RICHLAND -- The BSEL lab at W.S.U. Tri-Cities hopes to be a major player in research for alternative fuels.
Professors and students are looking forward to possibly solving the nation's energy woes.
Researchers at the lab say things like woodchips, straw or trash can solve the energy crisis.
And with the opening of the new lab, they are ready to get to started to see if it works.
"This is where we get started on the conversion of biomass to fuels," said researcher Rick Orth.
Pacific Northwest National Lab researcher Rick Orth looks forward to the potential BSEL has.
"What we do here will impact what goes on nationwide," said Orth.
And what will happen there will hopefully solve the energy issues facing the country.
To help with that goal, W.S.U. Tri-Cities hired world renowned microbiologist Birgette Ahring to head the lab. She says corn ethanol was a good start to solving fuel woes, but it is not the answer.
"We need an alternative and the cellulosic alternative has all the benefits, it really reduces the greenhouse gases," said Ahring.
Those alternatives include using wheat straw, woodchips or even waste as a way to possibly reduce foreign oil need by as much as 20 percent.
Politicians and even energy regulators are looking to bsel to lead the way in that research.
"The risk has never been greater. we need every molecule of energy that we can generate and we need it clean, and we need it secure, and we need it available, and we need it affordable," said Andy Karsner, Department of Energy's assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
The 24-million dollar, 57-thousand square foot lab will have classroom and lab space, as well as storage space to house the fuel created.
Students will work hand-in-hand with PNNL researcers in finding alternative fuels, and they will do so with one goal in mind.
"Getting technology out the door so that we can use it as soon as we can, especially witht the high oil prices," said Orth.
Students at the lab will have unprecedented research materials and access to solving energy issues.
About nine-million dollars in equipment was provided by PNNL.
Researchers say they hope to have cellulosic ethanol out on the market by as little as 24 to 36 months.
