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| 6-7-00 Contacts: Stan Johnson, Extension, (515) 294-6192 Teddi Barron, News Service, (515) 294-4778 ISU HOSTS CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL BIOBASED INITIATIVE JUNE 15-16 AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University will host a national conference about President Clinton's biobased products and bioenergy initiative on June 15-16 at the Scheman Building. "National Biobased Products and Bioenergy Initiative: The Role and Capacities of the State Universities and Land-grant Colleges," will help university faculty and administrators, agricultural business and community leaders and others identify new opportunities for collaborating with the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies The conference is sponsored by the National Biobased Products and Bioenergy Coordination Office and organized in cooperation with DOE and USDA. Last August, Clinton issued an executive order calling for a tripling of the nation's use of biobased products and bioenergy by the year 2010. The administration proposed an increase in funding for a biobased chemicals and energy program to be led by DOE and USDA. "This conference will present information on the government's new funding opportunities for university research and extension projects that can advance the development and use of biobased products and bioenergy," said Stan Johnson, vice provost for extension. "The conference also will give universities the opportunity to showcase their research and capabilities in these areas." Conference topics include: an assessment of the economic, regulatory and environmental consequences of increased bioenergy production; regional production patterns for U.S. agriculture and changes implied by increased biobased product and bioenergy production; and the National Research Council's report on biobased products. Among the speakers are Dan Reicher, assistant secretary of energy efficiency and renewable energy, DOE; Denise Swink, deputy assistant secretary for industrial technologies, DOE; Richard Moorer, director, National Biobased Products and Bioenergy Coordination Office; Bruce Dale, coordinator, National Research Council report on biobased products; and Sharon Shoemaker, executive director, California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research. Registration is $95. To register contact, Karen Larew, (515) 294-6229. A complete program is available on the Web at <www.lifelearner.iastate.edu/conference/bioenergy2.htm>. -30- Note to Media: The media is invited to attend. There is no charge. Contact Teddi Barron, (515) 294-4778. |
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