Press Room
On The Issues
Photo Gallery
Multimedia
Committees
eNewsletter Sign-up
Just For Kids!

Contact Stephanie
Flag Requests
Visit DC
Casework
Internships
Academy Nominations

Sponsored 110th
Co-Sponsored 110th
Sponsored 109th
Co-Sponsored 109th
Sponsored 108th
Co-Sponsored 108th

About Stephanie
About South Dakota
Useful Links
Thomas
Veterans History
   Project

For Immediate Release Contact: Betsy Hart
September 26, 2008 (202) 226-8555

HERSETH SANDLIN ANNOUNCES $2,900,000 FOR SDSU REGIONAL SUN GRANT CENTER

September 26, 2008-Today, Rep. Herseth Sandlin announced that the South Dakota State University North Central Sun Grant Center is the recipient of $2,900,000 in discretionary grant money from the Department of Energy. Of this funding, $2,500,000 will be used for continuing field trials on dedicated energy crops in the 2009 planting year. The remaining $400,000 will be used for research to measure amounts of carbon and nitrogen in various soil samples as part of an effort to enhance soil carbon storage.

“The Sun Grant Initiative is doing important work of developing renewable energy and reviving rural economies,” Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. “With this support from the Department of Energy, researchers at SDSU will have greater resources available to further enhance our biobased economy.”

"The US Department of Energy has been very supportive of the Sun Grant Initiative for several years," said Kevin Kephart, Vice President for Research at South Dakota State University. Kephart also serves as the national chair of the Sun Grant Initiative. Recognizing the need for regionally-based research on sustainability of crop production for cellulosic biofuels, the DOE came to the Sun Grant Initiative centers to form research teams that focus on use of corn stover, small grain residues, wood species, switchgrass, CRP, Miscanthus, energycane, and other crops that have great promise. This effort developed by DOE is named the Regional Feedstock Partnership.

"On behalf of South Dakota State University and the Sun Grant Initiative, I wish to extend my appreciation to DOE and Rep. Herseth Sandlin for their vision and assistance in making this important work a reality," said Kephart.

Comprised of land-grant universities and federally funded laboratories located in every region of the country, the Sun Grant Initiative seeks to further establish a biobased economy by developing renewable fuels with a particular emphasis on economic development in rural communities through the production of renewable energy feedstocks.

###

Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.