Media Advisory 08-032

A renewable petroleum alternative from plants; briefing on Sept. 23

September 15, 2008

This briefing will be open via telecon. Dial (888) 324-3618 (toll-free domestic) or 1 (212) 287-1639 (toll international) and announce the pass code Green Gasoline to join the event where you will have an opportunity to listen and ask questions.

View video interviews with John Regalbuto of the National Science Foundation, biochemist Clint Chapple from Purdue University, Randy Cortright, CTO of Virent Energy Systems, and chemical engineer George Huber from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.

First-generation biofuels have been hampered by a range of factors, from incompatibility and lower energy yields to concerns about their potential impacts on food prices. A new, second-generation biofuel known as cellulosic gasoline, or "green gasoline," is positioned to bridge those gaps and eventually provide gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other chemicals that are identical to petroleum counterparts yet are derived from non-food plants and agricultural waste.

Breakthroughs emerging this year are ushering in a period of rapid development in green gasoline research, and now some of the largest petroleum companies in the world are joining the effort. On Sept. 23, 2008, three leading experts from academia and industry will host a panel discussion at NSF to highlight how far researchers have come, and how far they still need to go, to bring plant-derived gasoline to market.

Who:	John Regalbuto, chemical engineering professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Catalysis and Biocatalysis Program Director at the National Science Foundation George Huber, chemical engineering professor from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Randy Cortright, CTO of Virent Energy Systems
What:	Discussion of the present and future of green gasoline research
When:	Tuesday, September 23, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. ET
Where:	National Science Foundation Room 110 4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, Va. (Ballston Metro Stop)

Check in at security desk, 9th & Stuart St. entrance.

For Directions, see http://www.nsf.gov/about/visit/.

RSVP to Josh Chamot, media officer for engineering, at jchamot@nsf.gov.

Note:  On September 27, NSF will be at Family Day at the U.S. Botanic Garden, just across First Street SW from the U.S. Capitol, to display typical "green energy" plants used in green gasoline production-along with a sample of "biocrude" and the catalysts used to create green gasoline from plants-and to answer questions from the public.  The plants are being provided by  the USDA U.S. National Arboretum courtesy of their Power Plants-Farming Energy exhibit. 

-NSF-

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  John Regalbuto describes green gasoline and context for its potential as an alternative energy.
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  Clint Chapple explains why plants are leading contenders to help address the energy crisis.
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  Randy Cortright describes a process that turns sugar, into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
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  George Huber describes a new method of rapidly turning plant, possibly paper, waste into gasoline.
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Media Contacts
Joshua A. Chamot, NSF, (703) 292-7730, email: jchamot@nsf.gov

Related Websites
Additional information: http://www.nsf.gov/news/newsmedia/greengasoline/index.jsp

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