LANSING, Mich., April 20, 2011 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited Michigan State University today to highlight three new research grants awarded to the university to spur production of bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. Merrigan joined energy stakeholders and university officials for the announcement and for a tour the Cellulosic Ethanol Pretreatment research lab and AFEX technology pilot plant.

"We can produce clean energy right here at home while boosting rural economies, and Michigan is leading the way with this critical research" said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan. "These research projects will give us the scientific information needed to support biofuel production and propel us to out-educate, out-innovate and out-build in the field of renewable energy to help America win the future."

The long-term goal for the research projects, which were selected through a highly competitive process, is to implement sustainable regional systems that materially deliver liquid transportation biofuels to help meet the Energy Independence and Security Act goal of 36 billion gallons per year of biofuels by 2022. The funded projects focus on three areas: crop protection for sustainable feedstock production systems, enhanced value co-product development, and carbon sequestration and sustainable bioenergy production.

Read the full release at USDA.gov.