11/2/2004 - (Washington, D.C.) EPA awarded $660,000 to 66 student teamsfor the 2004-2005 academic year to research and develop sustainabledesigns through the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition.Sustainable development allows communities to grow economically whilepreserving natural resources for future generations. Students will designsolutions that both benefit the environment and are not prohibitivelyexpensive.

Many businesses are already recognizing that it is to their benefit toprotect the ecosystems that supply the sources of their materials andmarkets. Additionally, the less hazardous waste produced, the less timeand resources the company expends on clean-up. A number of computer andautomobile manufacturers are using less toxic materials in manufacturing,creating products that use less energy and have longer life spans andplanning for parts to be reused or recycled.

"As our planet's resources are limited, moving our society towardssustainable development is imperative," said Dr. Paul Gilman, AssistantAdministrator for the Office of Research and Development. "I'm pleased tosay that many companies are already doing this. The P3 awards give thenext generation of scientists and engineers the opportunity to move theUnited States further toward sustainability through their innovation andcreativity. Sustainable practices create jobs and make wise use ofresources."

The P3 national student design competition was launched in January 2004.More than 40 partners in the federal government, industry and scientificand professional societies provide support. Projects focus areas include:green buildings and sustainable construction materials, biodieselproduction and use, drinking water quality and supply, alternative energysources and fuel cells, urban redevelopment and green chemistry. .

In May 2005, all teams will be invited to bring their designs toWashington, D.C., to compete for the P3 Award. The National Academy ofEngineering will convene a panel of judges for the competition. Winnerswill be eligible for additional funding to implement their project in thefield and move the design to the marketplace.

EPA is now accepting applications from student teams for the 2005 P3competition. The deadline for receipt of applications is Jan. 27, 2005. Alist of P3 national student design competition teams is available at:http://es.epa.gov/ncer/p3/projects/index.html . More information about theawards and the 2005 competition can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/P3 .

-Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov

BIOFUEL PROJECTS AWARDED GRANTS:

From Field to Fuel Tank: Exploring the Implementation of Biodiesel as aSustainable Alternative to Petroleum Diesel in Oregon's Willamette Valley(OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY)

Production and Use of Biodiesel from Waste Oil Feedstock and Bio-basedMethanol at Middlebury College (MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE)

Community-Scale Biodiesel: An Affordable, Renewable Resource (OBERLINCOLLEGE)

Reduction of Use of Petroleum Energy Resources by Conversion of WasteCooking Oils into Diesel Fuel (PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY)