UCAIR & CHEVRON HOST $45K CLEAN AIR INNOVATION CONTEST
Selected Finalists Will Compete for Cash Prize on November 16th
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah November 14, 2016 – Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) and Chevron announced today the selected finalists of their Bright Skies – Utah Clean Air Innovation Contest. The finalists will present their innovations to the judges and public on November 16th. $45,000 cash will be awarded to winning innovators and entrepreneurs whose solutions make an immediate impact on improving Utah’s air quality.
Beginning 3 months ago, the contest gathered nearly 40 entries from across that state. The contest was open to all Utah innovators, entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profit organizations with innovations with potential to make an immediate improvement on Utah’s air quality. Bright Skies sought innovations that might reduce industrial or auto emissions, apps that get people involved in improving air quality, or other new technical developments. The contest was organized by Grow Utah, a privately funded non-profit organization who has run dozens of startup contests throughout Utah over the last 10 years. Additional sponsors were Zions Bank and the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
The eight finalists selected to present on Nov 16th are:
- Echelon Engine – A new combustible engine with a modified crankshaft that ignites when the connecting rod is past top-dead-center. This leads to higher efficiency requiring less fuel to get the same power, thus reducing heat and harmful emissions. https://echelonengines.com/technology/
- Sharelift – A ridesharing app for skiers and snowboarders to get to and from the resorts which encourages car-pooling to reduce emissions caused by traffic driving up the canyons. shareliftapp.com
- Nikola Motor Company – The first company in the world to engineer and develop a 100% zero emission, electric power semi-truck that eliminates emissions altogether. nikolamotor.com
- Mobilight Hybrid Light Tower – A mobile lighting tower that integrates a combustion engine with the latest solar, LED, and battery technology. Compared to straight diesel generator lighting towers, it reduces emissions and fuel consumption by 83%. mobilight.com
- GasPro – A filtration system that filters hydrogen sulfide and siloxane contaminants from by-product bio-methane gas at county sewage plants. When the gas is then burned, less PM2.5 particulates are spread into the air which may improve air quality by 5% along the Wasatch front. biogas-conditioning.com
- Ecotrike16 – An innovative solar electric vehicle. It uses so little power that a single roof panel provides enough power for urban travel. sunzeecar.com
- Cold Start Emissions Eradicator – A device that captures the emissions from catalytic convertors on cold vehicles and stores the emissions until the convertor is hot enough to safely burn them. This significantly reduces the emissions caused by cold engine starts.
- Idle Free Heat – A device that drastically extends the time a vehicle’s heating system can provide heat inside the cab without the engine on. This reduces the need to idle the engine in order to keep the air warm while waiting inside the vehicle. https://joelewell.wixsite.com/website
“The selected finalists are an all-around win for us all,” said Ted Wilson of UCAIR. “A win because capable people are picking up the challenge to improve air quality. A win because our younger generation feels their innovations and ideas are welcome. And a win because we will find new and innovative solutions for improving air quality. That’s what the Bright Skies Contest is about- a win for us all.”
Community partner and contest co-sponsor Chevron expressed similar feelings. “We are excited to offer this opportunity to the thinkers and doers in our state who applied their skills and knowledge to air quality improvement,” said Mikal Byrd, Policy, Government, and Public Affairs Representative at Chevron’s Salt Lake Refinery. “This contest is proof that there are great innovators in Utah. We look forward to seeing how the winners take advantage of the resources offered by Bright Skies to further develop their creative solutions.”
The final judging event will be held November 16th from 5:30-7:00 PM at the newly restored University of Utah’s Thomas S. Monson Center on South Temple (historic Wall Mansion). It is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, and to RSVP, visit: https://brightskies16.eventbrite.com
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About UCAIR
UCAIR is a statewide clean air partnership created to make it easier for individuals, businesses and communities to make small changes to improve Utah’s air. Every small change adds to a collective bigger step toward better health, a better economy and better overall quality of life for all of us. For more information, visit www.ucair.org
About Chevron
Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. Through its subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide, the company is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemicals and additives; generates power and produces geothermal energy; and develops and deploys technologies that enhance business value in every aspect of the company’s operations. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.
About Grow Utah
Grow Utah, is a privately funded non-profit organization dedicated to accelerate the creation of innovative, entrepreneur-led, high-growth businesses that will strengthen and expand the future growth of Utah’s economy.
The vision of Grow Utah is to create a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in Utah that fosters entrepreneurial talent, drives innovation to solve market needs, aligns community resources and support, and ensures funding for products, entrepreneurs and businesses of promise. Learn more at www.GrowUtah.com.
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Media Interviews
The following are available for media interviews: Ted Wilson- UCAIR, Mikal Byrd- Chevron, and T. Craig Bott- Grow Utah.
PR Contacts:
Justin Bott
Grow Utah
(801) 593-2269
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