About BioTown » History & Timeline
History of BioTown
Governor Mitch Daniels and Lt. Governor Becky Skillman are leading the way in developing BioTown, USA, which is the result of a goal that was set by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. The goal is to create a model community by making one Hoosier town energy self-sufficient. Reynolds, Ind., was selected to be the pioneering town.
On September 13, 2005, Governor Mitch Daniels officially declared Reynolds to be BioTown, USA. Since then, the town has made tremendous strides in reaching their goal of energy self-sufficiency and has partnered with many organizations and businesses along the way.
Reynolds, once known as just another small Indiana farm town, is re-energizing and making a name for itself across the country. And because of this model community, Indiana is leading the way to a better, more efficient way of producing energy and creating a healthier environment using innovative technologies. Our goal is to show that agriculturally-derived energy is safe, reliable and consistent.
Timeline of Events
- April 28, 2008
- BioTown Development Authority meeting.
- December 3, 2007
- Reynolds town meeting.
- November 19 , 2007
- BioTown Development Authority meeting.
- October 26 , 2007
- BioTown Development Authority meeting.
- September 17-22, 2007
- Representatives from Indiana’s BioTown, USA traveled to Germany to meet with residents of Bioenergy Village.
- June 4, 2007
- Change a Light Day celebration in Reynolds.
- October 23, 2006
- Senator Lugar visits BioTown, USA and shows his support.
- October 10, 2006
- The BioTown Development Authority is formed.
- September 29, 2006
- Lt. Governor Becky Skillman announces the opening of the BioIsland at the local BP station in Reynolds. Biodiesel and E85 are for sale.
- September 25, 2006
- A Chilean delegation of farmers, academia and journalists visits BioTown, USA.
- August 25, 2006
- Test burns using corn stover and paper fluff in a gasifier are conducted to verify energy potential and emissions data.
- May 16, 2006
- The Indiana State Department of Agriculture announces plans for the BioTown Technology Suite.
- April 4, 2006
- The Indiana State Department of Agriculture releases the BioTown, USA Sourcebook on Biomass Energy.
- November 18, 2005
- Lt. Governor Becky Skillman declares Extreme Energy Makeover Day- 20 Reynolds residents receive a GM flex-fuel vehicle free for two years.
- September 13, 2005
- Governor Mitch Daniels and Agriculture Director Andy Miller unveil the first vision of BioTown, USA.
- May 17- May 20, 2005
- Indiana State Department of Agriculture rolls out a strategic plan, which includes bioenergy. The bioenergy goal is to maximize Indiana's competitive advantage in agriculturally-derived energy and lead the development of new technologies and sources of that energy. Part of the initiative is to develop a pilot community where all of the energy needs are met through biorenewable resources.
