Hydrogen Futures UPDATE – Montana’s H2 Economy – June 2004

The University of Montana College of Technology, Missoula, MT

SENATOR BURNS SECURES FUNDS FOR FUTURES PARK PLAN

The University of Montana – Missoula College of Technology has received funds secured by Senator Conrad Burns through the Department of Energy for the development of the Hydrogen Futures Park in Missoula. Funds will be used for planning and program development to support the advancement of alternative energy use and education in Montana as well as nationwide.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LEARNING SITE

Progress continues to be made in setting up the Alternative Energy Learning Site on The University of Montana Campus in Hellgate Canyon on the east edge of the campus. The site will include a 10 Kw wind turbine made available from an EPSCOR project with Montana Tech. Additional, equipment including a fuel cell, hydrogen storage, and a planed electrolyzer and micro-turbine will be interconnected with monitoring and demonstration equipment for students and Montanans wishing to learn about alternative energy production and use.

MONTANA VISION 2020

In response to a request from a Montana Legislature energy subcommittee, Montana Vision 2020 has been drafted to provide a planning document for Montanans to discuss what the state should look like in the year 2020 and the energy-related steps that are necessary to move the state forward into a prosperous economy. The draft document is available at http://www.cte.umt.edu click on Items of Interest box then on Montana Hydrogen Futures Project to find Montana Vision 2020. The four goals, to be in place by 2020, are: 1. To have a comprehensive statewide energy production and management system. 2. To have a comprehensive, coordinated, statewide air, water, land and waste management system. 3. To have a 21st Century vehicle and transportation system. 4. To have a comprehensive statewide energy economic development plan.

COLSTRIP INITIATIVE

The Colstrip area has been involved in an initiative with Syntroleum Corporation to secure funding that would underwrite a feasibility study to locate a synthetic (hydrogen-enriched diesel) fuel plant in Montana.

HYDROGEN FUTURES PARK ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING

Guidelines are being developed to secure the services of an architectural firm to begin the planning process for the H2 Futures Park @UM which will serve as the gateway to alternative energy development and education for Montana. The new College of Technology campus will be a state-of-the-art hydrogen-powered, technological, sustainable campus established to liaison with other colleges around the state and provide a wide range of established two-year college programs in addition to demonstrating and training in new energy and other technologies.

HYDROGEN SAFETY TRAINING CENTER

As part of the DOE directive, plans to establish a hydrogen safety training center are moving forward. Plans include the implementation of training and education that are needed nationally to prepare a highly qualified workforce in the safe use and handling of hydrogen in the new hydrogen economy.

DEQ COLLABORATION

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality and The University of Montana – Missoula College of Technology collaborated on the development of a hydrogen education training center for the Northwest in the fall. Although the funding for the project was rescinded by DOE, three of the proposed initiatives (H2 Safety, H2 Curriculum, and H2 Website) will be implemented as part of the DOE funding to the College.

FACULTY TECHNOLOGY PLANNING TEAMS

Requests for proposals will be go out to UM-MCOT faculty this fall requesting team proposals for visits and interaction with leaders. Faculty will research their particular fields with the key discipline leaders around the country so that they can identify visionary technologies to be implemented at the College in the next 5-10 years.

HIGH SCHOOL HYDROGEN CONTEST

The first hydrogen program to promote hydrogen education in high schools in Montana was won by Sentinel High School in Missoula and Harlowton High School. Each high school received a hydrogen production station and hydrogen classroom materials for use with its students.

FUTUREGEN IN MONTANA

After much work by Eastern Montana economic groups, Miles Community College, The Governor’s Office, Montanans for Responsible Energy Development, many interested citizens and The University of Montana –Missoula College of Technology, an award has been made to Montana State University for the Project.

DOE HYDROGEN WEB SITE

The University of Montana has been asked by the Department of Energy to develop a Hydrogen Education Web site as part of the DOE funding coming to the College of Technology. The site is planned to be an innovative link that interested alternative energy educators can use world wide and be another important step in helping Montana’s workforce be the best prepared in the country.

ENERGY TECHNOLOGIST PROGRAM

In response to the request from DOE and a growing need for energy technologists, the College of Technology in Missoula continues to work on a new and innovative energy curriculum that will provide the education and training necessary to prepare the best energy workforce in Montana. More developments to follow.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONTACTS

As the cost of gas and fuel continues to escalate, more and more businesses will want to work with Montana based on its enviable position as one of the key resources for alternative energy in the country. If you have contacts within companies that may be able to help Montana “get its foot in the door,” please let us know (406-243-7852) so contact can be made.

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Mail to: UM-MCOT, MT H2 Futures Project, 909 South Ave. W, Missoula, MT 59801