North Carolina biofuels research gets over $1m boost

A consortium targeting biofuels production in the US will be awarded a grant by the Biofuels Centre of North Carolina.

The 13 strong group, led by AdvantageWest Economic Development, will receive $766,256 (€570,133) to fortify the biofuels sector and help with expansion in the region through a project called Planting the Seeds for a Robust WNC Biofuels Sector.

The project will hope to achieve goals like expanding feedstock availability, improving value-chain economics and establishing a new test laboratory.

A 50% match of that total grant will be added by the consortium to make an overall investment of $1.14 million.

‘The value of this concerted effort cannot be overstated,’ Biofuels Centre CEO Steven Burke was quoted as saying. ‘This will further position the state to grow jobs, secure its energy future and enhance our environment. Moreover, that the collaborators will invest nearly $400,000 in this project demonstrates the region’s firm commitment to developing new sectors and new economies.’