Around the State
2022 Energy , Economy & Engineering
COMPILED BY EMILY RICE
WVJIT and PointSquared Ventures Fund Launch of ECO2
The West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust ( WVJIT ) and PointSquared Ventures have announced the closing of a seed round investment into EcoC2 Industries , LLC , enabling the company to complete its second round of laboratory testing and optimization . The investment positions the company to plan the development of a pilot facility to demonstrate its transformational catalyst and chemical process that converts natural gas to valuable chemicals .
EcoC2 was founded by the principals of REAXCOR , which is a venture studio based in Morgantown , WV , established to commercialize the chemical conversion of coal and natural gas . REAXCOR owns and operates a unique 10,000- square-foot facility that has both laboratory and pilot scale research capabilities . EcoC2 ’ s innovative catalyst was created in the REAXCOR laboratory by experienced scientists and engineers .
“ Successful validation of EcoC2 ’ s patented and patent-pending technologies will enable the creation of hundreds of high-wage manufacturing jobs in regions with significant reserves of shale gas , including right here in the Appalachian Basin ,” says Andrew Zulauf , executive director of the WVJIT and early supporter of EcoC2 .
EcoC2 has benefited from developmental and strategic support from a major company in the global petrochemical business . Initial evaluations indicate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 80 % compared to current state-of-the-art processes while having the potential for improved efficiencies and cost reductions .
“ EcoC2 is well aligned with a changing geopolitical landscape geared toward domestic manufacturing while simultaneously reducing carbon from a major product supply chain ,” says Robert Wentz , founder of PointSquared Ventures and investor in REAXCOR .
WVJIT led the seed investment round , joined by PointSquared Ventures and principals of REAXCOR . Michele O ’ Connor from the WVJIT and Wentz will serve on the board of directors of EcoC2 along with two REAXCOR founders and an independent industry expert .
Contractors Association of West Virginia Announces 2022 Scholarship Winners
The Contractors Association of West Virginia ( CAWV ) Scholarship Foundation distributed $ 22,500 this year to West Virginia college students pursuing an education and career in construction or engineering . Recipients were selected based on their academic performance , extracurricular activities , work experience , financial need and an interest in a construction industry career . Eligible schools include West Virginia University ( WVU ), WVU Institute of Technology , Marshall University , Fairmont State University and Bluefield State College .
CAWV Scholarship Foundation Chairman Gene Thompson with 2022 scholarship winner Cole Moore .
Cole Moore , a civil engineering student from Marshall University , was selected as this year ’ s top scholarship recipient and awarded $ 7,500 . Moore , a native of Boone County , is currently a junior at Marshall . He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity , where he recently served as president . He has worked the past three summers as a pipeline laborer and recently accepted an internship with Kokosing Construction Company .
Moore expressed his thanks to the
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