Innovative Technology Resources

DEQ encourages technological innovation for improving environmental quality while sustaining economic growth.  New technologies can help Virginians to better and more cost-effectively protect our environment.  Improved processes and devices can improve business productivity while reducing the generation of waste and pollution.  At the same time innovators and investors join together to create businesses and industries that produce new environmentally favorable goods and services. 

The DEQ innovative technology program had several components, including: 

• encouraging participation in demonstration/validation programs (such as EPA's Environmental Technology Verification program) that generate credible performance data;
• exploring opportunities to join with other states in reciprocal acceptance of new technologies and removal of impediments to new technology;
• enhancing awareness of new technologies by potential users and regulators;
• connecting technology developers and entrepreneurs to supporting business and technical resources; and
• performing outreach and helping companies to showcase new environmentally preferable technologies.

See the DEQ Combined Heat and Power/Distributed Energy Resources Pages including links to utilities, interconnection standards, and air regulatory requirements.

See the Technology Acceptance and Reciprocity Partnership (TARP) Page

What's new in Innovative Technology?

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)--Commonwealth of Virginia page www.stimulus.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy ARRA Energy Program Application discusses proposed grants, rebates, and other incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy, including economic development incentives to support biomass, waste-to-energy, renewable energy, and energy efficiency products, services, and technologies.

Federal ARRA web pages:

• Federal Government Recovery Act website:  www.recovery.gov
• DOE Recovery Act website:  http://www.energy.gov/recovery/index.htm  
• DOE Recovery Act Clearinghouse (Toll-Free):  (888) 363-RCVY or (888) 363-7289 
• DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Recovery Act website:  http://www.eere.energy.gov/recovery/
• Federal government funding opportunities are located at http://www.grants.gov/  and at  https://www.fbo.gov/

DOE Launches the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The first Funding Opportunity Announcement for the new agency, offering a total of $150 million, with individual awards of $500,000 to $20 million. Applicants are initially asked to submit only eight-page "concept papers" that briefly outline the technical concept; applicants that make the first cut will be invited to submit full applications. DOE anticipates awarding grants, cooperative agreements, or Technology Investment Agreements, with the latter two most likely because of the need for substantial interaction between ARPA-E and the awardees. Concept papers can be submitted to DOE from May 12 through June 2. The full solicitation can be found by searching the public opportunities on the FedConnect Web site for reference number DE-FOA-0000065.

National Institute of Standards and Technology requests proposals for the Technology Innovation Recovery Act Measurement Science and Engineering Research Grants Program: Providing the Technology Infrastructure to Address National Priorities. Priority research areas include, but are not limited to: Energy, environment and climate change; manufacturing; and physical infrastructure. $35 million expected to be available, up to 60 awards anticipated. Responses accepted on a continuous basis. For more info, contact Christopher Hunton at christopher.hunton@nist.gov or go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=46063. Refer to Sol# 2009-NIST-ARRA-MSE-RESEARCH-01. 

National Institute of Standards and Technology requests proposals for the Technology Innovation Program, which seeks to support, promote, and accelerate innovation in the U.S. through high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need. Areas of interest include: 1) Civil Infrastructure: Advanced Sensing Technologies and Advanced Repair Materials for the Infrastructure: Water Systems, Dams, Levees, Bridges, Roads, and Highways, and 2) Manufacturing: To provide manufacturers and end users improved access to adequate quantities of advanced materials at competitive costs that allow evaluation and utilization of these materials in innovative ways. Materials performance is often a critical consideration and controlling factor in the innovation process. For example, high strength alloys, aluminum, and magnesium are used to build stronger, lighter and safer vehicles; superalloys are used to make higher efficiency gas turbines; composites make larger, more efficient wind turbine blades; and nanomaterials are finding their way into better performing batteries, energy storage devices, and high voltage transmission lines. $25 million expected to be available, up to 25 awards anticipated. Responses due 6/23/09. For more info, contact Christopher Hunton at christopher.hunton@nist.gov or go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=46348. 

USDA National Research Initiative competitive grants program supports research, extension and education grants that address key problems of national, regional and multistate importance in sustaining all components of agriculture. See: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/nri_rfa.html

New Link:

International Energy Agency, "Cogeneration and District Energy: Sustainable Energy Technologies for Today ... and Tomorrow," http://www.iea.org/files/CHPbrochure09.pdf and http://www.iea.org/files/CHPbrochure09annex.pdf

BusinessWeek has created Business Exchange as a new topic-based information exchange with news articles, blog posts, and references. Among the various relevant topical sites are Green Building, Green Energy, and Sustainable Design.

The DEQ Office of Innovative Technology as well as the Division of Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance were disbanded at the end of October 2002 as a budget austerity measure. These pages remain available as resources for environmental technology developers, entrepreneurs, potential users, nongovernmental organizations, and others.

DISCLAIMER: References and links to commercial products or services do not constitute or imply an endorsement by DEQ or the Commonwealth of Virginia of such products or services, or their providers. DEQ and the Commonwealth of Virginia are not responsible for the content of external sites.