Lafayette has long been a leader in the petroleum industry, and a local group wants to establish the area as a green energy hub as well.
Made up of local farmers, researchers, business leaders and government officials, the committee seeks to capitalize on a growing federal commitment to clean and renewable energy sources.
"Acadiana has been so successful in the petroleum industry over the years, but nobody has stood up to become the center of alternative energy," said Mark Zappi, dean of the college of engineering at UL.
"That's what we're trying to do," Zappi said.
Zappi said the area is primed to become a go-to location for alternative energy industries because of its existing energy infrastructure and UL's strong emphasis on renewable energy research.
The university recently developed the Bioprocessing Research Laboratory, a facility where scientists focus on converting biomass into fuels and other chemicals.
One of the groups at UL is studying the production of diesel fuel from algae.
Algae has been in commercial production for years in the pharmaceutical and aquaculture industries, but is also gaining interest from the military and airline industries for use in jet fuel.
"The thing with producing algae for fuel is getting the cost down," said UL assistant professor Barbara Benson.
"We're right at that margin where anything we can do to get that cost down makes it a business deal."
UL is working with Aquatic Energy LLC to help develop methods to extract oil from algae more economically.
The company is looking to build a 750-acre algae farm near Lake Charles over the next year.
Acadiana's climate and agriculture base make it an ideal place for renewable energy production, Zappi said.
But the committee also wants to establish Acadiana as a manufacturer of solar panels, ethanol fermenters and turbines that other producers will use, he said.
"You can only put in so many ethanol plants and so many solar farms," Zappi said. "The real opportunity is making the equipment."
The committee has met twice so far, and plans to meet throughout the summer, Zappi said.
It also plans to host public forums for residents to learn about business opportunities and resources at their disposal, he said.
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