Green chemistry group seeks $2.5 million

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Oregon's green chemistry leadership got a boost this week with a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

Proponents of green chemistry are seeking $2.5 million to spur development of a sector they say holds promise for the state.

The Oregon Environmental Council is asking for funding from Oregon InC (the Oregon Innovation Council), which funnels money to emerging and established industries through funds allocated by the Oregon Legislature. They are well known for their support of nanotech.

The bid for funding from OEC comes on the heels of a report by the organization’s Oregon Green Chemistry Advisory Group, which found Oregon is uniquely positioned to be a green chemistry leader. The report was released last week after six months of study by a mix of industrial, academic, public and non-governmental talent.

Lauding achievements by Oregon companies that reduced their reliance on toxics, the report says the state is well suited to foster similar green development to keep companies here competitive, sustainable and profitable. Citing the presence of world-renowned green-chemistry researchers, green-minded consumers and businesses, and an abundance of natural resources, the report found Oregon an ideal place to promote the green chemistry effort.

Colin Price, research director for OEC, said the organization is moving quickly to fund a proposed resource hub suggested by the report. Price said funding from Oregon InC would be used as match funding to help Oregon companies and researchers compete for federal grants as they move toward green development. Price said money would also be used to support commercialization of green products and to coordinate efforts toward green manufacturing statewide.

"It’s a statewide initiative that helps create a positive alignment between Oregon universities and key businesses to foster innovation," said Price.

He said the proposal capitalizes on green chemistry leadership in Oregon to foster innovation, spur entrepreneurship and create products that are cleaner, more efficient and more competitive in the global market.

As examples, the OEC’s advisory group explored similar efforts by Oregon companies. It reviewed benign adhesives that replaced formaldehyde in wood products Columbia Forest Products, environmentally friendly rubber in Nike footwear, green cleaning products by Coastwide Laboratories, and a nontoxic cleaning process now used in pre-plating activities at Blount International. All were found to have lowered costs and boosted market share for those companies. They had the added advantage of increasing worker safety and minimizing long-term impacts to the environment and the public.

“Rather than be focused on one specific industry, as you can imagine, there are a wide variety of companies in Oregon that can benefit from manufacturing products that are safer and more efficient,” said Price.

Price said the hub would scale up existing resources in Oregon, linking university researchers and their facilities with groups that support green chemistry and manufacturers who want cleaner, sustainable products.

Green chemistry proponents join 25 other groups, including electric vehicle industry supporters, in asking Oregon InC for startup cash. The initiatives selected by the council will eventually become a part of the 2011-2013 Innovation Plan to be submitted to the Legislature in January. The soonest any funds will be distributed would be July 2011.