Through a pledge of $62,000, Drax will create a new scholarship fund,
support existing funds, and become a sustaining member of
LSU's Center for Energy
Studies' endowment
MONROE,
La., March 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Carbon
removals and renewable energy company Drax Group today announced a
new partnership with Louisiana State
University (LSU) to support
students and research associated with sustainable forestry and
renewable energy. The collaboration will allow LSU and Drax to help advance energy innovation on a
global level, while building on LSU's
legacy of sustainable forestry and innovative energy research.
"This partnership with LSU is the
first of its kind for Drax in Louisiana and exemplifies Drax's commitment to
fostering collaborations," said Dawn
Whitworth, Head of International Partnerships and Advocacy
at Drax. "Just like our existing Louisiana operations, our goals are to boost
economic development, support future workforce training, and build
a foundational knowledge exchange though world-leading research in
the fields of renewable energy and sustainability."
As part of the agreement, Drax has pledged a $55,000 donation to the LSU Foundation to
establish a new scholarship and support existing funds to benefit
LSU's College of Agriculture (COA) and
Olinde Career Center. Drax will also become a sustaining member of
the LSU Center for Energy Studies' (CES) endowment through a
separate donation of $7,000.
"As an international leader in agricultural research, education
and extension, the LSU College of Agriculture is excited to partner
with a global industry leader like Drax," said Dr. Matt Lee, Vice President of Agriculture and Dean
of the College of Agriculture. "LSU
prepares the next generation of innovators and leaders for the
agricultural and energy sectors, and it seeks to chart new
directions in low carbon solutions through this critical
partnership. This generous support from Drax will enhance our
ability to attract and educate the thought leaders of tomorrow who
will secure our future."
Drax's $62,000 donation to
LSU will go toward:
- Drax Group Scholarship Fund: A new, non-endowed
scholarship fund will be established to benefit undergraduate
students currently enrolled or intending to enroll in LSU's College of Agriculture. Preferential
consideration will be given to students with a concentration in
forest resource management or forest enterprise.
- CES Endowment: Drax has become a sustaining member
of the Center for Energy Studies' endowment to support its mission
of facilitating research and analysis to address energy-related
issues and opportunities affecting Louisiana.
- COA Dean's Excellence Fund: This existing fund
benefits LSU's College of
Agriculture.
- LSU Olinde Career Center Development Fund: This
existing, non-endowed fund benefits LSU's Olinde Career Center, which helps students
find work after completing their education.
Drax will also join the CES Advisory Council, a group of
representatives from organizations, companies, state government,
and general citizens that provide direction and guidance regarding
energy policy and research. The Advisory Council provides research
direction and guidance and frequently assists the Center in
securing finances.
"Companies globally are actively working on ways to reduce the
carbon intensity of their supply chains, and I am eager to continue
to learn more about Drax's work in pursuing bioenergy with carbon
capture and storage (BECCS) technologies right here in Louisiana" said Greg Upton, Interim Executive Director at
LSU's Center for Energy Studies.
"We're excited to welcome Drax as a sustaining member of our CES
endowment and Advisory Council, and we look forward to
collaborating to usher in a brighter energy future."
Drax has been an engaged member of Louisiana's business community for more than a
decade. In 2018, Drax established its US headquarters in
Monroe, Louisiana, and it
currently operates pellet production facilities in Bastrop and Urania. Drax supports thousands of direct and
indirect jobs in the state, generating $356
million per year in economic impact in Louisiana alone.
According to Jesse Downs,
Senior Director, LSU Olinde Career Center, "LSU Students have
boundless potential and are poised to be the renewable energy
leaders of tomorrow. The Olinde Career Center is excited about this
opportunity to support Drax in building a pipeline of quality
talent. What an extraordinary opportunity for LSU students to remain in Louisiana and help shape energy innovation on
a global scale."
LSU's Scholarship First Agenda
includes a focus on partnering with industry to find new ways to
fuel the nation. An LSU-led team
recently won the largest and most competitive grant ever awarded by
the U.S. National Science Foundation. The NSF Engines grant will
provide up to $160 million to support
Louisiana's energy industry,
create jobs in the energy sector, develop innovative solutions to
energy challenges, and help train the world's energy workforce. The
State of Louisiana has also been
at the forefront of energy and carbon removals, with the EPA
delegating Class VI primacy for carbon storage permitting to
Louisiana earlier this year.
To learn more about Drax's commitment to help Louisiana's communities, economy, and
environment thrive, visit www.drax.com/la.
About Drax
Drax Group's purpose is to enable a zero
carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a
world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using
bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)
technology.
Drax's approximately 3,000 employees operate across three
principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity
sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production
and supply to third parties. For more information, visit
www.drax.com.
About the LSU Foundation
The LSU Foundation is the
primary fundraising entity for academics at LSU. The LSU Foundation's sole purpose is to
provide philanthropic support to LSU,
which it accomplishes through the work of a campus-wide team of
frontline development officers and a support team of advancement
services, communications and marketing, donor relations, financial
and talent management personnel.
The LSU Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3
organization that encourages and receives restricted and
unrestricted gifts. It also manages most of the investments and
serves as trustee for most of the endowed funds and other private
assets contributed for the benefit of LSU. To learn more, visit
www.lsufoundation.org.
About the LSU Center for Energy Studies
The Center for
Energy Studies conducts, encourages, and facilitates research and
analysis to address energy-related problems or issues affecting
Louisiana's economy, environment,
and citizenry. The Center's goal is to provide a balanced,
objective, and timely treatment of issues with potentially
important consequences for Louisiana. For more information, visit
www.lsu.edu/ces.
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SOURCE Drax Group