CWU Energy Symposium Features Presidential Speaker

January 29, 2007

Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: loweryr@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are clean-burning alternative fuels derived from farm crops. While they can be made from nearly any crop, only a few are economically viable at this time. During its current session, the state Legislature will consider a bill that would provide incentives to increase the production and use of biofuels in Washington.

Proponents believe biofuels could help alleviate global warming, while also proving to be economically viable crops for farmers.

As executive director of BIOWA, Michael Ott is among the nation's most prominent biofuels proponents. BIOWA is a trade association that creates partnerships to help biofuel plants create more products and to create them more efficiently.

Ott will be the next speaker in Central Washington University's Presidential Speaker Series. His presentation is set for Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m., in the Student Union and Recreation Center (SURC) Ballroom. Reserved seats are $15, general admission is $7 and students with I.D. will be admitted free of charge. Tickets may be purchased by calling 509-963-1301, at the SURC ticket office, or at the door.

BIOWA's goal is to see biofuels become cost-competitive with their oil-based counterparts, which will create businesses with long-term sustainable. The organization's membership includes biotechnology companies, commodity manufacturers, educational institutions, farmers and investment bankers.

Ott's talk will cover the ramifications of making fuel from corn, soybeans, switchgrass and other feedstocks. He will also discuss future employment opportunities in the biofuels industry.

Ott's varied background including a master's degree in bioinorganic chemistry and work in the financial world, from hedge funds to private equity.

His address will be the keynote presentation at CWU's first renewable energy symposium, titled "Promises & Challenges." The day-long symposium will be held in the SURC.

From 9:30 a.m. to noon, the symposium will also feature tours of area renewable energy projects. They include Puget Sound Energy's Wild Horse Wind Power Project, Central Washington Biodiesel, the working fuel cell in CWU's industrial and engineering technology (IET) department and the City of Ellensburg's new Community Solar Project. Those tours will leave from the first floor of the SURC.

In addition, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the SURC Theatre, Ott will also moderate an alternative energy forum with panelists Kristin Eby, from U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell's office, Tony Usibelli, from Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development; Dana Peck, from Horizon Wind Energy; and IET faculty members Karen Bicchieri and Roger Beardsley.

Both the tours and panel discussion are free and open to the public. For more information, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call 509-963-2752, or visit www.cwu.edu/~cwualum. For the hearing impaired, TDD 509-963-2143.