PUBLIC AFFAIRS

ASPB Members Beachy, Pakrasi, Stacey, Jaworski, McLaren Explore Energy Policy with Senator Bond

Senator Christopher Bond

Roger Beachy

Gary Stacey

An energy policy roundtable featuring Senator Christopher (Kit) Bond (R-Mo.) and several ASPB members was held May 28 at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The Associated Press (AP) reported that Senator Bond renewed his commitment to the corn-based ethanol industry. “The cost-of-food impact of ethanol is almost immeasurable,” Bond said. “Ethanol, by lowering the cost of transportation, is helping lower the cost of food.”

ASPB Member Roger Beachy said that the discussions of food versus fuel are polarizing. “I am among the group of scientists who believe it’s not an either/or choice,” Beachy said. Beachy is founding president of the Danforth Center, which has received a $1.2 million grant to enhance oil production from soybeans.

ASPB Member Himadri Pakrasi said small “reactors” full of algae could be placed near coal-powered plants, using carbon emissions from the coal stacks as a feedstock to generate power, the AP reported.

ASPB Committee on Public Affairs Chair Gary Stacey discussed the work taking place within the University of Missouri Center for Sustainable Energy, including research to maximize the potential for bioenergy production for lignocellulosic feedstocks.

ASPB member Jan Jaworski discussed the Danforth Center’s partnership with Metabolix and research into Camelina to develop energy oils from nonfood crops.

Jim McLaren, a member of ASPB, discussed Missouri’s role in and resources for plant-based energy and the Center for Evergreen Energy’s role as an unbiased think tank in making St. Louis a hub of excellence.

Monsanto Executive Vice President Jerry Steiner said corn-based ethanol will only become more practical as the corn plant becomes more efficient, AP reported. He said genetic engineering and advanced breeding could make an acre of land yield twice as much corn as it does today by the year 2030.

Commenting on the roundtable of ASPB member experts, Senator Bond said, “Your innovations are supplying homegrown energy solutions to Missouri and the nation. The sustainable plant energy sources you are researching will provide us with clean and sustainable energy supplies. . . . I would like to supersize our success with ethanol with new supplies from grass and woodchips. As with other life sciences research, we cannot fully measure the tremendous potential this research holds.”

Senator Bond conducted a six-city tour to discuss energy policy. In addition to the roundtable in St. Louis, his tour included stops in Springfield, Joplin, Poplar Bluff, and Palmyra, Mo., the St. Louis Business Journal reported.