87R30560 BK-D
By: Guerra H.R. No. 2078
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Bureau of Economic Geology, a research unit at
The University of Texas at Austin, has received a Small Business
Technology Transfer Phase 1 award through the United States Air
Force AFWERX innovation program; and
WHEREAS, The highly competitive Small Business Technology
Transfer program awards funding to small businesses in partnership
with nonprofit research institutions to facilitate the development
of commercially viable technology; the program includes a
three-phase process to assess the scientific, technical, and
commercial merits of an idea and, after a thorough evaluation is
made, to release the product into the marketplace; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Air Force chose the Bureau of Economic
Geology to perform a feasibility study on the development of
closed-loop geothermal energy systems at Ellington Field Joint
Reserve Base in Houston, where it will work in collaboration with
the Texas Air National Guard and Texas-based energy company Sage
Geosystems; the geothermal energy systems being pioneered by Sage
Geosystems have attracted the attention of the military due to
their small physical footprint, grid independence, security,
non-reliance on supply chains, and sustainability; and
WHEREAS, With the promise to improve energy resiliency,
geothermal technology is an advancement that has the potential to
have wide application in the future, and federal funding will
greatly assist the Bureau of Economic Geology and Sage Geosystems
in making this concept a reality; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Bureau of Economic Geology on
its receipt of a Small Business Technology Transfer Phase 1 award
through the United States Air Force AFWERX innovation program and
extend to all those affiliated with the organization sincere best
wishes for the success of this venture; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the Bureau of Economic Geology as an expression of high
regard by the Texas House of Representatives.