For Release January 22, 2008
EDCO ANNOUNCES RELOCATION OF IET HEADQUARTERS TO BEND
Integrated Environmental Technologies LLC Selects Bend for Headquarters
BEND, Oregon – Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) announced that Integrated Environmental Technologies LLC (IET), the premier provider of plasma-based clean energy technology with about 23 employees, has selected Bend for the relocation of its headquarters operation. IET has developed patented technology solutions to convert waste into ethanol, methanol and other clean fuels and commercial products, providing a low cost and environmentally sound solution to the accumulation of waste and need for clean renewable fuels.
“We’re pleased to relocate our headquarters and key professional staff to Central Oregon,” said IET President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Surma. “We believe there’s broad based support for providing clean, high tech solutions to our country’s energy needs and issues with waste disposal.”
The company’s Bend headquarters site, a 3400 square foot facility located at 595 SW Bluff Drive, will house the company’s officers, financial, project management, and administrative staff. IET intends to retain its Technology Center in Richland, Washington but may consider opening a second R&D facility in Bend to support its growing operations. IET expects to hire five to ten employees into the Bend office over the next year, principally in the project development/project management areas.
“IET is precisely the type of company EDCO works to attract to Central Oregon,” said Roger Lee, Executive Director of EDCO. “They bring high-paying, scientific jobs to the area and further enhance the region’s growing R&D and high tech clusters. They also add to Central Oregon’s base of companies with ‘green’ technologies that support a sustainable environment.” EDCO and Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) are providing logistics and financial support to assist with the relocation.
Formed in 1995, IET’s technology builds on extensive U.S. Department of Energy sponsored research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The company integrates two key technologies - plasma gasification technology and glass melter technology – in a patented approach involving high temperature electrical heating. IET’s product is called the Plasma Enhanced Melter™ (PEM™). It gasifies the organic portions of waste and converts the gas into ultra clean fuels such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, or clean electric power. The inorganic part of feed materials are converted into a relatively small amount of inert glass-like material that can be used to create items such as blasting grit or building materials. IET holds 42 patents related to its PEM™ technologies and has a number of patent applications pending in the U.S. Patent Office.
IET has installed systems for waste applications in the United States, Japan, and Taiwan. In October 2007, IET announced a contract with Dow Corning Corporation for the nation's first plasma-based gasification plant to recycle hazardous waste into useful products. In the arrangement, IET will install its patented PEM™ technology at Dow’s Midland, Michigan plant. Once the $20 million project begins to operate, Dow Corning will reduce off-site shipments of hazardous waste by over 13 million pounds per year as well as reduce natural gas consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and purchases of hydrochloric acid. IET is also negotiating contracts to broadly deploy its PEM™ technology in projects to produce a range of alternative fuels (including ethanol and hydrogen) from municipal solid waste and other feedstocks.
IET has assembled a highly qualified management team as well as a world class team of experts in the areas of waste vitrification, plasma technology, and energy conversion. The company’s management team and Management Committee include successful entrepreneurs who have created several profitable businesses from the ground up, including publicly traded technology companies.
Employees in the Bend office include IET’s Chief Financial Officer Dave Allworth, Executive Vice President David Farmer, Vice President and General Counsel Mike Rockett, and Accounting Analyst Bev Clement. Surma will split his time between IET’s Bend and Richland offices.
To view a Fact Sheet on IET's technology, click here.
About Integrated Environmental Technologies, LLC
Integrated Environmental Technologies, LLC ("IET") provides high-tech solutions to the problems of waste accumulation and the need for clean renewable fuels. Through its proprietary waste recycling system, the Plasma Enhanced Melter ("PEM™"), IET transforms municipal (household), commercial, medical, and most industrial and hazardous wastes into clean renewable products, such as ethanol, methanol, syngas and hydrogen, with minimal environmental impact and low costs. Learn more about IET at www.inentec.com.
About Economic Development for Central Oregon
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is a private non-profit corporation founded 26 years ago and dedicated to building a vibrant and thriving regional economy by attracting new investment and traded-sector jobs (manufacturing, professional, headquarters and high technology businesses) through marketing, recruitment and substantive assistance to existing companies. Learn more about EDCO at www.edcoinfo.com.
About Oregon Economic and Community Development Department
The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department provides economic, community and cultural enhancement throughout the state. The Department administers programs that assist businesses, communities and people. Oregon's economic development system is designed to meet the state's changing economy, provide flexibility in funding statewide and regional needs, and focus on funding economic and community development services for rural and distressed communities. Visit www.oregon4biz.com for more information on doing business in Oregon.
Press Contacts:
Roger Lee
Executive Director
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO)
541.388.3236; roger@edcoinfo.com
J. Michael Rockett
Vice President and General Counsel
Integrated Environmental Technologies LLC
541.749.2142; mrockett@inentec.com
Michelle Sawatka-Fernandez
Vice President; Ruder Finn
212.593.5870; fernandezm@ruderfinn.com |
