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The governor was in California yesterday to announce that Illinois will share in a $500 million grant from British Petroleum to research alternative fuels.
A champagne toast celebrated the end of the national teleconference Thursday between the University and the University of California at Berkeley. BP Amoco announced its investment of $500 million in a partnership between the universities for the development of an Energy Biosciences Institute to advance fuels for the future.
The money was awarded to the universities after winning a worldwide contest announced six months ago. The universities beat out other institutions such as MIT, Purdue and Iowa State for the bid. Illinois is a leader in crop biology and the second largest producer of corn and ethanol. The University is expected to receive $100 million, which will go toward research and development of biofuel production, said Chancellor Richard Herman during the press conference.
“The goal of a university is to solve the greater problems of society,” Herman said.
That’s great news for Illinois and the nation, of course. And it’s probably a good thing that Blagojevich made his announcement in California, considering the press reports about his mounting legal bills and the serious holes in his administration’s case against two CMS employees. One also can’t help but wonder whether he scheduled a Cali fundraiser this week.
IlliniPundit points out an irony in the governor’s announcement. [emphasis added]
In Gov. Blagojevich’s first budget, he proposed eliminating all funding for CFAR. Now he gets to headline a press conference announcing a $500 million public-private program that is a direct result of CFAR’s accomplishments.
“CFAR” is the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research. The governor’s change of heart since then has been complete and, as shown above, politically beneficial.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 9:02 am
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Great news!
As to Blagojevich - keep on running - we know where to serve your court papers.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 9:17 am
Go U of I!
Comment by U of I Dem Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 9:51 am
Since BP bought Amoco and Amoco had their huge research facility in Illinoi, there was an excellent connection. Glad to see that the UofI has the 21st century research tools it needs.
Comment by Truthful James Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 10:09 am
Seems like a pretty good deal all around. Gotta give Blago some credit for smelling bucks and adjusting his thinking.
Comment by zatoichi Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 10:53 am
I think that litte p@#$@#$ Madigan forced him to fund CFAR too. Damm e
Comment by Capt. Obvious Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 11:36 am
Great news for the State of Illinois and for the University of Illinois and appropriate credit to Blago and others for making it happen.
Comment by George Ryan's Cellmate Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 11:48 am
Blagojevich’s hair tapped as the next bio-fuel. America achieves energy independence. All hail Elvis.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 11:57 am
“The goal of a university is to solve the greater problems of society,†Herman said.
I thought “the goal” was to educate people. At least they are finally being honest.
Comment by Silly me Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 12:57 pm
To a farmer, this seems like a slam-dunk: you can plant corn that’s been rigged genetically to only come up once, and not be re-plantable (you can even get sued for trying it) and spend a lot of money and energy to keep it pest-free and feed it and it still might get wiped out by one storm or some drought. From that crop, only the kernels are good for ethanol…
… or you can plant switchgrass and Miscanthus, ONE time, and it will come up again on it’s own year after year. It shrugs off weather and bugs, naturally. It doesn’t deplete the soil like corn because it’s more like the original prarie grass we get our state slogan from. You don’t harvest it so much as MOW it, and you get two crops a year out of it. The entire PLANT goes into the ethanol process.
Where do I sign up? Part of the project’s charge will be to try and make the corn plants more efficient for ethanol as well, but the writing seems to be on the wall, or in the crop-circle: the grass has the big edge, with less inputs required for a better and more sustainable yeild.
I imagine corn will go back to more feedstock and sweetener-base production once the grasses take hold. Look for a big hit on the stock prices of the seed companies until they can figure out how to rig the grasses to need annual re-planting like corn.
I for one will welcome the sight of 18-foot-high seas of almost-prarie grass, and the beneficial bugs and animals it will also support. It still makes ethanol, maybe even better than corn did. I always hated the idea of wasting actual food as fuel, anyway.
Comment by Mister Green Genes Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 1:06 pm
Rich, way to turn a positive story negative. Congratulations!
Comment by Buck Naked Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 2:28 pm
How did I do that? Sensitive.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 2:31 pm
Alcohol is one of the main components of hairspray. Out law Blago’s hair and America will become energy independent.
Comment by Papa Legba Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 3:08 pm
Thanks for the link, Rich!
Comment by IlliniPundit Friday, Feb 2, 07 @ 4:06 pm