MUHLENBERG COUNTY, Ky. (3/15/13) – The Greater Muhlenberg Chamber of Commerce March meeting featured the introduction of several new businesses in the county, and guest speaker Sarah Mardon. Mardon is Program Coordinator for the Henderson Regional office of the UK Center for Applied Energy Research, www.caer.uky.edu.

Mardon highlighted the enormous progress being made in energy research in Western Kentucky.
 
"Our main purpose is to work on technology innovations that contribute to creating jobs and economic opportunities, sustain vital industries, and improve energy efficiency, while protecting the environment," Mardon said.
 
Marden also noted that, with coal remaining our major source of electric power for decades to come, the energy research center is studying technologies to curb CO2 emissions. One major study involves using plant based organisms, such as algae, to utilize CO2 by conversion to biomass. There is the potential to obtain valuable co-products at the end of the process.
 
"Due to a favorable climate and native coal resources, this CO2 mitigation strategy is an attractive option for Kentucky," Mardon told to group, adding, that "the project demonstrates the potential of using waste CO2 and heat from a coal fired power plant to cultivate algae, which can then be processed into value-added products."
 
The center is also looking into new ways to reduce mercury levels related to coal fired power plants, and even the use of carbon fibers in the making of a wide range of products, "including body parts for Corvettes made in Bowling Green," Mardon said.
 
The chamber also welcomed two new Central City businesses. Aaron's is now open at 1728 West Everly Brothers Boulevard, and Mary Pat Hair Design, owned by Mary Pat Bruce, on 126 Broad Street, in Central City.
 
Keep up with all that's going on with the chamber by logging on to www.greatermuhlenbergchamber.com.
 
Paul McRee
SurfKY News
Photo provided by SurfKY Graphics

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