NEW ENERGY IN YUMA

Local company turns focus to Yuma's natural resources
Mara Knaub, September 6, 2010 (Yuma Sun)

"SouthWestern Technologies (SWT) of Yuma made a million dollars a year. Then the economy went sour, and revenues dropped to $40,000 a month…Then revenues dipped even more…"

"But instead of calling it quits, …[SWT] decided to change their focus and give back to the community. The company has turned its attention to alternative/renewable energy and education…Company officials say that exploiting the area's natural resources can provide…job opportunities and stable economic growth…With such a high rate of unemployment in Yuma County, they believe that developing alternative/renewable energy will serve as a stimulus for the local economy.

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"…[SWT has] invested $1.5 million of their own money into researching and developing the plan…The company is proposing that Yuma County and the Imperial Valley form a coalition, combining solar, biomass and geothermal natural resources. The coalition would then have leverage to obtain funding to create an alternative and renewable energy research and development center in Yuma…"

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"…SWT [was founded] in 1994…[It] concentrated its business on reducing the startup and costs for companies intending to test at military installations…[As the company expanded, it] contracted with major U.S. and international corporations…[I]ts current thrust is now the planning and positioning for the creation of the “right synergies” to establish a “center of excellence in Yuma that will [among other things]…evolve alternative/renewable energy research, development and production and attract [renewable energy businesses]…

"The college of engineering and advanced technology would work with the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Arizona Western College to meet current and future technical education needs of Yuma and the surrounding area…[and] alternative/renewable energy can provide jobs for many more than just those with a graduate and undergraduate education…With 360 days of sunshine a year [and various biofuels options], Yuma can be an ‘energy dynamo’…"