09.15.10

Cantwell Announces $3.7M in Grants For Two Tri-Cities Businesses

Funds will accelerate commercialization of proven clean energy technologies

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell announced two Tri-Cities businesses received a total of $3.7 million in grants from the Department of Energy (DOE) for clean energy technology commercialization projects. InnovaTek Inc. in Richland received $2.2 million to generate power from an integrated biomass reformer and solid oxide fuel cell, while Infinia Corporation in Kennewick received $1.5 million for a high-efficiency, maintenance-free cryocooler to support high temperature superconductor commercialization. 
 
“By supporting these potentially game-changing technologies, we hope to help build upon the promising clean energy manufacturing industry that is emerging around the Tri-Cities,” said Senator Cantwell. “The innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of small business is what keeps our economy driving forward and in these tough economic times it is critical we provide small businesses with the seed capital needed to continue creating jobs and economic growth.”
 
These projects are funded as part of the DOE’s Small Business Phase III Xlerator program, which helps small businesses develop manufacturing processes to increase production of their new, proven technologies. Companies that had previously received Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding were eligible to apply for the Phase III grants. 
 
The letter Senator Cantwell provided in support of the InnovaTek Inc. application can be seen here.
 
This grant is part of $57 million in clean energy technology commercialization projects released day. Of that, $11 million was under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
 
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