06.03.16

Hoeven Announces $15.7 Million DOE Grant to the Energy & Environmental Research Center at UND

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Appropriations Committees, today announced that the National Energy Technology Laboratory at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $15,680,505 to the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota (UND). The funds will allow EERC to test emerging technologies for their potential to produce fresh, useable water from CO2 storage sites. Today’s award is the second phase for the project, which Hoeven originally announced in September.

“Today’s award supports the ongoing, innovative work of the EERC and its partners,” Hoeven said. “Our state continues to break new ground, finding better and more efficient ways to produce more energy, while still conserving our resources, like fresh water, and being good stewards of the environment.”

The first phase of the project supported the development of methods to manage the pressure and flow of CO2 in saline formations at an operating commercial saltwater disposal facility located near Watford City. The second phase will test the effectiveness of those methods and support the operation of an enhanced water recovery facility for evaluating brine treatment technologies.

Hoeven continues working to advance the development and deployment of innovative technologies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the nation’s energy development. To this end, the senator has promoted more cooperative agreements between DOE and the nation’s research universities. Earlier this year, Hoeven announced a $9.5 million expansion of DOE’s cooperative agreement with the EERC to conduct research and develop technologies to reduce emissions from fossil fuels.

-###-