Videos - $30 Million Federal Grant Announcement
Robert A. Kennedy, President,
University of Maine: "Today, we celebrate a milestone that really puts
the 'D' in 'R&D.' This grant moves us a giant step closer to
commercializing University of Maine technology, moving from an idea to
mass-produced product. This is how universities lead economic
development on a large scale, and it's how research can lead to business
development and jobs."
Jack Cashman, Governor's Senior Economic Advisor: "We had an opportunity
here, using the infrastructure that's been built up over the last 100
years to once again bring forest products in Maine to lead the nation,
if not the world. We have the best wood fiber in the world here, we have
the best workforce in the world here, and you're going to find out
today, if you don't know it already, we have the best research
capabilities and what can be done in today's economy with forest
products. We're going to move beyond pulp and paper and we're going to
move beyond building materials and strand lumber and all the great
things that we do in this state already, and we're going to do it in a
way that doesn't threaten those industries, doesn't compete with them,
but augments them. Today is a perfect example of that."
Hemant Pendse, Managing Director, Forest Bioproducts Research Institute:
"A lot of people came together at various times as this concept was
evolving, and I think what you see today is the federal government now
putting $30 million of their own money through an extremely competitive
grant process, and we put Old Town on the national map. I think it also
shows what small companies and universities, when they come together,
how they can bring entrepreneurship attitude to what can be done. A lot
of large companies have been sitting on their hands while small
companies, when they get together, we have pushed forward, and as Bob
said, we are creating the cutting-edge right here in Maine."
Ed Paslowski, CEO, Red Shield Environmental: "On the way up I listened
to Maine Public Radio and I learned that oil has now hit $118 a barrel.
I learned that fuel oil dealers are pricing fuel for next year's
delivery at over $4.00 a gallon. This project couldn't come at a better
time. As opposed to corn ethanol, cellulosic ethanol comes as part of a
process of making other products. It's relatively inexpensive to make
when you consider the fact that we're not using food product--we're not
causing some of the problems that are going around the globe at this
point."
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