BISMARCK, ND - Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced today that the University of North Dakota will receive $3,467,728 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to support studies of geothermal projects.

The Recovery Act funding is for the development of new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies.  The funding will assist UND in developing two projects in Bowman County utilizing geothermal resources.  The first project is the construction of a low temperature power plant utilizing untapped geothermal resources. The second project will utilize geothermal heat found in oil and gas wells to produce power. Ten barrels of hot water are produced for every barrel of oil.

“Once again, UND has been recognized as a leading research institution in the development of new energy resources. This funding will allow UND and the state of North Dakota to further pursue energy development,” the delegation said in a joint statement.

The UND award is part of $338 million in Recovery Act funding that was announced yesterday for the exploration and development of new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies.  The grants will support 123 projects in 39 states.

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Source: Office of Senator Kent Conrad, KFGO News Center