The Alumni Angle: Sustainable Energy Fuels Passion
 |
|
Jim touring Secretary of Energy Bodman through the NREL National Bioenergy Center biomass conversion pilot plant.
|
When Jim McMillan (B.S. 1982) entered Colorado State's chemical engineering program, the energy crisis in the 70s was just ending and U.S. leaders were interested in finding more sustainable transportation and energy solutions. Federal agencies and universities were just starting to explore new energy alternatives, and as an environmentally aware undergraduate, McMillan was eager to help develop these solutions. A research assistantship at the Engineering Research Center gave him this opportunity and fostered a burgeoning interest in applying biochemical engineering to convert renewable plant-based materials into fuels and chemicals. The knowledge he gained about conducting biochemical engineering research put him a step ahead of his graduate school colleagues when he enrolled at MIT for his Master's and doctoral degrees.
Today, as a senior engineer and group manager at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, McMillan is taking his interest in alternative energy and sustainable technology development to the next level. He leads and participates in a variety of bioprocess R&D projects to advance the production of fuels and chemicals from abundant, inexpensive lignocellulosic (fibrous) biomass materials such as agricultural and forestry residues and cellulosic industrial wastes. During his 15 years at NREL, Jim has investigated most aspects of biologically-mediated biomass conversion, including pretreatment, hydrolyzate conditioning, pentose and mixed sugar fermentation, cellulase enzyme production, simultaneous and separate enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation, and integrated processing. Through his work, he is helping to develop the tools, knowledge base and processing strategies that will enable lignocellulose-based biorefineries to become a commercial reality in the coming decades.
 |
|
Jim led the 2002 "Insect Invasion" Boulder kinetics entry by the Cyclepathz Kinetic Sculpture team. (He is the big bee, front left.)
|
In between projects and national AIChE committee work, he likes to go for long bike rides and travel the world, habits he developed growing up and when he took a year off between high school and college circumnavigating the world, learning about the people and ecosystems from England to Afghanistan and beyond.
Jim stays connected to his department and college, serving on advisory boards and doctoral thesis committees. His passion for educational and environmental causes has never waned, only gotten stronger. Jim's commitment to creating a sustainable future has inspired other young people to pursue their own aspirations to make the world a better place to live. As Jim says, if you love and believe in what you do, you'll work hard and have fun doing it!