News Release 463

Department awards more than $700,000 in Energize Missouri Renewable Energy Study subgrants         

Volume 38-463 (For Immediate Release)
Contact: Renee Bungart
573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, AUG. 12, 2010 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources today announced it has selected 17 projects for subgrant awards totaling $734,498 to conduct renewable energy resource assessments and feasibility studies of renewable energy projects in the state.

The department has made the Energize Missouri Renewable Energy Study Subgrants available through funding received from the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.    

“The assessments and feasibility studies will help businesses, governments and organizations make informed decisions about complex renewable energy systems,” said Mark N. Templeton, Director of the Department of Natural Resources. “Using Missouri-based renewable resources to generate heat and electricity creates jobs, boosts local economies, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and bolsters our energy security.”

The department has awarded subgrants to a wide range of proposed renewable energy resources and technologies studies, which include solar, geothermal, biomass, biofuels, low-head hydro, landfill gas, municipal solid waste and etc. The subgrant recipients include:

• Washington University in St. Louis - a private university, will receive $50,000 to determine the application of solar thermal, solar electric, and geothermal exchange loops on the Danforth Campus.

• Missouri American Water Company - a water utility in City of St. Louis, will receive $14,843 to ascertain the application of centrifugal pumps for energy recovery from pressure reduction between the St. Louis County and St. Charles County water distribution systems.

• Microgrid Energy LLC - a renewable energy consultant and contractor in city of St. Louis, will receive two subgrants: $49,095 to perform a complete assessment of solar electric systems at 20 sites throughout the city of Clayton in support of Clayton’s Green Power Community Challenge; and $35,550 for a complete assessment and prioritization plan of solar electric, solar thermal, and geothermal systems for 15 facilities owned and operated by St. Louis County.

• GlaxoSmithKline - a pharmaceutical manufacturer in city of St. Louis, will receive $35,000 to determine the feasibility of installing solar electric photovoltaic systems at its TUMS manufacturing plant in downtown St. Louis.

• Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company Inc. - a full-service engineering, construction, and consulting firm in Jackson County, will receive $50,000 to determine the possibility of a waste to energy plant in Kansas City using municipal solid waste.

• Metropolitan Energy Center - a non-profit organization in Jackson County, will receive $50,000 to create a protocol to help homeowners and small business owners determine the most applicable renewable energy system for their property

• University of Missouri - a public university in Boone County, will receive two subgrants: $40,000 to determine the feasibility of installing solar hot water to preheat make-up water at the university’s combined heat and power plant; and $50,000 to develop a protocol allowing object evaluations of renewable energy projects based on economics, environment, energy and sustainability.

• Tatanka Resources - an environmental consultant in Boone County, will receive $49,730 to determine the availability and application of grassy biomass to coal fired power plants for electric generation.

• H2O’C Engineering - an environmental engineering firm in Boone County, will receive $50,000 to study the fate of sewer fat, oil, and grease (FOG) and the possibility of locating green diesel conversion technology where FOG is available with emphasis on the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas.

• City of Springfield, Solid Waste Management Division - in Greene County, will receive $40,000 to determine the use of waste heat and electricity generated from an existing landfill-gas-to-energy facility to operate a commercial greenhouse.

• Missouri University of Science and Technology - a public university in Phelps County, will receive $48,431 for the development of a gas generation and economic tool for anaerobic digester systems on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO).

• Sunesis - a consultant in Dent County, will receive $26,016 to assess the availability of agricultural based biomass sources suitable for fuel pellet production in southwest Missouri.

• Viburnum Economic Development Corporation - a non-profit organization in Iron County, will receive $50,000 to determine the possibility of a woody biomass fueled electrical generation plant in the Ozark region town of Viburnum.

• Garnett Wood Products - a wood products company in Howell County, will receive $50,000 to determine the use of waste heat for electricity generation from their wood based activated carbon facility in the southern Ozark region town of Brandsville.

• Global Fuels LLC - a biodiesel plant operator/owner in Stoddard County, will receive $48,833 to explore the technical and economic possibility to produce next generation green diesel utilizing various waste streams.

The department’s Division of Energy will administer the Energize Missouri Renewable Energy Study Subgrants program. All funded projects need to be completed within a year by August 15, 2011 in order to be eligible for cost reimbursement.

The department is administering more than $200 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding to support Energize Missouri projects to create jobs and improve energy efficiencies and renewable energy for Missouri. The department is committed to working closely with businesses, industries and communities to assist with funding efforts that support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and provide financial savings.

For more information visit Energize Missouri Renewable Energy’ website at dnr.mo.gov/transform/energizemissourirenewable.htm.

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