Florida legislators tour UF energy research labs

January 18, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Four members of the Florida House of Representatives and their staff on Friday toured University of Florida laboratories devoted to ethanol, fuel-cell and a range of other energy related technologies. They also visited a biofuel pilot plant and heard presentations from UF researchers.

“We’re doing a lot of energy-related research here at UF, and this was an opportunity to present it,” said Eric Wachsman, a professor of materials science and engineering and director of the FISE Energy Technology Incubator. “I think they came away impressed with what we have to offer.”

The House representatives were Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, Debbie Boyd, D-High Springs, and Steve Precourt, R-Winter Garden.

Their stops at UF included the Biofuels Pilot Plant and the Prototype Development & Demonstration Laboratory, both state-funded Centers of Excellence and members of the FISE Energy Technology Incubator. The goal of the incubator is to accelerate commercialization of promising energy technologies in Florida.

Pictured at left: University of Florida materials science and engineering doctoral student Brian Blackburn (center) demonstrates a screen-printing device used to make fuel cells and solar cells to four visiting Florida lawmakers Friday.