Senate Leadership
September 18, 2007
Senate President Williams, UConn and Business Officials Announce $4 Million For Energy Research
Williams' eminent faculty proposal pays benefits for high-tech research
Senator Williams speaks at a press conference announcing a $4 million ‘eminent faculty’ program at the University of Connecticut designed to recruit the brightest minds in alternative fuels research and development. Senator Williams was instrumental in including the eminent faculty program in the Senate Democrat's “Jobs for the 21st Century” bill in 2006 and, ultimately, seeing it signed into law. (September 18, 2007)
Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) was joined today by University of Connecticut President Michael Hogan in announcing that, under the terms of a new 'eminent faculty' program that Sen. Williams proposed and had passed into law two years ago, UConn has raised more than $2 million from three leading state energy companies for a new alternative energy research initiative to be based at the Storrs campus.
This private investment triggers the release of an additional $2 million pledged by the state for UConn's eminent faculty program, a public-private partnership backed by the legislature. The total $4 million will allow UConn and the Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center, which is part of the university, to recruit world-class researchers and additional faculty members who have expertise in the area of sustainable energy. The center will use the funding not only to pioneer new energy technologies, but also to create a training ground for the energy workforce and entrepreneurs of the 21st Century, fostering innovative spin-off opportunities.
The donating companies are FuelCell Energy of Danbury, the Northeast Utilities Foundation, and UTC Power of South Windsor.
"This collaboration between the state legislature and the University of Connecticut represents the best we have to offer: a commitment to creating and maintaining our competitive advantage in cutting-edge technologies, and a huge investment in the research and development of energy-efficient fuel cells, of which Connecticut is a global leader," Sen. Williams said. "The partnership exhibited today represents not only an investment in the fuel cell industry, but also serves as an example of how government, higher education, and industry--working together--can be a catalyst to improving Connecticut's overall economy and truly building jobs for the 21st century."
"Connecticut has a rare opportunity to provide national leadership in the development of viable, sustainable and environmentally sound energy alternatives, including fuel cells and biofuels," said President Hogan. "We will do this as part of a focused partnership between the university, the state and industry."
"We are indebted to our partners for their vision and sense of purpose," said UConn Provost Peter Nicholls. "These organizations are pushing energy innovation in new directions. With their support, the eminent faculty initiative in sustainable energy at UConn will propel Connecticut and the university to the forefront of sustainable energy development and industry while fostering a visionary green energy economy."
"When we received the proposal from the School of Engineering, we immediately knew it fit perfectly with Northeast Utilities Foundations' three strategic areas for investment--economic development, workforce development and environmental stewardship," said Raymond P. Necci, president and chief operating officer of The Connecticut Light & Power Company and Yankee Gas. "Surely, by enabling the field's brightest minds to teach at UConn, we will attract a class of promising young engineers."
"We are very pleased to have been part of UConn's and the state's efforts to raise the funds for the Eminent Faculty for Sustainable Energy program," said Chris Bentley, Executive Vice President of FuelCell Energy, Inc. "FuelCell Energy has always had a strong commitment to advancing Connecticut's technology community and the efforts of the faculty program will clearly complement the development of sustainable fuel cell products."
"We are delighted to support this ambitious initiative," said Tom Jarvi, director, technology development, at UTC Power. "To retain leadership in fuel cell technology, Connecticut must be able to provide top-flight R&D capabilities, fundamental research results, and college grads ready for the industry. There is no better place to deliver on such expectations than our state's flagship university."
UConn's School of Engineering has a number of energy-focused units under its wing, including the Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center and the Biofuels Consortium, whose scope of research and development activities will complement the broader mission of sustainable energy initiative. Both entities work closely with Connecticut's energy industry.
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Senator Williams’ Larry Cook |
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Senator Looney’s Larry Cook |
