Biofuels Deal Comes Under Fire at California University

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Compiled by Noelle Barton, Caroline Bermudez, Maria Di Mento, Candie Jones, Heather Joslyn, and Cassie Moore.

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April 20, 2007

Biofuels Deal Comes Under Fire at California University

Three months after signing a $500-billion research contract with the petroleum company BP, the University of California at Berkeley faces organized opposition to the deal, reports the Los Angeles Times.

BP, Berkeley, and a third partner, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, agreed in January to establish an institute to develop alternative energy sources and reduce global warming — eventually. In the short term, the institute, which will house dozens of scientists, will develop plant fuel sources and try to perfect the extraction of oil from existing wells.

Critics — who have referred mockingly to “UCBP” — worry that those short-term goals will skew research and that BP will have undue influence over the university. Seventeen faculty members asked the Faculty Senate to demand more university control over the money.

But a majority of Berkeley Senate members said that enough safeguards existed and that they worried that demands on the institute could cause BP to withdraw one of the largest university grants in history.

Read The Chronicle of Higher Education’s coverage of the BP deal and recent controversy over its proposed terms.

Comments

Sad to see another example of buying influence by Big Oil. We in Oxnard and Malibu are rejocing over a landmark decision by the CA State Lands Commission and CA Coastal Commission – who refused to be influenced by BHP Billiton the world’s largest mining company in the world – who wants to bulid a Terminal that would emitt over 480 tons of pollution per year.

Hopefull Governor Arnold will support Californias and also reject the project.

And here we are again – having Berelkey submitting to money influence – Has BP and Berkeley thought of supporting Solar – a real clean enery povider.

Question? Has Berkely thought of using their influence to advice Oil Companies to invest and support Solar etc. – clean energy. Why do Universities supported by our tax dollar – favor the tax payer – who ultimely will pay for the results of your researh?

— Lupe Anguiano Apr 20, 05:10 PM #

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