State awards Northern new grant on biofuel research

Montana State University-Northern's biofuels research programs will be awarded $800,000 from the state. The money will come from $15 million set aside by lawmakers in the 2015 legislative session to fund state university research projects.

Gov. Steve Bullock announced the grant for Northern during a visit to the campus's advanced fuels research center Wednesday, where he spoke before taking a tour of some of the building's labs. He was joined by Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel, State Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian and center employees.

"The time to really invest in the research for tomorrow is today," said Bullock.

The money is being directed to research projects within the state's university system that have potential to spur investment in emerging industries.

Grant money being awarded to Northern for its work in the production of alternative fuels from local crops and advances in producing bio-chemicals.

Jessica Windy Boy, director of the Advanced Fuels Center at Northern, said the money will in part be used to move forward making a next-generation aviation fuel from oilseeds that burns cleaner and is more efficient.

Bullock said the project "will put people to work and ensure the state continues to be seen as a leader for research and innovation."

"This is very exciting for Northern and the Hi-Line region," Kegel told the governor. "We are up to the challenge and will deliver."

Bullock added that MSU-Billings would receive $262,731 for developing remediation technology for soil bacteria.