We kick off our first episode of TechCast at UMass by discussing an exciting new venture that could revolutionize the fuel we use to power our cars. We talk with Professor Susan Leschine, SunEthanol CEO Jef Sharpe and venture capitalist Tripp Peake about the Q-microbe and its promise in making clean, affordable, renewable fuel.
When microbiologist Susan Leschine set out to study the role of microbes in the carbon cycle, little did she know that she’d find herself on the frontier of green energy production. The Q-microbe—named after the Quabbin Reservoir in Western Massachusetts where Dr. Leschine discovered it, has properties that may make ethanol production cheaper —and more environmentally friendly than current methods.
The Q-microbe could help free us from dependence on foreign oil. But it could also play an important role in reducing global warming. Using the microbe in ethanol production is in the works through a partnership between the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where Professor Leschine teaches and does her research, and a private company, SunEthanol, also based in Amherst, Massachusetts. Coordinated by CVIP and aided by venture capital from three firms (Battery Ventures, Long River Ventures, and VeraSun Energy), the project hopes to be able to go from the experimental stage to practical application by 2008.
You can also read the original UMass Amherst news release about the Q-microbe.
Find out more about CVIP by exploring the website at http://www.umass.edu/research/cvip/. You can also e-mail cvip or call (413) 545-3606.
