Today, the US Senate approved Senator Herb Kohl's request to direct $22.4 million in federal funds toward defense projects in Southeastern Wisconsin as part of the Senate's FY2010 Defense Appropriations Bill. Senator Kohl is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and has identified these projects as priorities for funding.   

"From improved blast resistance materials to upgraded power sources, this funding provides our troops with the equipment they need to execute their jobs while increasing their safety," Kohl said.  

As part of the appropriations legislation, Kohl received approval for:  

$2.4 Million for Advanced Corrosion Protection for Military Vehicles and Equipment at PPG Industries, Inc. The Department of Defense currently spends $10-20 billion each year on corrosion related maintenance, and this project is trying to bring that total down by creating new coatings that will protect equipment from corrosion in a variety of environments, including salty sea air and abrasive desert winds. This research will apply state of the art, high performance, environmentally friendly, anti-corrosion technologies and specialty materials for use in military applications.  Similar technologies have revolutionized the commercial automotive industry.  Development of these technologies will reduce life cycle costs and improve readiness and soldier safety.  

$3.2 Million for Cogeneration for Enhanced Cooling and Heating of Advanced Tactical Vehicles at Modine Manufacturing Company This project will capitalize on prior technical breakthroughs for evaporator and condenser design to produce demonstrators that can be rapidly transitioned to active tactical vehicle programs.  The program will use CO2 instead of more traditional Freon for air conditioning.  This will reduce the logistics burden, protect the environment, and make it easier to repair and maintain.  The air conditioning developed will also be lighter and more energy efficient while still capable of dealing with the searing desert heat.  

$1.92 Million for Enhanced Medical Situational Awareness at Shoreland Inc. This project will continue to develop a world wide network accessible through a hand held device that will guide members of the military anywhere in the world to the nearest and best medical facility.  It will be constantly upgraded to keep abreast of improvements in changes in regional health care networks.  It will also have a feed back feature which will allow the Pentagon to track changes in hospital usage world wide to monitor for potential outbreaks and warn troops and State Department officials of disease concerns.  Currently the White House and some private companies use a version of this system when traveling abroad.  

$2.08 Million for Integrated Alternative Power Systems at Eaton Corporation This project will design, develop, and build the smart nodes for an electric distribution system that balances power sources for optimal security and power efficiency by enabling a reconfigurable power network, also known as a microgrid.  This project will give the military miniature smart grids – where power production and consumption are properly balanced.  Today generators at military encampments run constantly regardless of need.  This project would create the technology necessary to have generators react when there is more power demand, and conserve power when not necessary.  This would conserve energy and fuel – reducing the logistics need of soldiers in the field.  

$4.96 Million for Large Format Lithium Ion Battery at C+D Technologies This project will develop the large Li-Ion batteries the Army needs to meet the demands of its new vehicles.  The Army's demand for electricity and batteries is constantly growing, but at the same time the Army needs batteries that are lighter weight and smarter than current lead acid designs.  Li-Ion batteries can cut the weight and increase power density, as well as give soldiers a clear idea of how much power is available.  The military wants a domestic source to provide the large batteries that the hybrid vehicles of the future will need so we are not dependent on overseas providers.  

$1.92 Million for Microdrive for Future HVAC Systems at DRS Technologies HVAC systems on ships have changed little over the last 60 years.  These legacy systems are heavy, waste energy, and are time consuming to maintain.  Current systems have only one fan speed – so the systems are either on or off.  This makes the temperature on board either too hot or too cold, and requires the system to be switching on and off, wasting energy.  This project will develop small, light, and cooler drive systems that can react smoothly to temperature variations.  The new system will also be quieter, allowing these systems to be put in sections of the ship that are low noise spaces.  

$2.72 Million for Fan Coil Assembly of the Future at DRS Technologies With the continuing growth of electronics on board ship, there is also a growing need for cutting edge HVAC systems – but advances in on board cooling technologies has been non-existent.  This project will create the Fan Coil Assemblies that will give the Navy 25-50% more cooling capacity, while also reducing weight by 25-50%, and lowering noise.  

$3.2 Million for Fire and Blast Resistant Materials for Force Protection at Triton Systems This project will collaborate with Marquette University to develop a spray on coating that will provide improved blast resistance while also reducing smoke and toxic fumes in the event of fire.  The military needs an alternative that works better than massive walls, and will not release toxic smoke when it starts to burn.  The lightweight resin developed by this project will save lives in combat zones and provide protection to federal buildings.  

The funding measure was passed by the Senate, and now goes to the President for final approval.  

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