Small Business in Monroe, GA, Wins an EPA Research Contract
Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 9:00AM (Atlanta, Ga. – Feb. 5, 2009) EPA is awarding a $70,000 Phase I contract for biodiesel research to Mountain Creek Enterprises affiliated with Down to Earth Energy in Monroe, Ga., through its Small Business Innovation Research program. The contract is one of four “proof of concept” awards made in the Southeast to test the feasibility of the companies’ research concepts. If the results of this phase are successful, businesses can submit proposals for Phase II contracts, which can reach amounts up to $345,000 to help commercialize the technology. Mountain Creek Enterprises is currently finalizing the transition of its biofuels related assets to Down to Earth Energy – a larger biofuels producer in the area with increased capitalization.
The research objective is to determine the feasibility of producing biodiesel from low-cost oils and new catalysts derived from agricultural and forestry residues. The company will prepare reusable and recoverable catalysts for biodiesel production using activated carbon from sustainable agricultural and forestry residues. These new catalysts will greatly reduce the amounts of waste generated compared to current methods that use sodium and potassium hydroxide and generate more pollutants than biodiesel product. The new catalysts will also enable biodiesel to be made from low-cost oils such as animal fats that contain 5 percent or more free fatty acids.
EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program provides financial support to small businesses to translate their innovative ideas into commercial products that address environmental problems. SBIR has helped spawn successful commercial ventures that not only improve our environment, but also create jobs, increase productivity and economic growth, and enhance the international competitiveness of the U.S. technology industry.
The 22 million small businesses in the United States employ about 51 percent of the private work force and develop most of the country’s new technologies. Years ago, Congress recognized the need to strengthen the participation of small businesses in federally-funded research and development by passing a law creating the Small Business Innovation Research program. An SBIR small business is defined as a for profit organization with no more than 500 employees.
Additional information about SBIR can be found at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/.
Contact: Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293, marraccini.davina@epa.gov