Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson secured funding for several Idaho projects in the House Defense Appropriations bill.
“Our local businesses and universities conduct critical research in the areas of national security and defense,” Simpson said. “Idaho company M2E Power is developing a breakthrough technology that will provide a more efficient energy source for our soldiers in the field. By funding projects like this, we can lighten soldiers’ packs by 20 to 30 pounds and reduce hazardous waste at the same time. This is just one example of how Idahoans contribute to our nation’s needs.”
Idaho Programs included in the House Bill:
$2,500,000 for Accelerator-Driven Non-Destructive Testing, Idaho State University. This funding will allow the Idaho Accelerator Center to continue development of penetrating and nondestructive testing techniques. This research is of immense value to the US Air Force.
$1,800,000 for 3-D Technology for Advanced Sensor Systems, Boise State University. This funding will continue research to create 3-D integration and packaging solutions applicable to a general category of high performance sensor systems. The 3-D packaging approach offers the promise of a dramatic decrease in the system weight and volume, together with increased system performance.
$1,500,000 for Hybrid Power Generation System, M2E Power, Inc. Approximately
$57,000 is being spent per soldier, per year on batteries alone in the field. This funding will allow for continued research on breakthrough technology that will reduce the reliance on disposable batteries by developing compressed magnetic fields which can generate power. This will not only reduce federal spending needed for such batteries, but will considerably reduce related military logistics costs, reduce the amount of hazardous waste disposal costs for the toxic substances used in battery materials, and reduce the 20-30 lbs of extra battery weight that soldiers are currently required to carry for extended missions.
$1,500,000 for Electric Grid Reliability/Assurance, Idaho National Lab. This funding will be used for the enhanced development of electric grid modeling, simulation and testing capabilities at the Idaho National Laboratory. This will allow our military and national security to better identify, prioritize, and coordinate the protection of critical infrastructure and key resources in order to prevent, deter, and mitigate the effects of deliberate efforts to destroy, incapacitate, or exploit them.
$1,000,000 for Highly Corrosive-Resistant Alloy Joining for Nuclear Applications, Premier Technology. With this funding, Premier Technology will develop and test novel prototype design-for-manufacturing methods, flexible automated welding and inspection technology for application in submarine nuclear reactor propulsion systems. The new joining techniques for the structures will reduce the requirement for inspection, overhaul and maintenance for the Navy's next generation of nuclear submarines.
