$6.9 Million in Defense Spending for School of Mines Projects

U.S. Senators Tim Johnson and John Thune and Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin have announced that the Fiscal 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that was recently signed by President Obama includes $6.9 million in funding for the School of Mines to fund research projects designed to improve our nation's military.

"We at the School of Mines truly appreciate all of the work of the South Dakota Congressional delegation. It is our Senators' and Congresswoman's continued support that allows our researchers to undertake projects which contribute to the advancement of technology that improves safety for our troops," School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., said. "We look forward to working with our partners in developing new, innovative technologies that keep our military at the forefront of defense."

Since 2001, The School of Mines has received more than $80 million in Congressional appropriations for projects and research.

The 2010 Defense projects approved by Congress include:

• $2.5 million for the Life Extension of Weapon Systems Through Advanced Materials Processing — This program will identify candidate components from specific high sustainment cost items in the Navy inventory and match them with repair technologies being developed at the School of Mines.
• $2.4 million for the Multi-Utility Materials (MUM) for the Future Combat Systems — This project will develop strong and lightweight vehicles made with multi-utility materials. The School of Mines is partnering with Iowa State University and Florida A&M on this project. 
• $1 million for Smart Integrated Systems (SIS): Materials, Manufacturing Methods, and Structures — This project will help to make it possible for the military to acquire energy efficient, intelligent structures with multifunctional materials that can be manufactured at affordable prices.
• $1 million for Energy Efficiency, Recovery, and Generation — This project will attempt to develop bioconversion technologies of biodiesel, green diesel, and biohydrogen generation from lignocellulosic biomass, which will help the Air Force achieve their target of 18 percent biofuel production of current fuel consumption. The School of Mines is partnering with South Dakota State University and two other South Dakota-based companies on this project.