Funding carbon fiber research projects

Lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber can potentially save energy by making vehicles lighter, which improves fuel efficiency. Its promising energy-saving aspects landed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) $34.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to develop a new Carbon Fiber Technology Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Researchers at the center have set a goal to make carbon fibers more economically viable by lowering the price to less than $5 per pound (as compared to its current price, $10-20 per pound) by investigating new manufacturing processes and feedstocks. DOE received ARRA funds for several other energy-efficiency projects to spur development of clean energy technology.