U.S. gov't promotes small business clean energy research

WASHINGTON. August 21. KAZINFORM The U.S. government announced Thursday 37 million U.S. dollars in funding to help small businesses' clean energy technology research and job creation; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the investment from the Recovery Act will be made available to qualified small businesses through the Department's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

This funding emphasizes the Department's commitment to developing near-term, clean energy technologies while allowing small businesses take part in the new industrial revolution that the sustainable energy economy will bring.

"Small businesses are engines of job creation and innovation, and we need their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to drive a clean energy economy," said Secretary Chu. "By helping small businesses bring clean technologies to market, we can create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce carbon pollution"; Kazinform has learnt from Xinhua.

See www.xinhuanet.com for full version.