JEROME - Hempitecture, the recent winner of the prestigious RISE Innovation award is to receive $8.4 million in funding from the US Department of Energy, part of the government’s ‘Investing in America’ agenda.
In total, the DOE today has announced $428 million for 14 projects to accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing in 15 coal communities across the United States. The projects, led by small-and medium-businesses in communities with de-commissioned coal facilities, were selected by DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) to address critical energy supply chain vulnerabilities.
Hempitecture, located in Jerome, Idaho, will receive funding under the programme to create an industrial fibre hemp processing and manufacturing facility to produce high performing products, with a 60-80% reduced carbon intensity, for the building materials, packaging, and automotive industry. When completed, the facility will create 25 full time jobs
"We're truly honoured to be selected through this highly competitive process that is designed to revitalise communities affected by the clean energy transition,” said Matthew Mead, CEO, Hempitecture Inc.
“This funding will be allocated to the expansion of our production technology to eastern Tennessee, helping create economic vitality along the agricultural supply chain, leading directly into our decarbonising materials."
Hempitecture won the innovation award for PlantPanel, its rigid continuous insulation material used in exterior above-ground applications.
With an R Value of R3.25 per inch, PlantPanel is said to add to thermal and acoustic comfort and performance. Engineered with a density to resist compression and deflection, PlantPanel is used in split-insulation wall and roof assemblies with either a rain screen cladding or roofing material, depending on the application.
It also has 100% biobased and recycled content, and is said to be a sustainable, low carbon continuous insulation solution that’s easy to install and safe to handle.
“This historic announcement is not only game changing news for Hempitecture, but it means that we're bringing value to our investors who have supported us in our past and current fundraising rounds,” Mead added.
“The validation of the Department of Energy in our business is a signal that biobased materials are here to stay, and that Hempitecture will remain positioned on the forefront of this emerging sector.
