Western Michigan University receives state funding for Project Clean MI
The project received $750,000 in the state budget recently signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Western Michigan University has received state funding in the recent budget signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer for Project Clean MI, a project led by Dr. Mert Atilhan, a professor of chemical and paper engineering, and Dr. Autumn Haagsma, the director of the Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education, in an effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
This funding builds upon funding the project received earlier this year in the amount of $2.25 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory. While details of Project Clean MI are still being settled, it is planned to commence in the fall of 2024.
According to an article on Western Michigan University’s website, Atilhan and Haagsma are going to hire students from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences to help with research on the project.
Atilhan is quoted as saying, "The new funding from the state means more opportunities for our students. We will be able to hire more students and acquire additional equipment, which will significantly enhance our research capabilities.” He went on to explain what their involvement in the project will be, saying, "They will receive training in both my lab and in the Michigan Geological Survey labs, sharing experiences and gaining firsthand exposure to world-class research in carbon dioxide capture materials and storage in saline aquifers. Additionally, outreach activities in local high schools and the community will provide younger students with insights into how WMU is positioned nationally and globally to combat climate change."
The goal of the project will be to figure out a way to capture carbon dioxide and store it safely underground in order to limit greenhouse emissions. This is part of a larger, global effort to stave off climate change.
Haagsma said, "This project will integrate the geology, engineering and societal considerations, giving students a well-rounded experience and practice on working with team members of diverse disciplines. I also see this as a great opportunity for students to apply science to an impactful project, which addresses the global need for clean energy."
For more information about Western Michigan University, visit the school’s website.