Biggert, Scientists Team Up to Activate Green Energy Prototype: Naperville Firm's Waste-to-Fuel Convertor to Power Local Cars, Jobs

Naperville, IL - U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) and Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel today joined local engineers, scientists, and other officials at Packer Engineering to christen a full-scale prototype gasifier apparatus that will convert lawn, farm, and other bio-waste into green vehicle fuel and other forms of energy. Packer's commercial plans include equipping farms and sawmills with the cutting-edge technology, but the City of Naperville will be getting started early thanks to federal aid requested by Biggert which would allow the city to power its municipal vehicle fleet using the device at a new Green Fuels Depot.

"It's wonderful that our community is host to so many gifted scientists who are developing and commercializing the next generation of advanced energy solutions," said Biggert, a senior member of the House Science and Technology Committee. "These breakthroughs will help bring our nation closer to true energy independence and safeguard against the next spike in energy and fuel prices. And thanks to Packer, local residents will be among the first to benefit, both in terms of economic opportunity and reduced energy costs."

At the event, attendees witnessed full activation and operation of the approximately 12-foot device and heard presentations on local developments in hydrogen storage, space-based solar energy, and more. The gasifier produces electricity and heat from agricultural residue like corn husks or switch grass, while leaving behind minimal waste such as sand and ash. Once integrated with related technologies under development at Argonne National Lab, it also will power hydrogen fuel cells and produce automobile-grade ethanol.

"Packer Engineering is developing a new generation of renewable energy technologies, the first of which converts biomass to electric power and heat," said Dr. Peter J. Schubert, Packer's Senior Director for Space & Energy Research. "We are very excited to have Congresswoman Biggert here to christen our first full-scale reactor, which we intend to commercialize by mid 2010. Her support for this work, and the Green Fuels Depot project which follows next, is vital to achieve energy independence for our nation, and greenhouse gas reductions for all mankind."

Earlier this year, Biggert secured House approval of $1.5 million, included in legislation, H.R. 3183, for a public-private partnership that promises to make Naperville a standard bearer for the environmentally-sustainable technology. Once signed into law, Biggert's funding request will help Naperville to build a green fuels depot capable of powering its municipal fleet of vehicles using only grass clippings, cutting energy costs to taxpayers and reducing carbon emissions. Other partners in the project include Argonne and the College of DuPage.

"The City of Naperville is pleased to be the home to places such as Packer Engineering, where cutting-edge technology is being created to not only enhance energy independence but also create new jobs," Mayor Pradel said. "The work that begins at Packer Engineering today will have far-reaching effects on Naperville in the years to come."

Packer is a 100% employee-owned, multidisciplinary engineering and scientific consulting and technical services company founded in 1963, which operates with the assistance of federal research grants.

"This is a perfect example of how federal investments in research and development can yield tremendously valuable results down the line," said Biggert, Co-Chair of the House Research and Development Caucus. "I look forward to seeing this demonstration project become part of an environmentally-sustainable strategy to address our nation's long-term energy needs."

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