WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Biofuel Researchers Converge On Auburn

Biofuel Researchers Converge On Auburn

With oil prices hovering around $100 a barrel these days, researchers from across Alabama are meeting at Auburn University. They're discussing ways to better develop bioenergy and alternative fuels.

Researchers at AU and Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs know the state has something to offer in a world of high energy consumption. That's why they've teamed up to tackle the future of fuel.

"Alabama is a biomass-rich state. We have a wonderful opportunity and so much potential here to become a premiere leader in this area of biomass and biofuels to energy," said Kathy Hornsby, ADECA's Energy, Weatherization and Technology Division.

Experts say they're seeing a shift in oil consumption. That's prompting the jump to bioenergy.

"Most of the situations we've seen with oil in the past have all been on the supply side in terms of previous crises that we've run into. Now we're running into the demand side. With the growing demands, particularly in India and China, we're out-stripping our capabilities," said Larry Fillmer, executive director of AU's Natural Resources Management and Development Institute.

Researchers will take different ideas from the Agriculture Energy Conference and apply them abroad. They hope to bring bioenergy into the mainstream within the next decade.

"With oil at $100 a barrel, and who knows where the ceiling is on that, the time is now for us to take action and to move forward with all of the plans and to do that very aggressively," said Fillmer.

With the many crops Alabama offers, such as soybean, corn and switchgrass, the state could have a brighter future. Fillmer said the move to biofuels will be gradual over the next two to five years, then aggressive for another five years after that. Alabama officials say they have major biomass initiatives that should begin next year.