CSU driving clean energy research to market

Colorado State University announced March 20 an innovative model to rapidly move the university's clean energy research into the global marketplace, creating new companies and jobs that enhance the state's economy while improving lives throughout the world.

"Through its leadership as a green university, CSU transforms lives - creating companies, generating jobs, improving health and living conditions for people worldwide and stimulating economic prosperity," said CSU President Larry Edward Penley. "CSU is home to the world's finest faculty and student brain trust in the environmental sciences, in the development of alternative energy technology and biofuels and in the management of state forest lands.

The university's new enterprise, Cenergy, unveiled at the state Capitol with the help of Gov. Bill Ritter, U.S. Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar, along with representatives from the offices of U.S. Reps. Mark Udall and Ed Perlmutter, will greatly enhance the ability of university scientists and business partners to speed clean and renewable energy research to the marketplace. Cenergy, the business arm of the university's new Clean Energy Supercluster, will directly enhance Colorado's leadership in building a new energy economy as well as improving quality of life for people around the globe.

"Today's announcement proves once again that Colorado is establishing itself as a national and international center of innovation in the New Energy Economy," Ritter said. "Other states have abundant supplies of renewable and traditional energy resources like we do. But what truly sets us apart are our intellectual resources. Companies like ConocoPhillips and Vestas Blades are coming to Colorado because of our research institutions and because we are producing a new generation of green-collar workers. CSU is leading the way, and this new supercluster will help us produce and consume energy differently than we do today."

Emerging technologies at CSU have led to the creation of several successful startups: Envirofit International, which commercializes sustainable technologies in the developing world; Solix Biofuels, which is producing biodiesel from algae; and AVA Solar Inc., which is producing solar panels at $1 per watt. More technologies are in the pipeline.

But the entrepreneurial successes come with the support of partners. Such economic development organizations as the Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster, an advocacy organization for clean and renewable businesses; the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp.; and the city of Fort Collins play critical roles in making northern Colorado a leader in the development of clean energy solutions. The university also participates in the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory, a nationally unique partnership with the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Colorado School of Mines and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. CSU is also a participant in the first project of the Collaboratory, the Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels.