The Department of Energy says it will spend $250 million to establish and operate two new Bioenergy Research Centers in the United States.
The Centers will be designed to accelerate basic research into the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels.
Universities, national laboratories, non-profit organizations and private firms are eligible to compete for an award to establish and operate a center. Awards will be announced next summer, with the centers expected to begin work in 2008 and become fully operational by 2009.