University Of Colorado At Boulder A Leader In Renewable Energy, Biofuels Research

Researchers are using genetic tools, such as the gene chip above, to engineer "biofilms." More efficient biofilms can increase the production of biofuels made from the cellulose of plant leaves, stems and stalks.

Earlier this year, the University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado State University, the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., established an unprecedented partnership to develop renewable energy technologies.

The partnership, called the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, puts Colorado on the cutting edge of a national effort to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil and to decrease greenhouse emissions linked to global warming, drought and other pressing environmental concerns.

Collaboratory members will pool intellectual and physical resources to address one of the world's greatest problems: the need to transition from a fossil fuels-based economy to one that conserves and relies on clean, renewable and secure energy sources. Among other technologies, the partners are studying solar, wind and geothermal energy, biofuels produced from crops and forest products and hydrogen fuel cells.

An offshoot of the collaboratory is the Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels, or C2B2, which is based at CU-Boulder. Director Alan Weimer is a professor in the chemical and biological engineering department.

Headlines from the CU-Boulder Office of News Services

• CU-Boulder, NREL, CSU And Mines Sign Colorado Renewable Energy Agreement
• Colorado Center For Biorefining And Biofuels Announces $500,000 In Seed Grants For Research
• CU-Boulder To Play Lead Role In Colorado Center For Biorefining And Biofuels
• Biofuels Forum On Ethanol Slated For CU-Boulder Nov. 8
• Alternative Energy Systems, Devices Among Student Projects To Be Demonstrated At Design Expo
• CU-Boulder Embarks On Ambitious Plan To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• German Renewable Energy Expert To Speak At CU-Boulder On Feb. 20
• CU-Boulder Announces Development Of Sustainable Energy Initiative
• Sixteen CU/NREL Energy Research Seed Grants Selected For Funding

Headlines from CU-Boulder Office of News Services on Biodiesel 

• First Commercial Biodiesel Pump In Colorado To Bring Cleaner Air, More Energy Independence
• CU-Boulder Students Join With CU Departments To Launch Biodiesel Buff Bus
• CU-Boulder Student To Receive David Brower Youth Award for Campus Work on Biodiesel

Other Resources

• Listen to a podcast about CU-Boulder’s leadership in developing renewable energy resources.
• Click on these links to learn more about C2B2 and the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory.
• Click here to read what CU-Boulder Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson had to say about the collaboratory.
• For more information about renewable energy efforts at CU-Boulder, visit the Energy & Environmental Security Initiative website and the Energy Initiative website.