FUELING WASHINGTON WITH BIOPRODUCTS

AT ISSUE
In an unprecedented collaboration, Washington State University, Battelle as operator of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the Washington State Department of Agriculture have come together to develop a $6.7 million comprehensive joint Bioenergy and Bioproducts research program. This program utilizes WSU and PNNL capabilities to accomplish specific identified outcomes to reduce Washington State’s foreign energy dependence and boost economic development through production of high-value consumer goods using in-state crops and biomass.

TRI CITIES LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL POSITION
Support the joint research program including $4.7 million for Washington State University and $2 million for the Washington State Department of Agriculture to:
• Utilizing a collaboration between WSU and Battelle, provide $2 million in matching state funds to complete a team of ten scientists in the Tri-Cities that would have joint appointments at Washington State University Tri-Cities and PNNL. The ten scientists will occupy the new Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory. BSEL is jointly funded by WSU and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy.  These scientists will also educate undergraduate and graduate students at WSU Tri-Cities. 
Tri-Cities also supports the following WSU requests:
• Provide $1.6 million to fund a system-wide Center for Bioproducts and Bioenergy (CBB) at Washington State University led by a nationally recognized leader. The CBB would be the overarching program that links together the efforts system-wide of WSU faculty and coordinates with Battelle scientists at PNNL and the WSDA.
• Fill three critical gaps in state bioproducts research capacity with new Pullman-based scientists in metabolic engineering, microbiology and molecular biology; and a crop scientist/extension specialist. The cost is $1.1 million.
• Conduct $2 million in pressing applied agronomic, economic and engineering research on technology and cropping systems for more efficiently growing energy crops and more economically converting biomass to fuel. WSU will partner with Battelle researchers at PNNL to execute portions of this applied research. [WSDA Request]

BACKGROUND
This proposed program builds on a number of existing state and federal studies and investments. It will be guided by a joint working group in cooperation with the state Department of Ecology and the state Department of Agriculture. Last year $13.1 million in state funds was allocated for the construction of the $24 million BSEL facility.

For more information, visit Tri City Chamber of Commerce