Local company turns focus to Yuma's natural resources

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.

“With the economic downturn, we went from $40,000 a month to zero,” CEO Ed Duppstadt told the Yuma Sun.

But instead of calling it quits, Duppstadt and company president Jim Davis decided to change their focus and give back to the community. The company has turned its attention to alternative/renewable energy and education, which they believe is “Yuma's highway to tomorrow.”

Company officials say that exploiting the area's natural resources can provide “an economic shot in the arm” and 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.

They have so much faith in the concept that Duppstadt and Davis have invested $1.5 million of their own money into researching and developing the plan.

“We figured it's time to give back to the community that's been good to us for 15 years,” Duppstadt said. “We are fortunate to have a managing group that thinks ahead of the box, not just out of the box, and believes that planning is necessary.”

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.

“We are a very seasonable city – agriculture in the spring, winter visitors. We need something that levels out the economy year-round,” Duppstadt said.

“Our research and concentration has been on those elements that are best suited to the Yuma natural environment - solar, biofuel to include ethanol, biodiesel and methane, as well as geothermal,” he added.

Duppstadt founded SWT in 1994. He was a veteran, just retired after 20 years of civil service at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, when his friend, Jim Davis, called from Alexandria, Va., and asked him to monitor testing of a tank at YPG.

“Next thing I know, I have four, five other companies asking me to do the same for them,” Duppstadt said.

SWT concentrated its business on reducing the startup and costs for companies intending to test at military installations by helping in the planning, setup, selection of support options, data gathering and post-test cleanup.

As the company expanded, Davis joined the company with offices in Alexandria, Va. SWT also opened offices in Houston, Texas; Conway, Ark.; and Picatinny, N.J.

The company contracted with major U.S. and international corporations and performed work at YPG, Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico as well as in England, France and Belgium.

However, its 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 provide college undergraduate and graduate education, evolve alternative/renewable energy research, development and production and attract industry.”

The first obstacle that needs to be overcome is young people's fear of math and science, Duppstadt said.

“Young people today are terrified of math. They're not taught that it's fun, they think it's only for geeks and engineers, so kids shy away from it.

“It should start out in preschool, doing little things with math that are fun. It doesn't have to be difficult, it can be simple, but it can go a long way.”

To attract and retain “talented young people,” he believes the old Hotel Del Sol in Yuma should be rehabilitated to house the Arizona Institute of Technology (“or whatever final name is chosen”).

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.

But Duppstadt believes that the field of alternative/renewable energy can provide jobs for many more than just those with a graduate and undergraduate education.

“Just because we're looking at technology doesn't mean you have to be an engineer or a math whiz. There are lots and lots of jobs related to this technology. The average technician can handle it without a problem.

“An unbeatable combination of natural resources can and will produce not only alternative and renewable energy, but will provide long-term meaningful employment and be attractive to scientists, educators and industry.”

Developing the industry, he added, will go a long way toward reducing the use and reliance of fossil fuels. “We're sitting on an energy deficiency time bomb.”

With 360 days of sunshine a year, Yuma can be an “energy dynamo.” Duppstadt noted the local climate permits year-round photovoltaic and solar-thermal development.

Solar is the “most abundant, least costly and quickest way to generate electricity,” he said. But there is also photovoltaic technology, which captures solar energy either by stationary or tracking/moving panels.

Solar thermal is a less mature technology but more efficient than photovoltaic, he said. It collects the sun's energy by superheating fluids and making steam, which powers turbines to generate electricity.

While solar is the most obvious, the area's natural resources allow for much more, Duppstadt said. “We have to think about the big picture, not just solar, that's just a little part of the big picture.”

The area's already large established agriculture industry allows for biomass technology.

“Agriculture has been a dominant economic driver in Yuma County for a really long time. That isn't about to become any less dominant in the future,” he said.

Harvest leftovers would be converted into biofuels for transportation needs. Duppstadt said biofuels can be easily produced and distributed, existing distribution capabilities can be simply modified to handle biofuels and existing engines and technology can be used without expensive modifications.

Algae can also be used. Duppstadt pointed out that the Yuma area and Imperial Valley have an abundant supply of algae in the tribe's settlings ponds, the Salton Sea and other sources.

Another option is methane. “Natural gas and methane offer alternatives that are inexpensive and readily available. Gasoline prices are going to continue to rise and people will be looking for alternatives,” Duppstadt said. “Those who cannot afford to buy new hybrid or electric vehicles will find conversion of their current internal combustion engines a reasonable alternative.”

Cattle-feeding facilities can also be used to turn manure to methane. “One cow can produce 30 cubic feet of methane a day. Think about how much energy can be reclaimed from a facility that can handle 130,000 head of cattle. That's 3.9 million cubic feet of methane a day, and the residual after processing is a better fertilizer than the raw manure,” he said.

“Take the raw material, convert it to methane, and it can be used for vehicles, for heating and cooling homes. It can take place of natural gas and can be economically competitive.”

Methane is also abundant in garbage dumps. “There's a number of landfills in the region. Put a pipe in the ground and pipe it out. It's going into the air now,” Duppstadt said.

He also sees potential in geothermal technology, which produces steam used for electricity. Duppstadt noted that western Arizona and eastern California have the largest potential concentrations for geothermal energy production in the U.S. He said there are already active plants around the Salton Sea.

It's a dream now, but Duppstadt believes it starts with the dream. But it's much more than a dream. SWT has already conducted a lot of research and planning.

“We believe in planning but our philosophy is when you put a plan together, it's like a car, it has a transmission. It requires different gears to do different things. As our company grows, we adjust the plan,” said Duppstadt.

He has faith that exploring Yuma's natural resources will strengthen the economy and make the community a better place for generations to come.

“I love this town. I love the people, which is why I do this. I want something for its future.”

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856.