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LOCAL PROJECTS FUNDED THROUGH DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT

Washington, DC, December 16, 2009
Congressman Paul Tonko announced that $11.6 million in projects for the 21st Congressional District were contained in the Defense Appropriations Act that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today.
Congressman Paul Tonko announced that $11.6 million in projects for the 21st Congressional District were contained in the Defense Appropriations Act that passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. The Defense Appropriations Act makes critical investments in the health, well-being and readiness of our armed forces, and provides our military with first class equipment to protect our troops on the battlefield and make sure that our soldiers are well-prepared for any challenge that comes their way.
 
“I am proud that we were able to secure funding for these important local projects,” said Rep. Tonko. “They represent continued innovation in research and development of materials and processes that will aid in our national defense, keep our soldiers safe, lead to a better energy outcome, and create jobs.”
 
SUNY Cobleskill will receive $2 million for a biowaste-to-energy Center to test a process to convert animal waste and municipal solid waste to clean energy, and develop a mobile application for the military. Dr. Donald Zingale, President of SUNY Cobleskill, said, “The next phase of SUNY Cobleskill’s biowaste-to-energy research defines a critical juncture in the development of a most efficacious model for sustainable energy production that supports agriculture and other field based industries and government services. Congressman Paul Tonko’s proactive support for this project’s recently announced $2 million federal appropriation evidences his strong commitments to energy conservation and quality of life for rural America.”
 
Fiber Glass Industries in Amsterdam will receive $1.6 million to supply the U.S. Military with material for ballistic panels and protective vehicle liners. Director Richard P. Caruso said, “Fiber Glass Industries is pleased to be awarded this Congressional funding.  This funding allows Fiber Glass Industries to take our first step in the Advanced Fibers Market and will be used to Evaluate and Qualify new fibers for composite military applications which include ballistic armor protection for our service personnel.  Fiber Glass Industries will be adding new equipment, additional employees and new technology, all important to the welfare of the town of Amsterdam, Montgomery County and upstate New York.”
 
The Watervliet Arsenal will receive two appropriations worth a total of $8 million, for the Arsenal Support Program Initiative and the Arsenal’s Factory of the Future project.
 
Project details are below, including two other projects submitted by Rep. Tonko with other Members of Congress for energy research and development projects in New York City.
  

SUNY Cobleskill
Biowaste-to-Energy Center
$2,000,000
SUNY Cobleskill project to develop a center to test a patent-pending process to covert animal waste and municipal solid waste to clean energy, and develop a mobile application of the technology for use in the field by U.S. troops. This will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cost to transport and dispose of solid waste, and reduce the military’s cost to transport fuel to military installations.
Fiber Glass Industries, Amsterdam
High strength glass production and qualification for armor applications
$1,600,000
This project will establish Fiber Glass Inc. as the second U.S. military source of material for ballistic panels and vehicle liners. This will eliminate shortages, and decrease costs for the military.
Watervliet Arsenal
Arsenal Support Program Initiative (ASPI)
$6,400,000
ASPI is an eight-year old program to fund building renovations, site planning, job training and marketing programs designed to attract private businesses to underutilized facilities at Army Arsenals in Watervliet, Rock Island, IL and Pine Bluff, AK. At Watervliet, funds will be used to renovate six buildings, upgrade and prepare 120,000 square feet for new commercial businesses, and improve parking.
Watervliet Arsenal
Factory of the Future/Next Generation Machining Technology and Equipment
$1,600,000
To facilitate a seamless and accelerated incorporation of state of the art manufacturing principles and equipment to incorporate advanced materials and process technologies into next generation weapon systems.
New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY
Synchrotron Beamline and Experimental Station
$3,200,000
This project will entail research and development of a new synchrotron beamline end station for the Brookhaven National Laboratory for use on its new 3rd-generation National Synchrotron Light Source –II, under construction. Equipment will help researchers study a much wider range of molecules whose activities are implicated in deadly viruses and diseases including biological warfare agents.
Verdant Power, New York, NY
Kinetic Hydropower System (KHPS) Turbines
$1,600,000
KHPS turbines represent a new sustainable source of power generation, which do not require dams and allow for safe fish passage. In conjunction with the U.S. Navy, Verdant Power will design, engineer, fabricate, assemble, install, operate and monitor an array of KHPS turbines capable of producing 1 MW.

  
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