Biofuels by the bushel

The new Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory on the shores of the Columbia River in Richland is a picture of anticipation.

Gleaming new labs await the arrival of researchers from both the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington State University. In a groundbreaking federal-state collaboration, they will work together in ongoing efforts not just for creating, but for commercializing, biofuels eyond ethanol from corn. Scientists are studying how to convert cellulosic materials contained in everything from wheat straw and forestry residue to municipal solid waste diverted from landfills.

The latter will be critical to building a sustainable biofuels industry with locally available materials, according to a recent study by PNNL researchers. The report — "Biofuels in Oregon and Washington: A Business Case Analysis of Opportunities and Challenges" — maintains that while agricultural waste will be part of the biofuels solution, the supply might be limited because of its higher value uses for feed or fiber. That's where the discards of Oregon and Washington residents come in — about eight pounds more or less daily from every person.

WSU owns the $28.4 million building and the national lab is leasing space while sharing more than $9 million worth of state-of-the-art equipment with WSU professors and students.

The new lab is poised to help the Northwest and the world clean up its emissions.