{"380561":{"#nid":"380561","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Sen. Isakson: \u0027Peanuts to pine trees\u0027","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe state of Georgia has some of the most abundant resources in the world \u2013 everything from \u2018peanuts to pine trees\u2019 \u2013 and is using those resources to not only attract industry, but to develop and refine renewable energy technologies, according to Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIsakson was on campus to attend Renewable Bioproducts Institute\u2019s inaugural symposium, \u201cRenewable Bioproducts: Advances in Lignocellulosic Processes and Products,\u201d Oct. 1-2.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe senator praised Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership and research faculty for their continued commitment to utilizing the state\u2019s natural resources in seeking out new cutting-edge technology in the energy arena.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBiomass and renewable energy, both critical to not only the state, but the entire country in looking toward the future,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything is on the table when it comes to energy and this institution has been in the forefront of exploring options to make cleaner, sustainable energy.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIsakson said it is possible the United States could become a net exporter of energy, a goal the country\u2019s leaders should have in mind as they face the challenges of energy sourcing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cThere is no good reason in the world why a country with such natural resources and brain power isn\u2019t in a better position energy-wise, both here at home and globally,\u201d he said. \u201cFrom existing methods like fracking and investing in the Keystone pipeline, to finding new technologies in the way we find and produce energy, there are endless possibilities\u2026. We are sitting on a ham sandwich starving to death. The answers are right in front of us and people like you are ready to take us to those levels, but politics is getting in the way.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother issue keeping companies from investing in more energy research and technologies is the U.S. tax code, according to Isakson. He\u2019ll be voting for tax extenders through 2015 because he said he believes they are directly tied to research and development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNo matter what we do, what kind of incentives we try to put on the table, what kind of top-notch institutes we have, companies will continue to look for inversions because of our backward tax code,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is an insult to your intelligence for Congress not to pass these tax extenders. It hits everyone\u2019s pocketbook in some way, including Georgia Tech\u2019s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf we don\u2019t do something soon, companies will continue to put their money in the bank and sit on it or they will put their money overseas. Either way, we all lose.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe state of Georgia has some of the most abundant resources in the world \u2013 everything from \u2018peanuts to pine trees\u2019 \u2013 and is using those resources to not only attract industry, but to develop and refine renewable energy technologies, according to Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIsakson was on campus to attend Renewable Bioproducts Institute\u2019s inaugural symposium, \u201cRenewable Bioproducts: Advances in Lignocellulosic Processes and Products,\u201d Oct. 1-2.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"State translates resources into technology"}],"uid":"28159","created_gmt":"2015-02-20 15:46:32","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:01:58","author":"Kelly Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2014-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2014-10-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"380551":{"id":"380551","type":"image","title":"RBI Isakson, Johnny","body":null,"created":"1449246214","gmt_created":"2015-12-04 16:23:34","changed":"1475894352","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:39:12","alt":"RBI Isakson, Johnny","file":{"fid":"75260","name":"isaakson_johnny_senator.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/isaakson_johnny_senator.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/isaakson_johnny_senator.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":50875,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/isaakson_johnny_senator.jpg?itok=2uKgsgYL"}}},"media_ids":["380551"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"}],"keywords":[{"id":"342","name":"Georgia"},{"id":"119311","name":"isakson"},{"id":"2106","name":"Paper"},{"id":"93811","name":"RBI"},{"id":"167995","name":"Senator"},{"id":"350","name":"trees"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKelly B Smith, Communications Manager, (404) 894-6700\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kelly.smith@rbi.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}