Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), a statewide effort led by LSU with more than 50 public and private partners, has tapped energy innovation expert Michael Mazzola to lead the clean energy transition and decarbonize the state’s industrial corridor.

FUEL is the recipient of a historic NSF Engines grant that will provide up to $160 million to support Louisiana’s energy industry, create jobs and develop the energy workforce.

Effective immediately, Mazzola’s hiring caps FUEL’s months-long, global search for an executive director.

The group will help solve challenges in carbon capture, transportation, and storage; using hydrogen as an alternative fuel; using carbon dioxide to produce low-carbon fuels and essential carbon-based products; water use and management; sustainable manufacturing; and policy development. FUEL’s goals include ensuring that the economic benefits, jobs and investments from these innovations remain in Louisiana.

Mazzola previously served as project director of Clean Carolinas, a regional effort to advance clean energy, including offshore wind, solar, clean hydrogen, marine energy and the electric-energy delivery and storage systems that support clean energy sources’ integration into the power grid. Clean Carolinas is an NSF Regional Developmental Engine funded by a $1 million cooperative agreement to lay the groundwork for the initiative. Mazzola was also executive director of the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the Duke Energy Distinguished Chair of Power Engineering Systems. Before that, Mazzola served as associate director for advanced vehicle systems at the Mississippi State University Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS). He led research in high-voltage engineering, power systems modeling and simulation, the application of silicon carbide semiconductor devices in power electronics and the control of hybrid electric vehicle power trains.

“We are thrilled to have Mike lead this transformative effort,” said Andrew Maas, FUEL principal investigator and associate vice president for research in the LSU Office of Innovation & Ecosystem Development under the LSU Office of Research & Economic Development. “His leadership and expertise in energy, electricity, the environment and transportation make him a great fit for what FUEL is trying to accomplish: positioning Louisiana as the global research development leader for energy transition.”

FUEL is funded by an NSF Engines grant, the largest and most competitive in the federal agency’s history, and $67.5 million from the state through Louisiana Economic Development. The funding will be spread over 10 years.

“I’m excited to be part of the drive to change Louisiana’s future, the lives of its residents and people throughout the world for the better,” Mazzola said. “No state is better equipped or better motivated to change how we produce and use energy.”

“Michael Mazzola is an incredible addition to the FUEL team,” said Robert Twilley, LSU vice president of research and economic development. “He has a wealth of knowledge in energy innovation, and his leadership will ensure that we maximize the experience of the 250,000 Louisiana residents who work in the energy, chemical and petrochemical industries and the expertise of our partners in education, industry and government. Louisiana is perfectly positioned by geography, infrastructure and mindset to serve as the epicenter for energy development, which is one of the planet’s most pressing challenges and a top priority of the LSU Scholarship First Agenda.”

FUEL partners include the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources; the Louisiana Board of Regents; the Baton Rouge Area Chamber; Greater New Orleans, Inc.; Shell; ExxonMobil; and Baker Hughes. For a complete list of partners and information about FUEL, visit the LSU Media Center or the FUEL website.

About the LSU Office of Innovation & Ecosystem Development

LSU Innovation unites the university’s innovation and commercialization resources under one office, maximizing LSU's impact on the intellectual, economic and social development of Louisiana and beyond. LSU Innovation is focused on establishing, developing and growing technology-based startup companies. LSU Innovation oversees LSU Innovation Park, a 200-acre business incubator that fosters early-stage tech companies, and the Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization, which streamlines the process of evaluating, protecting and licensing intellectual property created by LSU researchers. LSU Innovation serves as the host organization for the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network, which oversees all SBDC services across the state as well as the LSU SBDC, which provides free consulting services to small businesses across the state. LSU Innovation helps Louisiana technology companies apply for seed funding through the federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer grant programs. LSU Innovation educates faculty, students and the community on entrepreneurial principles through the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, which trains innovators to consider the market opportunities for pressing scientific questions, leading to increased funding from state and federal grant programs as well as industry partners and licensees.

About FUEL (Future Use of Energy in Louisiana)

            FUEL is a statewide effort led by LSU with more than 50 public and private partners, supported by a $160 million National Science Foundation grant – the largest and most competitive award in NSF history – and $67.5 million in state funding. FUEL will work to solve emerging challenges in areas like carbon capture, transport and storage; hydrogen; use of carbon dioxide to produce low-carbon fuels and essential carbon-based products; water use and management; sustainable manufacturing; and policy development.