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Governor Supports Biofuel Initiative


Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen has announced his support for a new statewide alternative fuels initiative led by the University of Tennessee.

Gov. Bredesen announced that his proposed budget to the Tennessee General Assembly will include $40 million to build a pilot biomass ethanol plant. The governor also plans to request research investments of:

  • $10 million to be divided between UT and ORNL for research to increase switchgrass production and efficiencies in production of ethanol from biomass.
  • $3 million for research to find additional, non-biomass alternative fuel sources.
  • $8 million in incentives to help Tennessee farmers tap into the new farm-based fuels market and produce switchgrass in quantities necessary to supply the pilot ethanol project.

"We thank the governor for his foresight and confidence," said UT President John Petersen in an e-mail to faculty and staff across the state. "I am convinced that this is perhaps the ultimate economic development opportunity for rural Tennessee and rural America. We look forward to making the opportunity a reality."

To read the Governor's announcement, click here: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/governor/viewArticleContent.do?id=96

More information about the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative can be found here: http://www.agriculture.utk.edu/Biofuel/index.htm