News From the Field
Marginal Lands Are Prime Fuel Source for Alternative Energy

January 16, 2013

Marginal lands--those unsuited for food crops--can serve as prime real estate for meeting the nation's alternative energy production goals. In a study published in Nature, a team of researchers led by Michigan State University shows that marginal lands represent a huge, untapped resource for growing mixed species cellulosic biomass--plants grown specifically for fuel production, which could annually produce up to 5.5 billion gallons of ethanol in the Midwest alone. Full Story

Source
Michigan State University

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, its budget was $7.0 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 50,000 competitive requests for funding, and makes about 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $593 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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