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Sun Grant Western Center
2008 U.S. Department of Transportation-Funded
Competitive Grants Program>
SECTION 1. THE SUN GRANT FUNDING INITIATIVE
THE SUN GRANT INITIATIVE
As domestic use of petroleum has grown, the United States has steadily increased its reliance on oil imported from other nations. This trend has raised concerns about the nation’s energy security since much of our imported oil originates from nations with unstable or repressive governments.
The Sun Grant Initiative was conceived to partner the national network of Land Grant Institutions (LGI) and federal laboratories to build a biobased economy that would reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and enhance economic diversification in rural areas of the United States. Potential products include: biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, electrical power, lubricants, plastics, solvents, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and building materials. The Initiative broadens the role that LGIs play by also focusing their efforts on renewable energy and biobased industries. Authorized by Congress in 2004, the Sun Grant institutions and regional centers are charged with making significant advances in biobased industries and processes for the benefit of America's independent farmers, rural communities, and public at large.
The mission of the Sun Grant Initiative is to (1) enhance national energy
security through development, distribution and implementation of biobased
energy technologies, (2) promote diversification in and the environmental
sustainability of, agricultural production in the United States through
biobased energy and products technologies; (3) promote economic diversification
in rural areas of the United States through biobased energy and product technologies;
and (4) enhance the efficiency of bioenergy and biomass research and development
programs through improved coordination and collaboration between the Department
of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, and the Land Grant colleges and
universities.
The Sun Grant Initiative is organized as a network of five land-grant universities
serving as regional Sun Grant Centers: South Dakota State University (North-Central),
Oregon State University (Western), Oklahoma State University (South-Central),
the University of Tennessee Knoxville (Southeastern), and Cornell
University (Northeastern).
These centers will facilitate federally funded research, extension, and education programs in their respective regions. These programs will embrace the multi-institution, multi-state, multi-disciplinary integrated approach that is at the heart of the land-grant method of addressing problems.
SUN GRANT WESTERN CENTER
The Sun Grant Western Center (WC), located at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, is the administrative unit for the region composed of the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, and the Pacific Territories and associated Pacific island nations, including American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Land Grant Institutions are located in each of the states and at Pacific island institutions of higher education.
CONTACT PERSON FOR QUESTIONS
Ellie Larsen, Program Specialist
Western Sun Grant Regional Center
138 Strand Hall
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR 97331
Phone: 541-737-9353
Fax: 541-737-3178
Email: sungrant@oregonstate.edu
http://sungrant.oregonstate.edu