Midland College joins community and state partners to receive National Science Foundation funding that accelerates the Permian Energy Development Lab’s workMay 11, 2023

Midland College is one of several partners to share funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that will lay the groundwork for a new regional innovation engine in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico.  The grant funding--$1 million to cover a two-year period—is the first step toward a possible ten-year, $160 million NSF investment.

“NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and growing their regional economies through research and partnerships,” NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said.  “This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation.”

Community engagement is at the heart of the Permian Energy Development Lab’s approach.  Launched this past March, the Lab will focus its work on three areas:  conducting advanced energy research and deployment, educating the next generation of energy professionals and supporting energy-intensive communities and natural resources.

The NSF award will accelerate the Permian Energy Development Lab’s progress in all three areas, with particular attention to bridging the gaps between research, entrepreneurship and job creation in the region.

Midland College’s role in the project will be to develop and provide instructional credit programs and industry-based credential continuing education programs to promote job attainment and enhancement for energy professionals in the Permian Basin.

Other partners of the Permian Basin Energy Development Lab are

• Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
• GTI Energy
• New Mexico State University
• New Mexico Tech
• Odessa College
• Sandia National Laboratories
• Texas A&M University
• University of Texas Austin
• University of Texas El Paso
• University of Texas Permian Basin
• U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)