News Reporter
“We’re very proud that we can put ourselves on the map as the epicenter of energy development of Western Colorado,” CMU trustee Dan Robinson said, opening last week’s press conference for the Unconventional Energy Center’s grant announcements.
Handing out roughly $113,000 in grants, six projects proposed by faculty, students and community members were recognized for their unique approach to bettering energy innovation within the Grand Valley community.
After CMU and the Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease District combined forces back in 2011, an endowment equating $3.2 million was put together to fund applied research and workforce development projects.
“This endowment will allow us to repeat this sort of thing every year, maybe multiple times a year,” President Tim Foster said.
For CMU senior Marissa Boraas, the generous donations will allow her an exciting opportunity to conduct geological field and lab work to better understand rock formation in the Grand Valley area that hasn’t received much academic attention.
“As an undergraduate looking to go to grad school, this is a brilliant opportunity to be able to get out in the field and get that research experience,” Boraas said.
Boraas will be conducting research under the supervision of Dr. Sally Potter-McIntyre, a Geology lecturer at CMU, who received a total of $24,718. Dr. Potter-McIntyre will be exploring C02 sequestration, as well as methods to enhance oil recovery from the geologic formation research.
“I think it really creates an opportunity for undergraduates to participate that’s not just theoretical, but actually has this very applied outcome,” Foster said. “It’s something that you wouldn’t get at any other campus.”
Faculty members Dr. Rex Cole and Dr. Bill Hood received $17,761 for Mancos Shale formation research. The desired goal is to exponentially increased gas production out on Mancos Shale (something frequently done on the Front Range).
“We have to demonstrate that the Mancos Shale is brittle and has organic material enough to generate gas and oil,” Hood said.
In addition to the individuals affiliated with CMU, the John McConnel Math and Science Center and the Young Entrepreneur Academy received $30,000 and $5,000 respectively. Both groups are working to expand high school students’ interest in the science, politics and business surrounding environmental policy.
NanoCaotings, Inc., a company working on extending the durability of hydraulic fracturing pump parts against the forces of erosion, also received $25,531. Considering that current procedures typically call for daily replacement, successful research would substantially reduce the cost of energy extraction in the Grand Valley.
Last, but certainly not least, the Center forwarded $10,000 in funds to the CMU Center for Local Government, which will be hosting an Energy and Environment Symposium in May to facilitate communication between community members and government officials concerning energy policy.
“You can go out and spend money on a project that might provide a short term benefit,” member of the Applied Research Endowment Committee David Grisso said, “but you can also have vision, like this university and its leadership has had, and you can put money in an endowment that’s going to be contributing back to the community for generations. That’s what we chose to do.”
cferganc@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Recent Comments