UF alternative fuels expert available to comment on meeting with president

February 23, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — President Bush met with a small group of scientists today – including a University of Florida professor who holds key ethanol-production patents – to discuss and promote alternative energy.

Bush’s January State of the Union speech focused in part on expanding the use of alternative fuels and reducing U.S. reliance on foreign oil.

Lonnie Ingram, a microbiology and cell sciences professor, was one of four scientists who met with the president and his advisers this morning.

Ingram developed a way to use genetically engineered bacteria to biomass into ethanol and other useful chemicals. He is collaborating with Massachusetts-based Celunol Corp. to build a 20-million-gallon biomass-to-ethanol plant in Jennings, La., expected to be operational this spring.

Ingram is traveling this afternoon but is expected to be available via cell phone about 3:15 p.m.

His number is 352-222-2160.