Recent Press Releases

Washington, D.C. —  Senator John Thune announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) have awarded South Dakota State University (SDSU) $420,000 for biobased fuels research that will accelerate the development of alternative fuel resources.

"SDSU continues to be a leader in the area of biofuels research," said Thune. "I applaud their efforts as we continue to press forward on reducing our country's dependence on foreign sources of oil. This grant will enhance research already being conducted at SDSU with funding I previously helped secure under the Sun Grant Initiative, and will certainly position SDSU into a key biofuels research role for current and future ethanol initiatives, such as the Biofuels Innovation Program I've proposed to be included in the 2007 Farm Bill."

This award continues a commitment begun in 2006 to conduct fundamental research in biomass genomics that will provide the scientific foundation to facilitate and accelerate the use of native grasses for bioenergy and biofuels. This initiative is part of the President's goal of reducing gasoline consumption by 20 percent in 10 years.

The awards will be made through the Office of Biological and Environmental Research in DOE's Office of Science and USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service National Research Initiative.