How To Make Biodiesel

Biofuel production and other alternative fuel updates.

Home

Biodiesel Categories

Biodiesel

Biodiesel Archives

Clarkson University seeking more room to research alternative energy

July 3rd, 2008 Biodiesel none Comments

Dec. 7–POTSDAM — Clarkson University professors and students researching alternative energy are fast running out of room to work. So the school is considering a $5 million addition to the Science Center that would connect it to the library and provide more classrooms and work areas. Clarkson is applying for an Empire State Development Corp. grant to pay for the project. James R. Pratt, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said Empire State was chosen because the research could lead to job creation. The most recent examples of this are ZeroPoint Clean Technology, which specializes in creating fuel from biological waste, and the NDFusion plant that opened Tuesday and creates more efficient ways to make biodiesel. Both plants use technology developed or researched at Clarkson. “The more work we do, the more demand there is for space,” Mr. Pratt said. “It’s a good problem to have.” Construction would begin next summer. The third floor of the Science Center is wider than the first two floors, with columns supporting it on the outside of the building. The first phase of the project would wall in this space and turn it into classrooms. Then, the two-story addition would connect that space to the library’s first two floors, with the main entrance facing south. The first floor of the addition would include labs and offices, with classrooms and a computer lab going on the second floor. Engineering distinguished professor Philip K. Hopke said professors have been talking about moving some research to Walker Center, which eventually will be used as a test site for alternative energy, but the Science Center plan will help alleviate the research space problems. “We certainly hope we can continue to build the quality facilities we’ve been able to over the years,” he said. “This will give us more space and we’ll be able to hire more faculty and do more research.” Mr. Pratt said the university someday will renovate the library, and moving some of its computers to the addition is a minor first step. In addition, the building will be green if the budget allows it, with floor-to-ceiling windows, solar panels and off-the-grid electricity. Cranbury, N.J., architects Berkowsky & Associates Inc. are designing the addition, as they have done with previous Clarkson projects. Credit: Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.