General Atomics, Eastern Kentucky U partner in algae research venture

In Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University and General Atomics announced a partnership aimed at developing algae-based biodiesel and other cellulose-based biofuels. $4 million in federal funding, courtesy of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009 was the foundation funding for the project.

The partnership establishes the Eastern Kentucky University Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT), and local officials pointed to the potential for high-tech jobs, reducing Kentucky’s carbon exposure, and providing alternative’s to the state’s dependence on tobacco as a cash crop.

General Atomics will provide process designs systems and modeling, develop the economic model for a biodiesel processing plant. EKU will lead agricultural and economic modeling and obtain and lay in basic economic and ag data.

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