ALBANY -- Jan 18 - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Chris Garifo Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.

Clarkson University, Potsdam, will receive $5 million for research into renewable energy as part of Gov. George E. Pataki's budget proposal.

"This places us at the center of the universe in research into environmental energy systems, and that will ultimately create jobs and businesses," Clarkson President Anthony G. Collins said.

The funding will be used for laboratories and equipment that will be added to the Cora and Bayard Clarkson Science Center, a $6 million biotechnology research facility that opened late last year. The building has eight laboratories, eight offices and six research spaces.

The new laboratories will support research into various renewable and clean energy projects under way at Clarkson.

The facility also will include meeting rooms for faculty-student research teams that will work with researchers involved in energy projects funded by the state Energy Research and Development Authority, the state Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research, the U.S. Defense and Energy departments and the National Science Foundation.

The proposed facility will be the northern satellite of the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, an initiative Mr. Pataki proposed in 2002 to encourage a public-private sector partnership for research and development in new technology areas.

"The inclusion of this funding in the governor's budget is excellent news, not only for the north country but the entire state," said state Sen. Raymond A. Meier, R-Western, whose district includes the Clarkson campus. "Finding less costly sources of energy that rely on our available resources is our future."

Clarkson has taken a focused approach as it works to develop into a world-class research university, Mr. Collins said.

"With the areas we focused in, we can attain national and international recognition and do world-class work," he said. "In renewable energy and environmental issues we have a great strength."

The funding is included in Mr. Pataki's $110.7 billion state budget plan, which he presented Tuesday. The spending proposal will need legislative approval.

Once that is achieved, Clarkson should have the facilities built no later than sometime next year, Mr. Collins said.

"I especially want to mention our faculties, researchers and students," he said. "Without their creative innovation we wouldn't get this kind of support."