Lugar's visit spotlights alternative energy research

By Ty Jepson

Executive Reporter

Publication Date: 10/10/2008

Michael Carney | Staff Photographer

United States Senator Richard Luger meets with Professor Mike Ladisch to discuss advances in cellulosic ethanol research

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U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., visited Purdue University Thursday to take a tour of the University's research facilities and to view progress on alternative energy research.

"A strategic problem our country has is, unfortunately, two-thirds of our oil is imported from abroad," Lugar said. "This is a good way to move our country away from strategic vulnerabilities." He said there is good potential for ethanol, as well as other biofuels. "What we've seen is exciting; there are many possibilities," Lugar said.

Alan Rebar, executive director of Discovery Park and senior associate vice president of research, said Purdue is a very important partner in alternative energy research. "We have one of the first energy centers that was established. We also have The Center for the Environment, The Purdue Climate Change Research Center," Rebar said. "We kind of cover the whole spectrum of sustainability."

Rebar said because of Purdue's strong history in engineering, agriculture, technology and management that there are very few universities which have the broad scope Purdue does.

"We regard ourselves as a leading site for the development of energy research," he said.

Jay Gore, Reilly professor of combustion engineering, said it is important that people consider a broad set of factors when discussing energy.

"The important thing we need to do is make sure it is not just science, engineering and technology that try to solve this," Gore said. "How people use energy and how people are educated about conserving energy, those are really important issues, so socio-economic and political aspects of energy are some things we are focusing on," he said. "Energy technology can be bigger than the technology boom in the '80s and '90s."

Gore also said that Lugar's visit really helped bring attention to the issue.

"He's very, very bipartisan. He does not see this as a political problem, but a political opportunity and a political challenge," Gore said. "We can't be Republicans and Democrats trying to solve this, we need to be united."