Goals and Vision

Center Goals:

• Advance economic development in Alabama through reinvigoration of the present natural resource-based industries.
• Establish new industries based on energy and value-added products from renewable biomass resources

Guiding Principles for the Center:

1. Conduct focused research and development efforts to find technologies to make bioenergy cost-competitive with traditional petroleum-based fuels.
2. Emphasize a balanced portfolio of regionally-appropriate biomass feedstocks and energy technologies.
   1. Primary feedstocks include woody biomass, energy crops, agricultural wastes, etc.
   2. Primary fuel and energy products include diesel fuel, ethanol, electric power, and heat.
3. Emphasize systems approaches in the solution of all problems.
   1. Auburn's strength is its ability to address issues from the farm or forest through the fuel pump and onto the highway.
4. Emphasize partnerships with industry and government agencies to speed commercialization of new technologies and their subsequent introduction to the marketplace.

Center Actions:

• Seek bioenergy and bioproduct breakthroughs at all levels—from the farm and forests through the manufacturing processes to delivery at the pump.
• Explore ways to reduce the cost of creating biofuels so the biofuel industry can compete economically with the petroleum-based industry.
• Help establish policies and programs that encourage sustainable economic development and job creation, particularly in rural areas.
• Provide an entrepreneurial environment.
• Exploit synergies with other university centers and institutes.
• Develop a portfolio of biomass feedstock sources and bioenergy technologies.
• Implement pilot projects across the state of Alabama to demonstrate bioenergy production.
• Advise and collaborate with policy making groups, such as the Alabama Governor's Alternative Energy Advisory Group, U.S. House and Senate committees, and federal agencies such as the Departments of Energy and Agriculture.