KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 28 (UPI) -- Officials at Midwest Research Institute and Battelle have announced a new joint operating contract in the United States.
Ohio-based Battelle and Missouri-based MRI, will continue their co-management of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory where they have been pursing renewable energy applications such as biofuels, solar and wind.
The new deal is expected to take effect when their current contract expires on November 8, 2008.
"Through our collaborative efforts and support, NREL scientists and engineers have established an impressive track record for research and developing new technologies that are advancing the applications of energy efficiency and renewable energy, such as biofuels, solar, and wind, to address the nation's energy challenges and President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative," said James Spigarelli, president and chief executive officer of MRI.
Midwest Research Institute, a not-for-profit scientific research institute, has managed NREL since its inception in 1977 and brought Battelle, an independent not-for-profit research, development and laboratory management organization, to the NREL M&O management team nearly ten years ago. Combined, Battelle and MRI have more than 70 years of experience in managing or co-managing six cutting-edge national laboratories for the Energy Department.
Energy Department officials announced that the new contract will be up when the current contract expires. They noted that the competition reflects the department's commitment to regularly compete its M&O contracts for national laboratories to ensure the greatest possible benefit to the department, its mission and the Nation.
