LINCOLN DAVIS PRAISES ORNL’s SELECTION AS NEW BIOENERGY RESEARCH CENTERJune 27, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Tennessee will be a leader in national efforts to develop alternative fuel sources, U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis said after the Energy Department announced Oak Ridge National Laboratory was selected to host one of three bio-energy research centers in the country.

"This is a very exciting time in Tennessee as we are poised to play a major role in establishing environmentally safe, economically feasible, forward thinking energy solutions that will ultimately make us more self-sufficient," Davis said.

The Department of Energy announced a $125 million grant for Tennessee’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory to establish a bio-fuel research center. This grant will allow the State to contribute to the discovery of solutions for today’s energy problems, and create jobs for future Tennesseans. Similar centers will be established in Wisconsin and California.

The Energy Department’s announcement comes after Governor Bredesen pushed for and state legislators approved a $40 million pilot switchgrass ethanol plant in Oak Ridge this year.