Breakthrough Technologies Institute - Fuel Cells 2000

6. RD&D SUPPORT
NM Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and NM Economic
Development Department Funding and New Mexico Technology Research
Collaborative
www.emnrd.state.nm.us/emnrd/ecmd
http://ww1.edd.state.nm.us/index.php?/news/entry/new_mexico_to_fund_1_million_in_h
ydrogen_fuel_projects
In 2005, the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Energy
Conservation and Management Division and the New Mexico Economic Development
Department teamed to issue a request for proposals for hydrogen fuel projects to be
conducted within the state. Project proposals were to be in the area of hydrogen
research and development; production of hydrogen incorporating clean energy inputs;
use of hydrogen in mobile or stationary end-use applications (such as fuel cells and
internal combustion engines); or any combination of the above. The RFP was cancelled
by the state before any proposals were submitted and the funds are being redirected to
an effort now led by New Mexico Tech.
In Spring 2006, the New Mexico State Economic Development disbanded its Science
and Technology Department, the unit responsible for hydrogen activities, and shifted the
responsibility to the New Mexico Technology Research Collaborative (TRC). TRC was
established by 2005 legislation (Senate Bill 169) and is a partnership among federal and
state research institutions in New Mexico. The group is requesting an appropriation of
$5,000,000 for New Mexico's continuing efforts in the generation of jobs, income and
wealth in New Mexico. State funding from TRC will be leveraged with outside
investments, including private, foreign, and other government sources to support
projects with strong commercialization potential.
Also in 2006, $1 million in grant funding was awarded by the Energy, Minerals and
Natural Resources Department to New Mexico Tech for hydrogen development and
education projects within the state, including:
Contacts:
• A proposed Albuquerque project to extract hydrogen from landfill methane;
• A University of New Mexico project to install fuel cells and other renewable
energy systems into 256 homes into Playas--an uninhabited town owned by
the university and used for homeland security/defense research;
• Development of fuel cell undergraduate study and graduate research at the
University of New Mexico.
• Private-public collaboration between New Mexico Tech, the University of New
Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Cabot Superior Micropowders;
and
• Educational outreach programs.
New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
Energy Conservation and Management Division
1220 S. St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
141