Area Development

As part of Texas' Bioenergy Strategy, Governor Rick Perry has awarded a $5 million Texas Emerging Technology grant to Texas A&M University to help recruit commercially focused faculty to market innovative research for the next generation of biofuels. The university is also partnering with Chevron on research efforts to achieve accelerated harvesting of nonfood crops for conversion into biofuel products.

In addition, the newly formed Texas Bioproducts Industry Council will work closely with the private and public sectors to strategize the future of bioproducts in Texas. The state aims to position itself as energy self-sufficient, while also introducing global solutions to the nation's growing energy needs.

"As a state that grows by 1,000 new residents each day, Texas must take a more innovative approach to developing new methods and research in the field of energy," said Governor Perry. He note that by intersecting three of the state's largest industries - energy, agriculture, and petrochemicals - researchers in Texas have made tremendous progress.