Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Jay Inslee announced a new Department of Energy grant of $30 million for Belleuve-based Ramgen Power Systems Sept. 8. The grant is part of $575 million in funding for 22 different projects in 15 states that will accelerate carbon capture and storage research and development for industrial sources. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which Murray and Inslee played key roles in passing.

“To create jobs in Washington state, we have to invest in ingenuity in Washington state,” said Murray. “This funding will help our state stay on the cutting edge of research and development and create family-wage jobs for programmers, technicians, analysts, machinists and other critical support staff. I will continue to fight to ensure our state is leading the charge toward a clean energy economy.”

“Companies in Washington state continue to lead the way in clean energy technology research and development, creating important jobs in emerging industries. This funding will make sure we stay on the forefront of this innovative industry nationally and globally,” said Inslee. “Our long-term goal is to protect our environment by reducing polluting greenhouse gas emissions, as well as helping to clean up emissions from industrial sources. More importantly, winning this grant will build on the high level of research and development already taking place in Washington and help propel our economic growth.”

The $30 million in project funding will go to Ramgen’s Supersonic Shock Wave Compression and Engine Technology. Over the past few years, Ramgen has shown that its advanced compression system can compress carbon dioxide that can then be pumped into the ground, a process known as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). The funding will help expand Ramgen’s R & D by exploring the potential benefits of incorporating its supersonic compression technology into an engine and if it can be scaled up for other CCS purposes.