[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 75 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H3894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2215
                       ALTERNATIVE FUELS RESEARCH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goode) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to tell the House and the 
United States that leading edge research into the development of 
alternative fuels is happening as we speak in the Fifth District of 
Virginia at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in 
Danville, Virginia. The institute is a mission of Virginia's land grant 
institution, Virginia Tech. The institute anchors the technology 
economy of southside Virginia, and one of its research initiatives 
focus on sustainable and renewable resources.
  In particular, the scientists working in this field are directing 
their efforts toward generating alternative energy from renewable 
resources such as switchgrass and hybrid poplars. The scientists 
believe that these renewable resources can be used in biofuels, 
biodiesels and bioenergy. The research being conducted at the institute 
is not just laboratory work, it is applied research. In that light, the 
institute has formed a partnership with Wendy Acres Nursery in Gretna, 
Virginia, also in the Fifth District. At Wendy Acres, they are growing 
species of switchgrass and hybrid poplar which have a low ash content 
when processed. This characteristic makes these plants better suited 
for bioenergy and biofuels. These species are being bred and 
investigated for use in short-rotation woody plant species and 
herbaceous perennials as feedstocks by the Institute for Sustainable 
and Renewable Resources to determine the most efficient production of 
bioenergy and biofuels.
  Mr. Speaker, I have here a container of wood chips. I also have a 
container of switchgrass. What the scientists have come up with is this 
biofuel. This is just steps away from being able to be utilized in 
vehicles all across this Nation. I look forward to the day when we have 
no dependence on Venezuela and Mr. Chavez for our oil needs. I look 
forward to the day when we have no dependence on the Middle East and 
sheiks there for our oil needs. I look forward to the day when we are 
free of foreign fossil fuel. And I hope all across America we can do as 
they are doing in Danville and other places, making our own fuel and 
giving us energy independence.

                          ____________________