For release: March 23, 2009

Contacts: 
Mark Murphy, Division Director for Technical and Administrative Services, 515-294-2618
Alex King, Ames Laboratory Director, 515-294-2770
Steve Karsjen, Public Affairs, 515-294-5643

AMES LABORATORY TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $1.7 MILLION IN RECOVERY ACT FUNDING

AMES, Iowa – The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Ames Laboratory will receive approximately $1.7 million as part of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The funds are part of $1.2 billion announced by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today from funding allocated under the Recovery Act to DOE’s Office of Science.

The funds will support an array of Office of Science-sponsored construction, laboratory infrastructure, and research projects across the nation. The Secretary made the announcement during a visit to Brookhaven National Laboratory, in Upton, NY.

“Leadership in science remains vital to America’s economic prosperity, energy security, and global competitiveness,” said Secretary Chu. “These projects not only provide critically needed short-term economic relief but also represent a strategic investment in our nation’s future. They will create thousands of jobs and breathe new life into many local economies, while helping to accelerate new technology development, renew our scientific and engineering workforce, and modernize our nation’s scientific infrastructure.”

The Ames allocation is part of $1.2 billion that Secretary Chu announced is being disbursed now in the first installment of a total of $1.6 billion allocated to the DOE Office of Science by Congress under the Recovery Act legislation. Officials are working on details remaining to enable approval and release of the balance of $371 million. The funding will be applied to infrastructure projects at the Ames Laboratory:

$1,285,000 – Three energy conservation projects: a fume hood stack sealing project in Spedding Hall; lighting upgrades in the Technical and Administrative Services Facility, Spedding Hall and Wilhelm Hall; and upgrading restrooms with low-flow fixtures in TASF, Spedding Hall and Wilhelm Hall.

$425,000 – Upgrading 145 windows in Spedding Hall by replacing 55-year-old single-pane aluminum windows with modern double-pane, low-emissivity windows with thermal-break frames.

“Ames Laboratory is thrilled to receive this funding, which will help in reducing the Lab’s overall energy consumption,” said Mark Murphy, division director for Technical and Administrative Services. Murphy estimates the energy reduction resulting from the infrastructure projects at approximately 15 percent of total usage or a savings of nearly $184,000 annually. Preparation for work on the projects will begin immediately.

“This will create jobs in the short term, reduce our environmental footprint, and produce long-term savings that will help to ensure jobs in the future, too,” said Ames Laboratory Director Alex King.

Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory operated for the DOE by Iowa State University.  Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies and energy solutions. We use our expertise, unique capabilities and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global challenges.

DOE’s news release is available at www.energy.gov.

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