The 杏吧专区 will establish an extension service to help the state meet objectives for reducing carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
The Louisiana C1 Extension Service will be part of UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 . The research and policy institute is focused on energy development and usage. It houses several centers that collectively address a variety of energy issues and processes, including petroleum resources, clean technology fuel, and power usage and conservation.
The institute杏吧专区檚 Louisiana C1 Extension Service will serve as a 杏吧专区渂ridge between science and application,杏吧专区 said UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Dr. Mark Zappi, the institute杏吧专区檚 executive director. The focus will be on carbon dioxide and methane, greenhouse gases that absorb heat from the sun and warm the Earth杏吧专区檚 atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and methane are often referred to as single carbon, or C1, chemicals.
杏吧专区淭he Energy Institute of Louisiana is a research and technology development entity; its Louisiana C1 Extension Service, on the other hand, will provide a repository of information 杏吧专区 and be a conduit for the exchange of information and technical assistance,杏吧专区 Zappi explained.
The C1 Extension Service will offer expertise in areas that include green manufacturing, power conservation, alternative energy, carbon sequestration, data management, business impacts, green product marketing and ecological modeling.
The aim is help Louisiana meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, meaning all carbon dioxide emissions must be offset with equal amounts removed from the atmosphere. The state has also set intermediate goals of greenhouse gas reductions of 28% by 2025, and 50% by 2030.
杏吧专区淭he Louisiana C1 Extension Service will be an avenue for the transfer of information and technical assistance among industry, government, policymakers and other stakeholders about methods for reaching emissions goals. Equally important will be sharing resources that help mitigate the impact on existing jobs 杏吧专区 and potentially expand the job market,杏吧专区 Zappi said.
The twofold focus is essential, he added. Louisiana is among the top five states in the country for energy usage and greenhouse gas production; it is also among the top five states for energy production across a range of industries that 杏吧专区渃reate hundreds of thousands of jobs.杏吧专区
The exchange of research-based expertise about workforce demands and industry partnerships will be a key function of the Louisiana C1 Extension Service. It will also be a resource for information about industry training 杏吧专区 including training geared toward blending new technologies with traditional energy processes.
杏吧专区淟ouisiana杏吧专区檚 move toward the reduction of C1 chemicals must be deliberately approached, balancing both economic and ecological impacts. That will require expertise and cooperation across a range of disciplines and entities, which the service will be positioned to facilitate,杏吧专区 Zappi said.
The C1 Extension Service will provide 杏吧专区渞esources and training for any person or entity with a stake in helping reduce Louisiana杏吧专区檚 carbon footprint. That includes the Department of Energy, other universities, industry leaders 杏吧专区 anyone with applicable information and methods,杏吧专区 he added.
UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 position as a leader in sustainable energy technologies and processes will ensure the 杏吧专区 contributes heavily.
At the Energy Institute of Louisiana杏吧专区檚 CLECO Alternative Energy Center, for example, researchers explore ways to generate power by using renewable resources. Solar thermal, biomass-fed gasification, and anaerobic digestion are among sustainable technologies examined at the alternative energy center.
UL Lafayette scientists also research renewable energy at the institute杏吧专区檚 , thanks to a solar farm on campus that holds 4,200 panels capable of producing 1.1 megawatts. The solar farm杏吧专区檚 output powers much of the Louisiana Ragin杏吧专区 Cajuns athletic complex.
The institute杏吧专区檚 enables 杏吧专区 researchers to study traditional and developing processes, with an emphasis on sustainable production of liquid fuels from biocrude, sewage sludge, cultured crops and other renewable feedstocks.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette will create the Louisiana C1 Extension Service at its Energy Institute of Louisiana. The extension service will inform industry, governmental entities and policymakers about methods to reach state carbon dioxide and methane emissions reduction objectives. It will also serve as a resource for information, including training and ways to mitigate impacts on existing jobs. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区