Four Central Mass. climate tech companies and researchers awarded $1M
Photo | Courtesy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
A Worcester Polytechnic Institute researcher was among four Central Massachusetts entities receiving funds from MassCEC.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has awarded $1.03 million to four Central Massachusetts businesses and researchers.
The state economic development agency issued the grants across four separate programs in its effort to grow Massachusetts’ clean energy sector while spurring job creation, environmental benefits, and long-term economic growth.
“The climatetech industry is an economic development opportunity for every city and town in Massachusetts. These MassCEC emerging climatetech grants empower innovative ideas and transformative solutions that will shape the future of the state’s economy,” Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC, said in a Friday press release announcing the grants. “By supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, we’re accelerating the deployment of technologies that will lower energy costs and create jobs right here in Massachusetts.”
The grants went to:
- River Otter Renewables, a Stow-based firm creating biocrude oil from waste, received $300,000 in support of its efforts to convert sewage waste into fuel while destroying PFAS chemicals in the waste and process water.
- Mingjiang Tao, a researcher at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, received $300,000 in support of research into converting organic content in municipal solid waste to create low-cost and environmentally friendly asphalt solutions.
- Fast Metals, a Worcester-based firm, received $75,000 to develop a prototype for its process to produce valuable metals from industrial waste byproducts.
- SpadxTech, a Worcester-based firm, received $350,000 to demonstrate its thermal insulation technology designed to protect battery test chambers.
MassCEC’s latest grants come amid efforts by the President Donald Trump Administration to slash funding for research and other initiatives related to combatting climate change.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced on Thursday plans to roll back regulations seeking to reduce pollution and encourage the use of electric vehicles, according to the Associated Press.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the manufacturing and real estate industries.
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