Number of Projects	Total Value* (Million $)	DOE Share (Million $)	Job Benefits**
Coal & Power Projects	4	$208.05	$102.12	5,929
Oil & Gas Projects	2	$8.66	$6.13	247

*Includes DOE and private sector cost-sharing

**An average of 28.5 direct and indirect jobs per $1 million in R&D funding is used based on the Department of Commerce's Regional Input-Output Modeling System formula.

Companies to Lower the Cost of Fuel Cells, Demonstrate Particulate Control and IGCC, Increase Power Plant Efficiency

• Mesaba Energy IGCC Project - Excelsior Energy, Inc, Wayzata, MN was selected in Round II of the President's Clean Coal Power Initiative to design, construct and operate the Mesaba Energy Project, a demonstration of the next generation Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle power plant. Mesaba, with an installed capacity of 531 MW, will be located near Hoyt Lakes, MN, and is planned to be in service in 2010. Excelsior has proposed spending $20.06 million on the demonstration, with DOE contributing $10.03 million. This project is in the pre-award phase.

• Development and Commercialization of SOFC Power Systems - Cummins Power Generation, Minneapolis, MN, has been selected to conduct an 11-year, $149.00 million project (DOE share: $74.60 million) to develop and commercialize 10-kilowatt SOFC power systems. DOE's goal is to reduce the cost of fuel cells to as low as one-tenth of the cost of currently marketed systems and to one-third of the cost of advanced concepts that are nearing commercial readiness. At this price, fuel cells could emerge from their current niche applications to widespread market use. DOE also believes that developing an all solid state fuel cell "building block" that can be mass produced is the best way to lower cost as similarly demonstrated in other solid state areas such as computers and other electronic devices. In this project, Cummins has partnered with McDermott Technology, Inc., Ceramatec, Inc., and Advanced Refractory Technology to develop fuel cell technologies for multiple applications to help DOE reach its goals.

• Advanced Hybrid Particulate Collector - Ottertail Power Company, Fergus Falls, MN, has been awarded a $13.35 million project (DOE share: $6.49 million) to demonstrate an advanced hybrid particulate collector that will meet current particulate emissions standards. In addition, the project engineers will also demonstrate that the technology can potentially be used to meet future standards that may be proposed well into the 21st century.

• Increasing Power Plant Efficiency: Lignite Fuel Enhancement - Great River Energy, Elk River, MN, has been awarded a $25.64 million project (DOE share: $11.00 million) with the Electric Power Research Institute to enhance the fuel value of lignite by using the waste heat of a power plant to dry nearly a quarter of the moisture in the lignite before it is fed into a power plant boiler. For power plants that burn high-moisture lignite, the technology could boost overall generating capacity; meaning power would be produced more efficiently from a lower volume of fuel. The project will take place at the company's Coal Creek Station in Underwood, ND.

Oil and Gas Projects in Minnesota

• Pressure Sensor Electronics for High Temperature Drilling - SVT Associates, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN - This $100,000 DOE-funded project will concentrate on the development and commercialization of an advanced semiconductor technology; i.e., nitride-based materials, which have superior electronic properties for high temperature and harsh environment applications.

• High Temperature Electronics for Deep Well Drilling - Honeywell, Inc., Minneapolis, MN is establishing a Joint Industry Partnership with participation from representatives of the petroleum industry to guide and direct R&D efforts in developing high temperature electronics for deep well drilling. Unlocking natural gas resources that exist below 20,000 feet requires electronic hardware systems and modules that survive the harsh conditions and extreme temperatures.  The Partnership currently includes Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Quartzdyne, NOVATEK, Goodrich Aerospace UK, and BP.  DOE is providing $6.03 million toward this $8.56 million project.