The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)—now also known as the International Center for Applied Energy Technology—at the University of North Dakota announced today that it has achieved its sixth consecutive record year of funded contracts.

In the 12 month period ending June 30, 2009 (FY09), the EERC was awarded more than $43.9 million in funding. Total contract expenditures topped $39 million. The overall research portfolio, which is the total value of all active contracts during FY09 (including multiyear awards), has jumped to nearly $237 million, an increase of more than $10 million over the previous year. The EERC's contracts represent more than half of all externally funded research at the university.

"This incredible success is a testament to our outstanding employees, their expertise, and their ability to market their talents globally," said EERC Director Gerald Groenewold. "With approximately 2000 visitors last fiscal year coming to our facilities, the world continues to come to the EERC. We are signing new contracts, commercializing new technologies, and hiring new employees. Last year we hired 18 permanent benefited employees, and we currently have 17 new positions advertised."

The EERC supports more than 330 employees representing 123 different areas of expertise. As a result, the EERC's total economic impact on the entire Grand Forks region has reached more than $137 million, a $40 million increase over the previous fiscal year. This level of economic activity impacts 1430 jobs in the region, in addition to those employed at the EERC.

"With increases in projects, we have a critical need to continually expand our facilities in order to accommodate the ever-increasing number of employees," Groenewold said.

The EERC is working to expand several aspects of its office and technology demonstration facilities. The first of several buildings planned is a facility for the development of tactical fuels for the U.S. military and civilian markets, which will be added on to the existing National Center for Hydrogen Technology (NCHT) facility.

"We are currently finalizing the funding for a Fuels of the Future Facility, which will focus on the development and demonstration of critical technologies for the production of non-petroleum-derived liquid fuels (jet, diesel, and gasoline) and hydrogen utilizing our valuable domestic energy resources-including coal, biomass, and wind," said EERC Associate Director for Research Tom Erickson. Erickson said construction on the Fuels of the Future Facility should begin sometime early next year.

The EERC—the International Center for Applied Energy Technology—is a world leader in the development of cleaner, more efficient energy technologies as well as environmental technologies to protect our air, water, and soil. The EERC has a market-driven, entrepreneurial culture, which fosters working partnerships with private industry, government, and research clients. The EERC has worked with nearly 1100 clients from 50 states and 51 countries.

Contact:
Derek Walters, communications manager
Energy & Environmental Research Center
(701) 777-5113
dwalters@undeerc.org