Several factors are driving the search for sustainable alternative energy sources:  projections of increased demand and decreased supply of petroleum, concerns about increasing greenhouse gas levels, and the desire for increased domestic energy production.  Biological materials, including plants, algae, and waste, can be converted into fuels and other forms of energy.  Colorado State University has created the Sustainable Bioenergy Development Center (SBDC) to address these needs and achieve the goal of energy production that is economically and environmentally sustainable.

Mission of the SBDC:

• Enhance the capability of America’s bioenergy industry to produce transportation fuels and chemical feedstocks on a large scale, through processes that are sustainable and efficient

SBDC Activities:

• The SBDC supports Colorado State University bioenergy researchers through research initiation grants, student and postdoctoral fellowships, equipment purchases, and travel grants.



• SBDC activities are organized in five focus areas:

  • Sustainable Crops and Agricultural Strategies
  
  
  • Biomass Processing Technologies
  
  
  • Biofuel Characterization and Engine Adaptation
  
  
  • Byproducts for Sustainable Biorefining
  
  
  • Sustainability Assessment
  
  
• The SBDC will enhance CSU’s abilities in collaborative efforts with other entities committed to the development of alternative energy sources.

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SBDC News
Ethanol use poses dilemma for City of Fort Collins fleet (January 2012)

Lead CSU biofuels scientist, Dan Bush, elected as fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science (December 2011)

CSU IGERT MASB student receives fellowship award (October 2011)

CSU faculty receive $1.3 million grant from DOE to study genes in switchgrass for biofuels research (August 2011)

CSU study: Biofuel grasses should replace corn as a method of producing ethanol (July '11)

Ken Reardon chosen as finalist at the Colorado Cleantech Honors (June '11)

Obama comes out swinging for advanced biofuels : Biofuels Digest (April '11)

Ethanol Industry Hoping for Surge - NYT (March '11)

CSU a hotbed of alternative biofuel research (Dec '10)

CSU to host Netherlands researchers at algae symposium (Oct '10)

CSU Chemistry professor finds new breakthrough for biofuel conversion (Aug '10)

CSU professors to measure pollutant formation from biofuels (March '10)

CSU, Solix Biofuels, Inc. part of $44 million consortium by Energy Secretary Chu (Jan '10)