On Feb. 11, 1870, Colorado Territorial Gov. Edward McCook signed the Colorado Morrill Act establishing the State Agricultural College in Fort Collins. In the 140 years since, the institution now known as Colorado State University has become one of the nation's leading research universities with world- renowned research in infectious disease, atmospheric science, clean-energy technologies and environmental science, with research expenditures exceeding $300 million annually.
Colorado State has played an essential role in the development of Colorado. The first graduating class in 1884 had just three students, including George Glover, the future head of the fledgling Department of Veterinary Science. Today, Colorado State’s Fort Collins campus today has an enrollment of more than 25,000 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. More than 220,000 degrees have been awarded by Colorado State University System and Colorado State University’s 87,000-plus Colorado-based alumni account for more than $4.1 billion annually in household income for Colorado.
On Feb. 11, 2010, Colorado State will honor the creation of the institution with Founder’s Day events at the State Capitol and on campus in Fort Collins. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.colostate.edu/foundersday.
Gary Carpenter, formerly Executive Director of the American Quarter Horse Association Foundation, has been named the outreach and industry liaison director for the Colorado State University Equine Sciences Program. A CSU graduate and native of San Angelo, Texas, Carpenter began his duties Feb. 1.
Carpenter assumed some of the duties of Jim Heird, the Director of Equine Teaching and Outreach who left CSU last year to take a similar position at Texas A&M. CSU received a donation that will pay Carpenter's salary, as well as operating costs.
In addition to the AQHA, which is headquartered in Amarillo, Texas, Carpenter has been the Executive Vice President and Executive Director of The Jockey Club, and the Executive Director of the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Colorado State University last month dedicated one of the largest solar plants in the nation at a university – a two-megawatt operation that will help the state meet goals for renewable energy and keep the University’s utility rates stable and affordable during the next 20 years.
The solar power plant, owned and operated by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, features more than 8,000 Trina Solar panels that cover 15 acres of the University’s Foothills Campus – about three miles west of the main campus. The panels rotate to track the sun’s movement.
The project, part of the Xcel Energy Solar*Rewards program, received a rebate to offset construction costs. The project had an estimated economic impact of roughly $1.7 million from local labor, subcontractors and materials. The plant will reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere by 5.5 million pounds – the equivalent of removing more than 480 cars off the road each year. It’s the second solar project to be announced within the Colorado State University System. CSU-Pueblo dedicated a new 1.2 MW solar array in 2008.
Colorado State University and Solix Biofuels Inc. will help advance the nation’s algae-to-oil industry as part of a $44 million consortium coordinated through the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced the collaboration – called the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts - as part of an $80 million investment in advanced biofuels research.
Colorado State and Solix are the only Colorado-based entities in the collaboration, which is also the only consortium funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to focus solely on algae. Chu also announced a separate consortium led by the Golden, Colo.-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory involving the Colorado School of Mines.
Solix is an alternative energy technology company developing the technology production platform for the large-scale commercialization of microalgae-based fuels and co-products. The privately held company is a spinoff from Colorado State University through the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory.
