From Crops to Wheels - MSU a Driving Force Behind Alterative Energy Research

From Crops to Wheels - MSU A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESEARCH by Alexa Stanard

It’s an image that has long been associated with good fortune: a gushing oil well, spewing black gold into the
air as its lucky proprietor looks on in gleeful excitement.

Today, such an image is more likely to conjure up associations with political turmoil and environmental devastation than guilt-free bounty. With gas prices threatening to top $4 a gallon, turmoil in the Middle East, and growing public awareness about the dangers of global warming, even the most gas-guzzling Americans have grown ambivalent about our country’s dependence on a dwindling fuel source that comes with a heavy political and environmental price tag.

Last year, the United States imported 60 percent of its crude oil, up 10 percentage points from 1992. Every day, Americans consume 60 million gallons of refined gasoline and 17 million gallons of diesel fuel, and demand for fuel is exploding in countries like China and India. Meanwhile, as consumption increases, discovery of new sources is decreasing, creating a looming gap between demand and supply.

For a world with a ravenous appetite for fuel, there is an urgent need to find new ways to drive the world’s cars, power its industry, and supply its products — all without further damaging the environment. For Americans, that need is compounded by fears about national security and a desire for energy independence. The problem’s scope has drawn the attention of everyone from American presidential candidates to international mogul Richard Branson, who’s pledged $3 billion over the next 10 years to develop clean
energy sources.

For the full article, please see page 3 of the Fall 2007 Research Currents Magazine.