PITTSBURGH — A consortium of three universities — Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh
and West Virginia University — will receive up to $26 million in funding over the next two years to develop clean and efficient technologies for the use of fossil fuels.
The results of its work could reduce regional as well as national dependence on foreign oil.
Partnership
The partnership, called CWP Inc., will receive the funding through a subcontract with RDS Inc., an onsite contractor at the National Energy Technology Laboratory.
It is the national laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy with facilities in five states, including Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
More than 75 scientists — with student researchers — at the three universities will work with more than 150 National Energy Technology Laboratory scientists and researchers to address key areas of fossil fuel research.
Carnegie Mellon chemical engineering professor Andrew Gellman has been appointed research director for the consortium.
Under his direction, the university team will engage in a portfolio of research programs aimed at developing new technologies for fossil fuel utilization; reducing the environmental impact of fossil energy use; and optimizing the efficiency of energy production from fossil fuel sources.
Coal
Pennsylvania and West Virginia hold millions of tons of coal, a fuel that can meet the country’s energy needs far into the future. Policymakers are calling on the region and the nation to use more of its coal reserves to increase the nation’s energy security.
