Schweitzer commends Northern for biofuel advances

Krista Corner Havre Daily News <a href="mailto:kcorner@havredailynews.com">kcorner@havredailynews.com</a>

The governor and the director of the Department of Commerce returned to their Hi-Line roots Wednesday and presented Montana State University-Northern with a check for &#036;295,141.  The money came from a WIRED technology grant funded by several federal agencies.  Dean of the College of Technical Sciences Greg Kegel said the money would be used to purchase additional testing equipment for Northern's biodiesel lab.  Interim Chancellor Rolf Groseth took a few minutes to say what the grant means for Northern.  "It's a wonderful recognition for the work we've done and the potential development of science and technology," he said.  "It's a recognition of an emerging industry that (we) are serving.  Dean Kegel has assembled a top (group) of people to work on this."  Groseth also said that with improved learning centers in emerging industries, more students may flock to Northern for top-quality education, for which he is glad to have been part of.  "It's just been fun to be around while all this is going on," he said.  Havre native and Director of the Montana Department of Commerce Tony Preite said working with the staff at MSU-N to gain the grant funds had been a pleasure.  "It's great to be home and it's really great to work with the staff at Northern," Preite said.  "This is a terrific project.  The WIRED grant is federal funds from the Department of Labor."  Preite then presented Gov. Brian Schweitzer to the crowd of about 100 people, mostly Northern students, faculty and staff.  In his presentation, Schweitzer said Montana, specifically the Hi-Line area, had some exciting things in store.  "We think Montana is going to be a great competitor," he said of the emerging alternative energy industry.  Schweitzer said he thinks everything possible should be advanced to divert rising energy costs.  "Grow it, blow it, dig it and drill it," he said, bringing the audience of mostly university officials and students to a laugh.  "Let's get the greatest future for energy."  Schweitzer also said he felt the funds for Northern would help put MSU-N on the map as an authority in biodiesel standards.  "If I encourage farmers to grow it, how are we going to test it to see if it can go in their &#036;200,000 combine?"  He said.  "Montana is going to lead America in creating standards for biodiesel.  Thank you for doing it in Havre.  I am very proud of Havre for taking the lead.  This is one of the best projects we have funded."  Schweitzer and Preite also traveled to Chinook Wednesday to present the Blaine County Wildlife Museum with a check for &#036;40,000, the funds of which Preite said also came from several Montana Department of Commerce programs.