Development of renewable energy technologies will boost economic development, particularly in rural communities.

Washington, DC - The United States House of Representatives last night approved the 2006 Energy & Water Development Appropriations Bill, which included a request by 12^th District Congressman John Barrow (D-GA) for $500,000 in new funding for Biorefinery and Fuel Cell Research currently being conducted at the University of Georgia.

"Increasing the development and production of domestic renewable energy sources should be one of our nation's top priorities," Barrow said.  "Not only can the research they're doing at UGA offer a self-sustaining, long term approach to energy independence, but biomass refining opens the door to a sure-fire way for our nation's farmers to cut fertilizer costs, improve soil composition, and increase the value of their crops."

The biorefinery process uses biomass agricultural waste products and recycles them into renewable energy sources such as hydrogen and diesel fuels, bio-oil, or charcoal that is later converted into carbon based fertilizer.  Georgia, a leading producer of biomass from forestry, agricultural, and other industries, stands to gain economically through the successful development of biorefining.  Entering its second year, UGA's biorefinery research project will use the new funds to expand a working biorefinery beyond the laboratory and incorporate it into a pilot scale facility. 

The 2006 Energy & Water Development Appropriations Bill now moves to the United Senate for further consideration and approval.

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Contact: Harper Lawson, (202) 225-2823

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