The Sun Grant Initiative Role in Creating a Sustainable Biofuel Industry.

The Sun Grant Initiative (SGI) was authorized by the Congress to harness the capabilities of land-grant universities to conduct research and educational programs that emphasize agriculture-based renewable energy and products.  Because of environmental differences, biomass and bioenergy production must be developed at regional and local levels.  The SGI establishes a regional structure to develop integrated regional solutions to national issues and to provide a mechanism for strategically coordinating and leveraging federal and state efforts.  The missions of the SGI include improved national energy security, environmental remediation, and economic diversification.  Goals set by the Renewable Fuels Standard in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will require an unprecedented engagement of American agriculture in domestic energy production.  The United States has enormous resources to develop cellulose-based energy systems, but development of these industries will require unprecedented changes to agriculture, will present unique environmental risks, and will cause widespread social concern.  Public research conducted at land-grant universities will be necessary to not only develop enabling technologies, but also research that will shed light on the impacts made on the environment, the economy, and society.  A network of five land-grant universities serve as regional Sun Grant centers, including South Dakota State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Tennessee, Oregon State University, and Cornell University.  The regional centers emphasize research, Extension, and educational programs on renewable energy technologies and promotion of biobased industries in rural communities.  They also facilitate Federal-funded research, extension and education programs in their respective regions.  The nation’s land-grant universities have served a critical role in scientific advancement of agriculture and the SGI will focus their expertise and talent toward the energy needs and workforce development for the country.