Baylor University - Renewable Aviation Fuels Development Center (RAFDC)

The RAFDC has been working for the last 16 years to research, develop and commercialize renewable fuels, such as ethanol, ETBE and biodiesel, for use in aviation. The RAFDC is carrying out a program to improve the performance of aircraft modified to run on renewable fuels. The RAFDC succeeded in obtaining certification on ethanol fuel of the Cessna 152, the most popular aircraft trainer. This FAA certification represents the first in the world for a non-petroleum fuel and they continue to obtain certification on other aircraft commonly used for agricultural purposes. The RAFDC also provides assistance to pilots interested in conversion of their aircraft to run on renewable fuels.

Website Address: http://www.baylor.edu/~rafdc/

Baylor University - Environmental Studies Department

The Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs with research emphasis in the following areas: renewable natural resources in energy and agriculture; urban, rural and regional comprehensive environmental planning; hazardous and toxic materials management; water resources; pollution of water and air; case-studies in appropriate technology and third-world development; planning for the post-petroleum era in Texas; sustainable agriculture; on-site wastewater research, and; environmental toxicology. The Department conducts atmospheric research with equipment to measure solar radiation, ozone, SO2, NOx and particulates.

Website Address: http://www.baylor.edu/Envir_Studies/

Mailing Address: Environmental Studies, P.O. Box 97266, Waco, TX 76798-7266

Telephone Number: (254) 710-3405

Fax Number: (254) 710-3409

Email Address: envstudies_office(AT)baylor.edu

Texas A&M University (TAMU)

TAMU offers courses and research in biomass energy through their Center for Energy and Mineral Resources, the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Stephenville Research and Extension Center. (See individual program websites for more information.)

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station: http://taeswww.tamu.edu/

Stephenville Research and Extension Center: http://stephenville.tamu.edu/facilities.html

Center for Energy and Mineral Resources website address: http://solstice.crest.org/renewables/grad/tamu_1.html

Contact: John M. Sweeten, Professor and Resident Director

Mailing Address: 6500 Amarillo Blvd. West, Amarillo, TX 79106

Telephone Number: (806) 359-5401

Fax Number: (806) 358-9718

Email Address: j-sweeten(AT)tamu.edu

Texas Southern University - Photovoltaic Research and Demonstration Laboratory

TSU’s solar activities revolve around their 4 kW PV and wind laboratory. The facility provides research projects for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as high school students participating in the University’s annual summer program called the Renewable Energy and Environmental Protection (REEP) Academy. TSU is also involved in a student exchange program with universities in South Africa and has hosted international students in their research and academic endeavors. TSU students have participated in renewable energy installations in South Africa as members of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s PV Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) PV Research Associates Program.

Website Address: http://technology.tsu.edu/volt.htm

Contact: Dr. Joshua Hill

Mailing Address: Texas Southern University School of Technology, 3100 Cleburne Ave., Houston, TX 77004

Telephone Number: (713) 313-7118

Fax Number: (713) 313-1853

Email Address: Hill_JX(AT)tsu.edu

Texas Tech - Wind Engineering Research Center

Texas Tech offers a graduate program in wind engineering studies within their civil engineer department with projects conducted at their various test facilities. Research opportunities for students include full-scale and wind tunnel testing of buildings, bridges, and other structures and wind energy.

Website Address: http://www.wind.ttu.edu/index.html

Mailing Address: Wind Engineering Research Center, Box 41023, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1023

Telephone Number: (806) 742-3476 or (888-946-3287)

Fax Number: (806) 742-3446

University of Texas, Austin - Solar Energy Laboratory

The solar energy program at UT Austin resides in the Mechanical Engineering department. The Solar Energy Laboratory includes space and equipment for solar energy related projects and research. The recent research emphasis is on solar radiation measurements at several sites across Texas compiled as the Texas Solar Radiation Data Base. An undergraduate course is offered in solar energy systems and design.

Website Address: http://mohican.me.utexas.edu/~solarlab/

Contact: Dr. Gary Vliet

Mailing Address: Mechanical Engineering Department, Austin, TX 78712

Telephone Number: (512) 471-3120

Fax Number:(512) 471-1045

Email Address: gvliet(AT)mail.utexas.edu

University of Texas, Austin - Longhorn Solar Race Car Team

The Longhorn Solar Car Race Team (LSRCT) is a fully volunteer, student-run organization and was founded in 1989 with the purpose of developing an effective means for solar-electric transportation. The LSRCT has raced two vehicles, both designed and built entirely by students: the Texas Native Sun I and the Texas Native Sun II.

Website Address: http://marconi.me.utexas.edu/~lsrct/

Contact: Prof. Gary A. Hallock

Mailing Address: ECE Department, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712

Telephone Number: (512) 475-6740

Fax Number: (509) 275-1446

University of Texas, Brownsville

Renewable energy activities are concentrated in the Department of Engineering Technology which plans programs in support of PV, small-scale wind and other renewables. The University has established a sustainable energy program at U. Mass.-Lowell in lead-acid battery testing, PV assisted lighting, water pumping and rural electrification in developing countries.

Contact: William M. Berg

Mailing Address: 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, TX 78520

Telephone Number: (956) 574-6652

Fax Number: (956) 574-6642

Email Address: wberg(AT)utb1.utb.edu

University of Texas, El Paso - Center for Environmental Resource Management (CERM)

CERM provides the research infrastructure needed to support major university environment/energy programs including the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, El Paso Solar Pond Research Facility, the Wind Turbine Engineering Test Facility, and the Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy Consortium (SCERP). Its mission is to address the environmental problems that threaten the health, safety, well-being, and economic development of the Southwest border region of the United States and Northern Mexico. CERM focuses university resources to address hazardous waste, air quality, water availability and quality, ecological, and policy issues; through an active program of research, development, technology transfer, outreach and academic programs. The Environmental Science and Engineering Ph.D. Program is housed at and administered by CERM.

Website Address: http://www.cerm.utep.edu/

Contact: Mike Cormier, Program Coordinator

Telephone Number: (915) 747-5713

Fax Number: (915) 747-5317

Email Address: mcormier(AT)utep.edu

University of Texas, Houston - Health Science Center

The Houston Health Science Center (HHSC) is involved in renewable energy research and practices building sustainability through it’s environmental program. Their renewable energy research involves monitoring the performance of 3 grid-tied photovoltaic systems (20 kW, 24 kW and 7 kW) through extensive data analysis. Undergraduate ecology classes use their Urban Ecology Research Park equipped with a stand-alone PV-wind hybrid station that provides electricity for outdoor classroom needs. Their building sustainability program implements energy-efficiency measures such as chiller retrofits resulting in significant energy and dollar savings. The HHSC also conducts The Natural Step courses which are a guide to thinking and acting in harmony with the earth's cyclical processes. It provides a pragmatic framework which can be used to guide social, environmental, and economic actions.

Website Address: http://www.uth.tmc.edu/ut_general/admin_fin/ss/eo/solar1.html

Contact: Mani Palani

Mailing Address: 7000 Fannin St., Suite 1800, Houston, TX 77030

Telephone Number: (713) 500-3413

Fax Number: (713) 500-3416

Email Address: mpalani(AT)admin4.hsc.uth.tmc.edu