Akron, Ohio, April 23, 2007 — University of Akron President Luis Proenza joined Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and 14 Ohio college and university officials today to sign an agreement to work together to study advanced alternative energy solutions.

The signing was during the first University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio (UCEAO) conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

UCEAO is a new coalition of Ohio's research universities that recognize the need to cooperate on energy and energy-related environmental research and education to support the state's agricultural and manufacturing industries and ultimately improve state employment levels.

"Investment in sustainable energy is crucial to Ohio's future," Proenza says. "While current alternative energy technologies such as active and passive solar systems, wind turbines, biomass energy and small-scale hydraulic systems are not yet competitive, mainly due to their low energy-conversion efficiencies, our faculty at The University of Akron have the expertise to make significant contributions in energy-efficient and alternative energy technologies. They also have a proven track record of designing and implementing energy-efficient systems and devices."

As examples, Proenza pointed out UA projects such as:

• General Motors- and U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored work on a hybrid vehicle;
• Preliminary work with the NASA-Glenn Research Center to harvest mechanical energy using efficient ceramic or polymeric piezo elements;
• Development of novel catalysts for carbon fuel cells and technology to capture carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants;
• Active bioenergy research projects related to the production of bioethanol, biodiesel, biohydrogen and other value-added bioproducts; and
• Developing nanofibers for use in process applications.

Strickland discussed the importance of research and development of clean energy alternatives at the conference.

Other institutions represented were the universities of Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo and Bowling Green, Case Western Reserve, Central State, Cleveland State, Kent State, Miami, Ohio, Ohio State, Shawnee State, Wright State and Youngstown State universities.