Sen. Clinton to Present $4 Million in Support of RIT Alternative Fuel Research

In the face of rapidly rising energy costs, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton will visit Rochester Institute of Technology to formally present $4 million in federal funding to study alternative fuel sources and issues related to life-cycle engineering.

Sen. Clinton will make the presentation to RIT President Albert Simone at 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, in RIT’s Louise M. Slaughter Building, home to the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS). The ceremony follows a tour by Sen. Clinton of CIMS’ laboratories, highlighting RIT’s research in both fuel cell technology and military modernization.

Sen. Clinton, along with U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, sponsored the RIT funding as part of last year’s Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act. This legislation authorizes funding for transportation programs through the 2009 federal fiscal year.

“This represents an important opportunity to create jobs and bring significant resources to the Rochester area,” says Sen. Clinton. “I am especially pleased to support RIT’s alternative fuels research, which may lead to reduced fuel costs and a cleaner environment. The dividends of this investment will pay off for years.”

The $4 million in federal funding has led to the creation of RIT’s Alternative Energy Technology for Sustainable Transportation Systems program within CIMS. The initiative is focused on expanding the use of alternative fuels (fuels other than gasoline and diesel), extending the life cycle of vehicles, and promoting the use of remanufactured components.

Nabil Nasr, RIT’s assistant provost and CIMS director, emphasizes that the goal of the program is to improve the performance, service life and safety of America’s public transportation fleet, which include buses, vans, subway cars and commuter rail cars.

“In 2003, this fleet traveled 3.5 billion miles and cost nearly $5 billion to maintain,” explains Nasr. “Along with improvements to the public transportation infrastructure and the expansion of the vehicle fleet, optimizing the performance of existing vehicles is an important, cost-effective, way to meet America’s increasing demand for public transportation.”

Building on its broad base of technical skills and experience, CIMS offers the research, technology, and design expertise to make the Alternative Energy Technology for Sustainable Transportation Systems program successful. Through its membership on the U.S. Fuel Cell Council and its partnerships with industry, CIMS has developed valuable insights into the future of alternative fuels and has built useful relationships to help effect change.

Matthew Fronk, chief engineer at General Motors’ Fuel Cell Development Center in Honeoye Falls, says RIT’s research will help drive down costs associated with fuel cell technology while promoting efficient use of natural resources.

“RIT is positioned nicely to both lead and contribute in many of these areas to insure that fuel cell technology makes it into real commercial products in the near future,” says Fronk. “They are a valuable addition to both the fuel cell community and the local Rochester development activities in this field.”

In regards to potential economic benefits, RIT President Albert Simone indicates that the Rochester region is poised to become a leader in the development of alternative energy sources.

“By positioning Rochester and RIT as a hub for the development of these innovative technologies, we provide an opportunity to enhance our region’s economy by growing new industries and creating new jobs,” states Simone. “RIT is proud of its leadership role in the exploration of alternative fuel, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to build and expand CIMS’ research in life-cycle engineering to address the needs of the fuel cell industry.”

Related to its work in alternative fuels, RIT has recently announced plans to create an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in sustainability, intended to promote the integration of economic, environmental and social considerations into the development and design of business processes and products.

MEDIA NOTE: Limited coverage of Sen. Clinton’s tour of the CIMS facilities is available. Media must be on site by 3:45 p.m. Parking is available in Lot T (northwest corner of campus).

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