State’s Biofuels Center opens in Oxford

OXFORD — The Biofuels Center of North Carolina is open for business.

The center, launched by $5 million provided by the North Carolina General Assembly, opened the doors of its offices on Monday. It is part of a program designed to help the state generate alternative fuels.

John Ganzi, the president of the center, said it would seek to identify what he called “next-generation crops” that can be turned into fuel.

“We are already a leader in biotechnology; agriculture is a $60 billion a year enterprise in the state; and the state has a history of collaborating across sectors of society to effect change,” Ganzi said.

The center also will seek to implement a strategic plan developed by a statewide taskforce of private and public sector partners. The goal is to produce 10 percent of the state’s fuel needs from biofuels over the next 10 years.

In his career, Ganzi has worked for for the Finance Institute for Global Sustainability, Citibank, Environmental Resources Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United Nations, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Wallace Global Fund. He also was an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for seven years, teaching environmental business.

Other staff members include Mark Conlon, director of production, who most recently worked for Novozymes, and J.D. Brooks, directory of farming and forestry, who led the BioNetwork BioAg Center for the state’s community college system.

Ashley Jones will serve as federal liaison and as director of government and external affairs. Norman Smit is director of communications, public awareness and workforce training.

The center is still recruiting candidates for its director of business development and director of science and research positions.