February 18, 2010
February 18, 2010
Grant recognizes pioneering work in clean-energy technologies
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today applauded a $951,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance the production of biogas and biomethane at the Flint Center of Energy Excellence.
"We are working hard to make Michigan the clean-energy capital of North America, and today's DOE award of nearly $1 million moves us closer toward that goal," Granholm said. "Our investments in green, clean-energy manufacturing are creating jobs and helping Michigan transition to a new 21st century economy."
Joining the governor in today's celebration were Flint Mayor Dayne Walling, Kettering University Provost Dr. Michael Harris, and Swedish Biogas International CEO Tom Guise.
The project is a collaborative effort among Swedish Biogas International, the city of Flint, Kettering University, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on a waste-to-energy/biomethane center at the city of Flint's wastewater treatment facility. The grant will fund applied research and development activities conducted by Kettering University in coordination with Swedish Biogas International and the city of Flint to improve the availability and quality of biogas at the wastewater treatment facility and explore opportunities for using biogas in transportation and power generation applications in Michigan.
The Flint Center of Energy Excellence is one of six Centers of Energy Excellence (COEE) throughout the state originally chartered with $43 million from the 21st Century Jobs Fund. The COEE program, signed into law by the governor in 2008, brings companies, academic institutions, and the state together to support cutting-edge research and development and pioneer new alternative- energy technologies.
The state's additional centers are A123Systems, Inc. and Sakti3 in Ann Arbor (advanced batteries), Working Bugs LLC in East Lansing, American Process Inc. in Alpena, and Mascoma Corporation in Kinross in the eastern Upper Peninsula (advanced biofuels).
Last month, the governor announced an investment of $30 million to launch a second round of the COEE program.
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