Cornell alone cannot serve as the catalyst for the evolving biofuels sector. We must form strong collaborative relationships with New York state government leaders, companies, farm groups, other stakeholders, and not-for-profit organizations. Our extensive network of strategic partners is essential for developing the New York state biofuels and bioproducts sector, and for allowing New York state to play a leadership role in technology and manufacturing in the global economy.
impact statement issue
Cornell University continues to build strong and competitive research and education programs focused on biofuels and bioproducts development. These programs are core to Cornell's sustainable human development focus, which cuts across multiple colleges and centers. The challenge is to exploit major breakthroughs in engineering and science to increase crop yields, to lower extraction and conversion costs, and to create novel sustainable bioindustries. It involves thinking "green" through the smart design of products, processes, and systems to avoid environmental problems before they arise.
impact statement response
To help advance technologies that convert perennial grasses and woody biomass to ethanol and other biofuels, Cornell University is using a $10 million grant from the Empire State Development Corporation to develop the Biofuels Research Laboratory. In addition, we have embarked on a perennial grass and legume biofuel feedstock project as part of a multidisciplinary renewable energy research effort supported by Cornell University, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the New York Farm Viability Institute, the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, and other public and private institutions. Development of an economical, viable, agriculture-based bioeconomy hinges on our ability to develop successful feedstock logistics subsystems and business model that will result in the capacity to delivery biomass feedstocks to a biorefinery 350 days a years. Cornell University is teaming up with Mesa Reduction & Engineering to develop feedstock aggregation models focused on capturing the lifecycle costs associated with growing, delivering, storing, and processing various biomass feedstock.
impact statement summary
The mission of the Sun Grant Initiative is to: 1) enhance national energy security through development, distribution, and implementation of biobased energy technologies; 2) promote biobased diversification and environmental sustainability of America's agriculture; and 3) promote opportunities for biobased economic diversification in rural communities.
Other private funding
U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Energy
