Wayne State is credited as one of the partners helping NextEnergy land a significant United States Department of Energy grant to build the National Biofuel Energy Lab. The biofuel technology development lab is part of NextEnergy\'s Biodiesel Value Chain Initiative, an approach to researching and developing biodiesel use, including innovative agricultural methods to grow energy crops, fuel optimization and state-of-the-art biodiesel production. The National Biofuel Energy Lab is scheduled to open later this year.