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Alternative Fuels Program
Sun Grant Initiative
The Sun Grant Initiative, through the funding of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is charged with conducting a competitive research program for land-grant universities and their partners. Each Center utilizes approximately 75% of their total funding for these grant programs.
The Sun Grant Initiative publication, developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, offers a glimpse of how the Sun Grant Initiative Centers are advancing alternative fuels research. Transportation plays a significant role in biofuels research, from examining how biomass can be moved efficiently to understanding how biofuels can help power different transportation modes. Although the Sun Grant Initiative was not reauthorized in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), USDOT funding continues through 2016 to progress this innovative research.
Hydrogen/Alternative Fuels Multi-Year Projects
Embodying RITA's core mission – effective coordination and leveraging of the Department's investment in research, development & technology ‑ the Alternative Fuels Program allows researchers to explore the full range of alternative fuels needed to meet the nation's climate change and energy sustainability goals. The program builds upon progress made in prior years.
Funds made available through the Alternative Fuels Program facilitate cooperation and leverage investment across the Department to address alternative fuels' potential impact on transportation systems and ensure their safe and efficient deployment. The seed money this program provides allows alternative fuel researchers to collaborate with other DOT agencies and stakeholders in new ways, to develop multimodal projects that support DOT strategic goals and whose results can be shared broadly.
The program is in the process of expanding its focus from only hydrogen-based research to all alternative fuels. Since 2009, an expert panel of DOT researchers has competitively allocated most of $500,000 in annual funds to advance the state of knowledge through:
- development of codes and standards
- development of emergency response and safety trainings, AND
- exploration of technologies to eliminate pipeline embrittlement and improve pipeline-welding techniques associated with the transport of hydrogen.
Hydrogen Research Grants
| Name | Mission/Summary | Point of Contact |
|---|---|---|
| University of Vermont and State Agricultural College | Our mission is to research, develop and field test hydrogen fuel cell and biofuel transportation technology. |
Dr. Domenico Grasso 33 Colchester Avenue, 109 Votey Hall Burlington, VT 05405-0156 802-656-3390 Email: dgrasso@cems.uvm.edu |
| Delaware State University | Our Mission is to find novel materials that can store and release large quantities of hydrogen gas at moderate temperatures and pressures in order to meet Department of Energy's object of identifying by 2015 materials that will absorb 9 wt. % hydrogen. For additional information click-on. |
Dr. Andrew Goudy 1200 N. DuPont Highway Dover, DE 19901 302-857-6534 Email: agoudy@udel.edu Website: http://chem.desu.edu/researchCenter.htm |
| The University of Montana | Our Mission is to support DOT's work with the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) and other emergency responder organizations and federal agencies to further develop a Hydrogen Safety Training initiative. Create working prototype of a hydrogen and solar powered monorail that transports individuals in urban settings. |
Dr. Paul Williamson 32 Campus Dr Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2932 Email: williamsonrp@mso.umt.edu |
Bio-Based Fuel Research Grants
| Name | Mission/Summary | Point of Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | Our mission as a Regionally Coordinated Biobased R&D is to use state land grant universities to fund biofuels research on a variety of fronts -- Northeast Region |
Dr. Corrine Johnson Rutzke, PhD 120 Riley Robb Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 607-255-2467 Email: cfj4@cornell.edu |
| National Biodiesel Board | Our Mission as a Biodiesel R&D is to have a major focus on emissions testing and standards development/acceptance |
Tom Verry 605 Clark Avenue Jefferson City, MO 65101 800-841-5849 Email: tverry@biodiesel.org |
| University of Kansas Transportation Research Institute | Our mission is to develop new affordable solutions to existing and future transportation problems; Become a national leader in transportation research; Develop new and licensable products and, Increase the number of spin-off companies, patents, royalty licenses, a licenses, and joint ventures with industry. |
Dr. Robert B. Honea, PhD Learned Hall, 1530 W. 15th Street Lawrence, KS 66045 785-864-1828 Email: Bobh253@ku.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Our mission includes the Development of Life-Cycle Economic and Environmental Analysis Methodologies: Document regional alternative fuel life cycle issues. Analyze Vehicle Cycle Infrastructure Impacts of Biofuel Transition. |
Dr. Nabil Z. Nasr, PhD 111 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623-5608 585-475-516 Email: nasr@rit.edu |
| Oklahoma State University | Our mission as a Regionally Coordinated Biobased R&D is to use state land grant universities to fund biofuels research on a variety of fronts -- South Central Region |
Dr. Clarence Watson, PhD 203 Whitehurst, 214-A Agricultural Hall Stillwater, OK 74078-6016 405-744-5398 Email: c.watson@okstate.edu |
| Oregon State University | Our mission as a Regionally Coordinated Biobased R&D is to use state land grant universities to fund biofuels research on a variety of fronts -- Western Region |
Dr. Jan Auyoong, PhD 138 Strand Ag. Hall Corvallis, OR 97331 541-737-1915 Email: Jan.Auyong@oregonstate.edu |
| South Dakota State University | Our mission as a Regionally Coordinated Biobased R&D is to use state land grant universities to fund biofuels research on a variety of fronts -- North Central Region |
Dr. James Doolittle, PhD 100 Administration Ln, Old Foundation Bldg Brookings, SD 57007-1998 605-696-7870 Email: James.Doolittle@sdstate.edu |
| University of Tennessee | Our mission as a Regionally Coordinated Biobased R&D is to use state land grant universities to fund biofuels research on a variety of fronts -- Southeastern Region |
Dr. Timothy Rials, PhD 2506 Jacob Drive Knoxville, TN 37996 865-946-1129 Email: trials@utk.edu |