Leading the Way

With over $600 million worth of alternative energy-related projects active in Georgia, the state is emerging as an influential leader in the bioenergy revolution. Building on this firm foundation, the Energy Innovation Center (EIC), based in Atlanta and headquartered in the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority office, draws on the state's vast resources to expand and strengthen Georgia's burgeoning bioenergy industry.

Our center provides strong leadership and guidance for this strategic industry which is projected to pump nearly $5 billion into the state's economy over the next 10 years. With a business oriented focus, the EIC is committed to supporting energy entrepreneurs expand production and use of renewable energy and biofuels, thus promoting economic development, energy security, and environmental benefits to the state.

Georgia boasts an abundance of renewable natural resources such as pine trees and agricultural products, along with waste streams from agriculture and industrial processes, available as feedstocks for an expanding renewable energy industry.

Georgia's Centers of Innovation program, initiated in 2003, is designed to foster innovative ideas and growth in six strategic areas: Agriculture, Aerospace, Energy, Life Sciences, Logistics and Manufacturing. A division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD - www.georgia.org), the program connects businesses to technology resources through alliances with the University System of Georgia, the state's technical colleges, the OneGeorgia Authority (www.onegeorgia.org), state agencies and industry thought leaders.