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Penn State recognized in EPA future technologies contest

Release Date: 05/12/2010
Contact Information: Roy Seneca [email protected] (215) 814-5567

PHILADELPHIA (May 12, 2010) -- A project proposed by a team of Penn State University students received federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its potential to develop a sustainable energy-generator that could be used in Third World households. EPA awarded a $9,990 P3 grant -- People, Prosperity and the Planet -- to the Penn State team to further design their project for possible implementation in the field.

"These innovative students from Penn State University not only develop technologies for a greener future, but demonstrate the passion and innovative thinking that will lead us there," said Shawn M. Garvin, Regional Administrator for EPA's mid-Atlantic region.

This national competition, sponsored by EPA's Office of Research and Development, encourages college students to create sustainable solutions to environmental problems through technological innovation. These sustainable solutions must be environmentally friendly, efficiently use natural resources and be economically competitive. Each P3 award winner receives funding to further develop a project for future use.

In their project, the Penn State students developed a sustainable energy-generator system to provide electrical power to households in Kenya that would be powered by biodiesel fuel produced from locally grown crops.

Penn State was among 23 universities recognized in EPA's 2009-2010 P3 award competition. More information on Penn State’s project and the other winners is available at https://www.epa.gov/ncer/p3/project_websites/2010/2010awardwinners.html .

Support for the competition includes more than 40 partners in the federal government, industry and scientific and professional societies.