With $250M as seed money, the US Department of Energy is encouraging universities, laboratories, non-government, and private groups to bid for the creation, development, and operation of two research centers that will focus on the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuel research for the US.

This is a big step in achieving energy independence and make President George W. Bush statement on curbing America's addiction to Middle Eastern oil real.

Read more about the from the US DOE website here.