DoE invests $18 million in small business clean energy innovation projects. Two Upstate New York companies selected in highly competitive process.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has just announced more than $18 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support small business innovation research, development, and deployment of clean energy technologies. In this first phase of funding, 125 grants were awarded to 107 small advanced technology firms across the United States. The companies were competitively selected from a pool of 950 applicants through a special fast-track process with an emphasis on near-term commercialization and job creation. Companies that demonstrate successful results with their new technologies and show potential to meet market needs will be eligible for $60 million in a second round of grants in the summer of 2010.

Two Upstate NY winners were selected as among the best of the best --a Horseheads, NY technologist developing high flux, ultra low pressure nanocomposite membranes, and a Troy, NY technologist developing nanocrystalline aluminum composites for ground vehicles. 

Nationally, grants were awarded in each of the following ten topic areas:

• Advanced Building Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Thermal Load Shifting, and Cool Roofs
• Water Usage in Electric Power Production
• Power Plant Cooling
• Advanced Gas Turbines and Materials
• Sensors, Controls, and Wireless Networks
• Advanced Water Power Technology Development
• Smart Controllers for Smart Grid Applications
  
• Advanced Solar Technologies
• Advanced Industrial Technologies Development
• Advanced Manufacturing Processes