The EPA has awarded nearly $2.5 million to 11 companies to support their work in eight key environmental areas: monitoring and control of air emissions, biofuels, green buildings, drinking water monitoring, hazardous waste monitoring, water infrastructure, homeland security, nanotechnology and innovation in manufacturing, the agency reported. Last year, the companies received "proof of concept" awards from the agency, and will use the additional funds announced today to move their technologies towards commercialization.

The awards are part of the EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, which issues solicitations for research proposals from small science and technology firms. Phase I contracts are used to investigate the scientific merit and technical feasibility of a concept. The Phase II contracts, which are the contracts announced today, are used to develop and commercialize the technologies from the first phase. Some of the technologies that are being developed in these awards include using microbial fuel cells to simultaneously clean wastewater and generate electricity, and developing a chromium-free, corrosion-resistant coating that can be used for industrial, automotive, and aerospace corrosion protection.

To be eligible to participate in SBIR, a small business must have fewer than 500 employees, and at least 51 percent of the business must be owned by U.S. citizens.

Source: EPA press release