Research Triangle Institute of Research Triangle Park, NC State University and the University of Utah have been awarded up to $2 million by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The grant funds a two-part project. The first part converts woody biomass into a synthetic gas and strips waste products from it. The second turns that now clean gas into fuel for transportation.
"We are committed to expanding the sustainable production and use of biofuels and these projects will help develop cleaner methods for turning a wide variety of feedstocks into fuel," DOE Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said.
"Successful completion of these projects stands to redefine the way we produce America's fuels and follows the President's call to end our dependence to oil."
The DOE awarded $7.7 million in total on Tuesday. The three other projects are in Utah, Iowa and Alabama.
Read the WRAL Local Tech Wire story.
Read the DOE news release.