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U.S. Senator Kay Hagan visits ASU

BOONE—U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan visited Appalachian State University Wednesday to learn more about the university’s renewable and alternative energy projects as well as efforts to support entrepreneurship in an eight-county region.

She said a “green economy” was important to the future of the state and nation.

“What you are doing here is good not only for Appalachian, it’s good for North Carolina and it’s good for America,” Hagan said. “We have got to become less dependent on foreign oil, and the way we are going to do that is through alternative energy and renewable energy sources. You are doing all the right things.”

While on campus, Hagan learned of work planned at the university’s Biodiesel Research and Testing Facility to be located in Catawba County, and a project to measure emissions from various biofuels used to power vehicles. “We are testing the emissions of fuels that we manufacture from different feed stocks,” said Jeff Ramsdell, an associate professor in Appalachian’s Department of Technology and a member of the N.C. Alternative Fuels Consortium.

“In North Carolina, the hot feedstock right now is poultry fat, because it’s more economically viable for the producer. When you make biodiesel from a different feedstock, the emissions change. We have found a significant difference,” he said.

Hagan also learned of the student-led Renewable Energy Initiative (REI) which has installed photovoltaic panels in front of Raley Hall, a solar water heating system on Frank Residence Hall and Plemmons Student Union, and plans to construct a 100-kilowatt wind turbine on campus near the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center.

More than $2.5 billion has been designated in the federal economic stimulus plan for energy research, and Hagan wants to be sure North Carolina gets its share.

“The whole reason for the stimulus package is to put people back to work,” Hagan said. “Long term, I want to see jobs being created that can’t be outsourced. Renewable energy, green industry jobs are the jobs of the future. They are going to be good jobs and they are going to stay here (in the United States). We need to work together to have that happen in the United States and here in North Carolina. Appalachian can be the conduit to really help.”

Interest in “green industry” jobs is growing in the region, according to Bryan Toney, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship in Appalachian’s Walker College of Business. The center recently hosted a workshop in green business opportunities that drew 250 participants. The center also has begun the Rural Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program that will serve an eight-county region. The program has offered workshops on starting a business to more than 400 participants.

“Entrepreneurs create jobs in this region,” Toney said. “Many of our largest employers started out as home grown businesses.”

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