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Alternative Fuels

The current oil crisis translates into many related issues in Georgia. Low income families struggle to pay the high costs of heating oil in the winter, farmers search for ways to cut the number of trips over the fields and construction firms look for ways to cut waste.

The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is working on many research projects and educational programs to help ease the ramifications of this difficult situation.

Impact Statements

Review these reports on alternative fuels from CAES faculty in research, teaching and Extension. For more reports, visit the searchable database.

2007 Reports

• Agricultural Energy Assessments
• Building Energy Reduction
• Impact of Weather on Ethanol Energy Value
• Solar Power
• Waste Fat as an Alternative Fuel Source

2006 Reports

• Alternative Energy and Conservation Program
• Biodiesel and Protein from Soldier Flies
• Can the U.S. Ethanol Industry Compete?
• Conservation Tillage Gaining Ground
• Economic Impact of an Ethanol Plant
• Energy Conservation for Low Income Households
• Leadership for Alternative Energy Cooperative
• Reuse of Wood Waste
• Wireless Smart Sensor Schedules Irrigation

Georgia FACES News

Here's just a sample of alternative fuel issues in the news generated by the college. For the latest news, visit Georgia FACES.

• Oil Driven Energy Era Coming to an End, Experts Say
  August 3, 2006 — By the year 2020, the world's population will have increased its need for energy by 60 percent.
  Read the news release >>

• Bioenergy Conference August 1-3 in Tifton, Ga.
  July 20, 2006 — Growers, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, economic developers and researchers can all learn about alternative fuel development in Georgia at the Georgia Bioenergy Conference August 1-3 in Tifton, Ga.
  Read the news release >>

• Experts, Industry Leaders Study Fuel Alternatives
  March 5, 2003 — Skyrocketing oil prices, a sharp increase in the cost of natural gas and imminent war with Iraq have experts and industry leaders taking a harder look at alternative fuels.
  Read the news release >>

• Alternative-fuel Vehicles Slowly Gaining Ground
  August 7, 2002 — Bill Fox has pleasant memories of the first alternative-fuel buses he rode as a University of Georgia student. "Back in the 1980s, alternative fuel was used in buses for campus transit," said Fox, now director of the university's motor pool. "They were fueled by peanut oil and smelled like a big Nutter Butter rolling down the road."
  Read the news release >>

GeorgiaAudio.net

Here's just a sample of alternative fuel issues in the radio clips generated by the college. For the latest radio clips, visit GeorgiaAudio.net.

• Recorded October 18, 2005, at Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition
  “98% of ethanol in the US is produced by corn and also sweet potatoes and sorghum…”
  Read the text version of this radio interview >>

Southscapes Magazine

Here's an article on alternative fuels that appeared in the Spring issue, 2006.

• Bioreality: Biomass Fuels, Products Not that Far Away
  If you know how to do it, you can turn a handful of wood into enough fuel to power a small car about 1.5 miles.

  Read the article >>

More Information

• Keeping Warm During Winter Power Outages
  During severe winter storms, power outages could render your home heating system inoperative for several days. To minimize discomfort and possible health problems during this time, UGA Cooperative Extension specialists offer tips.
  Read the article >>

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