Contest announced for Utah energy innovators

SALT LAKE CITY — Grow Utah Ventures is sponsoring a "Concept to Company" contest to reward energy innovators.

The company announced Tuesday that its second "Concept to Company" contest focused on responsible energy is open for submissions.?

Last year's grand-prize winner, Altus Poles, developed a unique braiding device for the fabrication of fiber-grid pole structures with high strength-to-weight ratios. The braiding device enhances critical properties of the fiber/resin system while allowing mass production of inexpensive, lightweight alternatives to metal and wood support structures such as power poles, according to a media release from Grow Utah Ventures.

This year's responsible energy contest will include cash and consulting prizes of $20,000. One grand prize winner will be awarded $10,000 in cash and consulting services, and two runners-up will each receive $5,000 in cash and consulting services from the contests' sponsors

Submissions can be made on the contest website at www.ConceptToCompany.org until Aug. 31. A group of finalists will be announced Sept. 13, and they will be invited to make a live presentation to a panel of energy industry experts at the new Utah State University Bingham Entrepreneurial & Energy Research Center in Vernal on Sept. 22.