Progress 09/01/04 to 04/30/07
Outputs OUTPUTS: There are three main outcomes from activity associated with this special grant "Planning the Sun Grant Initiative". The first is establishment of the five Regional Sun Grant Centers at Cornell University-NE Region, University of Tennessee-SE Region, Oklahoma State University-SC Region, South Dakota State University-NC Region, and Oregon State University-W Region. Each Regional Center has 1) identified a director and support staff, 2) developed and launched a regional Sun Grant web page highlighting their mission and activities within their region, 3) established linkages to the land grant universities and other stakeholders within their region via meetings/workshops and newsletters, 4) established an advisory council comprised of representatives from industry, academia and producer groups, and 5) developed an on-line grant application and peer review system. Each region released their first RFA using grant dollars from the US-DOT. The second outcome is interconnection of the
five regional centers to a collaborative working group called the Sun Grant Association (SGA). Each regional center has two individuals who are members of the SGA, plus there is an executive director who coordinates the activities of the SGA. This allows the regional centers to focus on regionally relevant research and activities while helping to address national bioenergy initiatives. The SGA holds bi-monthly teleconferences and semi-annual meetings to maintain open lines of communication and collaboration among the Regional Sun Grant Centers. The SGA is also provides a unified and structured means of communicating and coordinating activities with our federal agency partners. The third outcome has been a broad-based education program on the Sun Grant Initiative and information relating to ag-based bioenergy and bioproducts. The activities of the five Regional Sun Grant Centers have been highlighted during presentations and panel discussions at six national meetings during this
granting period. A national Sun Grant web page has been developed and launched which summarizes Sun Grant activities and provides a portal to each of the regional Sun Grant web pages. In addition the SGA crated an on-line encyclopedia on bioenergy and bioproducts called the BioWeb using funding from US-DOE.
PARTICIPANTS: Participants in Planning the Sun Grant Initiative by Regional Sun Grant Center include: Larry Walker and Corey Rutzke, NE Regional Sun Grant Center, Cornell University; Tom Klindt and Tim Rials, SE Regional Sun Grant Center, University of Tennessee; Clarence Watson and Ray Huhnke, SC Regional Sun Grant Center, Oklahoma State University; Kevin Kephart and Jim Doolittle, NC Regional Sun Grant Center, South Dakota State University; Thayne Dutson and Jan Auyong, Western Regional Sun Gant Center, Oregon State University. In addition to these regional directors there was Terry Nipp the Executive Director of the Sun Grant Association.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for the Sun Grant Initiative are the Land Grant Universities and their stakeholders across the United States of America and its territories.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes.
Impacts The Sun Grant Initiative is linking Land Grant Institutions across the nation to develop teaching, research, and outreach programs in biofuels and bioproducts to help America increase its energy security.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs The regional Sun Grant Centers continued to engage the Land-Grant Universities in their respective regions by providing update reports at various regional and national meetings which included the 2006 Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. Each has also developed and maintained a Regional Sun Grant web page. All of the centers' web pages can be accessed through a central portal at www.sungrant.org . The five Centers have kept in close communication via teleconferences and semi-annual meeting in Washington DC. The South Eastern and North Central regions collaborated with the US Department of Energy, US Department of Agriculture, and respective governor's associations to host regional biomass biofuel feedstock workshops. The overall goal of these workshops was to help resolve the potential contribution each region could make to provide the 1 billion ton supply of cellulosic material necessary to achieve the nation's 30 X 30 renewable fuels goal
outline in President Bush's 2006 State of the Union Address. The outcomes of these workshops is available at http://www.feedstockpartnership.biomass.govtools.us/. The other three Sun Grant Regions are planning their respective biomass biofuel workshops for late summer/fall 2007.
Impacts The Sun Grant Initative is linking Land Grant Institutions across the nation to develop teaching, research, and outreach programs in biofuels and bioproducts to help America decrease its dependency on imported petroleum.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs The Sun Grant Regions held regional conferences and continued to engage in widespread communication among the land-grant community and stakeholders. The results of the meetings include gathering of important and meaningful input for future accomplishments and a determination of widespread support and commitment to the Sun Grant Initiative (SGI) from non-center institutions. The planning conferences were attended by faculty and staff of numerous land grant institutions. Understanding, support, and cooperation for the SGI have been achieved; however, continued communication and engagement will be needed to maintain the positive momentum that has been established. Invited presentations were given at several conferences and organizational meetings in 2005 to present the SGI concept, answer questions, and listen to input. The major conferences included, Renewable Energy Conference hosted by Sen. Byron Dorgan, Grand Forks, ND, Feb. 23, 2005; Renewable Energy Conference
hosted by the SD Public Utilities Commission, Sioux Falls, SD, April 18, 2005; meeting of University Industry Consortium, Chicago, IL, October 26, 2005. Three planning meetings occurred in Washington DC and facilitated communications among the national leaders via email and conference calls. The leadership of the SGI led discussions in development of appropriations through 2005 Highway Bill that will result in $42 million for the national SGI. Communication occurred with administration in USDA, US-DOT, and US-DOE and coordinated activities with the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden CO. The SGI is coordinating a national effort to publish a bio-energy monograph that will be a comprehensive assessment of the state of bio-energy science in response to federal agency requests. An on-line grant submission and tracking package for the regional grants portion of the SGI is being developed.
Impacts This effort will foster wide-spread support of the Sun Grant Initiative and assist in efforts for authorization and appropriation for the program.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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