BIO Calls for a Range of Policies to Support Biorefinery Commercialization and Create Green Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Thursday, March 04, 2010) - Public policy should extend support to all biorefinery projects, because production of biobased products and green chemicals at integrated biorefineries holds the same potential to generate jobs, boost economic growth, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as advanced biofuels. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today called for sustained, consistent and diverse federal support to encourage commercial development of a full range of innovative biobased technologies.
Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, stated, “Building biorefineries to apply advanced biotechnology applications for advanced biofuels and biobased products can contribute to economic growth in the very near term and establish a unique base for sustainable economic growth in the long term. Pilot and demonstration biorefineries are currently being built across the United States to take advantage of local resources and feedstocks – and creating local jobs. However, we do need more robust federal policies for loan guarantees if we’re to realize the full job potential of commercial-scale biorefinery construction.”
Erickson concluded, “The United States is a world leader in developing industrial biotechnology for biofuels, biobased products, and green chemicals. Deployment of the technology can improve U.S. economic competitiveness, contribute to renewed, sustainable economic growth, and create high-wage, green jobs. U.S. employment in plastics and chemical manufacturing has declined over the past two decades and is projected to shrink further, as capital investment for the petroleum-based industry has shifted away from the United States. Development of domestic biobased products and renewable chemicals can restore competitive advantage to the United States and possibly save jobs in the sector.”
Today, BIO hosted a roundtable discussion with advanced biofuel and biobased chemical companies – Coskata, Inc.; ZeaChem, Inc.; and Myriant Technologies – to the discuss job creation and economic impact associated with their projects to deploy industrial biotechnology applications. A recording of the call is available for playback; please dial (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 and specify conference ID #59296504.
Upcoming BIO Events
BIO-Europe Spring
March 8-10, 2010
Barcelona, Spain
BIO Intellectual Property Counsels Spring Conference and Committee Meeting
April 19-21, 2010
New Orleans, LA
Partnering for Global Health
May 3, 2010
Chicago, IL
McCormick Place Convention Center
BIO International Convention
May 3-6, 2010
Chicago, IL
McCormick Place Convention Center
2010 BIO Human Resources Conference
May 4-7, 2010
Chicago, IL
World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing
June 27-30, 2010
Washington, DC
BIO’s Livestock Biotechnology Summit
September 28-30, 2010,
Sioux Falls, SD
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.
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