12/11/07 WSU could help state become bioenergy leader

Washington Ag December 11, 2007 Washington State University has an obligation as a land-grant university to convene the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to address complex issues facing Washington state. That's what John Gardner, WSU Vice President for Economic Development and Extension told WSU's Economic Conference held last week in Pasco. As he explained in an interview, Gardner says one of those complex issues is bioenergy. Gardner: "There is probably no better example of one of the changes that is going to happen in our economy, our culture and our society in the next decade or two than how the energy issue is going to be resolved, and how it is resolved simultaneously with the environment and environmental issues. It is going to change rural Washington. It is going to change urban and metropolitan Washington. It is going to change us all. That is the kind of an issue that the land-grant like WSU should be front and center in terms of being a facilitator, a researcher and an educator for not only how Washington can cope with it, but can actually, maybe even come out of this thing being a national if not a global leader." Gardner says WSU can do research, consult with business and help government to develop better policies. I'm Bob Hoff.