on is right here in Alabama at Auburn University,” said Bush.

Bush recently launched the national Advanced Energy Initiative with the primary goal of replacing 75% of imported oil with ethanol by 2025. Many oil companies have since started investing in alternative fuel sources.

“Auburn University is committed to playing a leading role in the Advanced Energy Initiative. We have a 20-year history of research with switchgrass and other biomass materials for energy,� Bransby said at the Hoover conference.

Auburn University President Ed Richardson realized the importance of such an initiative. In 2005 Richardson initiated research on alternative fuels and provided $3 million for the development of forest resources for energy; conversion of pulp and papermills to biorefineries that produce fuels and chemicals; genetic improvement of switchgrass; development of technologies to produce ethanol from biomass; and farm production of heat and electricity from broiler litter. Biomass includes standing trees, logging residues, farm crops and animal waste.

The state of Alabama offers an abundance of biomass renewable resources, allowing Bransby and his students’ research to benefit the entire nation. Ethanol production requires burning of a tall fast growing grass called switchgrass. Bransby asserts, “The challenge is to convert switchgrass to ethanol at the same efficiency as oil is converted to gasoline, but with focused effort scientists and engineers at AU are confident that it is possible in the relatively near term.� Alabama produces the most switchgrass of any state in the nation.

Auburn’s location allows for extensive research on alternative fuels since an abundance of biomass exists in Alabama. Auburn research takes the available biomass and creates ethanol, acting as a leader in production of alternative fuels. Dr. Bransby has been nationally recognized as an expert in developing alternative fuel sources out of switchgrass. He currently serves as a board member of Southern Alliance for the Utilization of Biomass Resources (SAUBR). SAUBR works to create an industry for biomass resources and cultivates collaboration among experts in the field.

Auburn continues to promote discussions concerning alternative fuel sources. Alternative Energy Solutions from Alabama’s Natural Resources Conference will be held at the Dixon Conference Center on Oct. 23-24, 2006. Policymakers on the state and national level, including Sen. Jeff Sessions, are scheduled to attend and contribute to the ongoing discussion about the positive nationwide impact of Auburn University’s research. Visit www.eng.auburn.edu/alternative-energy for more information.

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