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Energy Facts
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The US uses more than 140 billion gallons of gasoline and almost 40 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually.
More than 60 percent of the petroleum we use is imported.
The 2005 Energy Act mandated that 250 million gallons of ethanol be produced from cellulose materials
by 2012.
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About BCRL
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The mission of the Biomass Conversion Research Laboratory at Michigan
State University is to develop cost effective and environmentally
attractive means of generating fuels, chemicals, materials, foods and
feeds from renewable plant biomass. We seek to shift the raw material
basis of modern society away from excessive dependence on fossil
resources, particularly petroleum, and toward biomass. As a global
society, one of our greatest economic and environmental risks is our
near total reliance on petroleum as a source of liquid transportation
fuels. Obviously, the BCRL has chosen no small mission. But we do not
believe it is “mission impossible”. In fact, the mission is completely
possible. Learn more about the BCRL mission...
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Latest News & Announcements
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Researchers at work on energy challenges
Cars and energy create challenges that MSU engineering researchers approach from multiple directions. “No single solution is going to be able to address the energy problem we’re confronting today,” says Satish Udpa, dean of the College of Engineering.
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MSU researches nonfood biofuel
02/03/10
The future of alternative fuels and economic freedom might be as simple as grass clippings and wood chips. Biomass
such as straw, switchgrass and wood chips can be used to produce
cellulosic ethanol, a potential replacement to ethanol produced from
corn, wheat and rice, said Bruce Dale, associate director of MSU’s
Office of Biobased Technologies.
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A driving force for fuels
Biofuels as alternative energy promise to help environment, economy, prof's research shows
The field of biofuel research would have little in the tank without MSU professor Bruce Dale. The professor of chemical engineering and material science finished two studies last month that could foster positive attitudes about alternative fuels and decrease the cost of creating them. Dale’s first study presented evidence against the notion that benefits of biofuels are offset by the land required to produce the corn for ethanol and the gas emissions of the vehicles using the fuel.
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Bruce Dale Invited to Join International Policy Group’s Steering Committee
Bruce Dale, University Distinguished Professor of chemical engineering and materials science and associate director of the MSU Office of Biobased Technologies, is internationally known for his biofuel research. Now the world is looking to him to learn how biofuels will affect agricultural production, climate change and trade policies.
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Doing a Proper Mass Balance in Cellulosic Ethanol Conversion
During a recent presentation, Dr. Bruce Dale explains the
proper way to do mass balances for cellulosic ethanol production.
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"Grassoline" Concept Explained on Recent Radio Broadcast (MP3)
During a recent Bloomberg Radio broadcast, Dr. Bruce Dale explains the
"Grassoline" concept and how it can lower fuel costs. Click to listen:
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BCRL in the news!
Due to many factors, interest in cellulosic ethanol has literally exploded and the media has taken notice. Here, the BCRL and Dr. Bruce Dale are featured in news articles and blogs across the globe!
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Recent Presentations and Conferences
See where we've been spreading the word...
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BCRL Leader Meets With President Bush
 Dr. Bruce Dale met with President Bush 2/23/07. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half. He sat next to the President during the meeting and had the chance to speak briefly (about 7 minutes) to him about the potential of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels.
Here is a picture of Dr. Dale and President Bush walking back to the White House after a press announcement. (Dr. Dale is the handsome guy in the light gray suit walking next to the President.)
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