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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Bureau of Economic Geology, a research unit at |
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The University of Texas at Austin, has received a Small Business |
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Technology Transfer Phase 1 award through the United States Air |
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Force AFWERX innovation program; and |
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WHEREAS, The highly competitive Small Business Technology |
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Transfer program awards funding to small businesses in partnership |
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with nonprofit research institutions to facilitate the development |
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of commercially viable technology; the program includes a |
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three-phase process to assess the scientific, technical, and |
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commercial merits of an idea and, after a thorough evaluation is |
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made, to release the product into the marketplace; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Air Force chose the Bureau of Economic |
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Geology to perform a feasibility study on the development of |
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closed-loop geothermal energy systems at Ellington Field Joint |
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Reserve Base in Houston, where it will work in collaboration with |
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the Texas Air National Guard and Texas-based energy company Sage |
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Geosystems; the geothermal energy systems being pioneered by Sage |
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Geosystems have attracted the attention of the military due to |
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their small physical footprint, grid independence, security, |
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non-reliance on supply chains, and sustainability; and |
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WHEREAS, With the promise to improve energy resiliency, |
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geothermal technology is an advancement that has the potential to |
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have wide application in the future, and federal funding will |
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greatly assist the Bureau of Economic Geology and Sage Geosystems |
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in making this concept a reality; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Bureau of Economic Geology on |
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its receipt of a Small Business Technology Transfer Phase 1 award |
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through the United States Air Force AFWERX innovation program and |
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extend to all those affiliated with the organization sincere best |
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wishes for the success of this venture; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Bureau of Economic Geology as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |