David Neumann
A homegrown technology that scrubs sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants has been nominated for an award that honors innovation and innovators.
“NSG is honored to be considered for an Edison Award,” David Neumann, CEO of Neumann Systems Group, Inc., said in an email Wednesday.
“It is hard to comprehend being mentioned in the same breath as Thomas Edison and great technologies like the iPAD and Ford Focus Electric,” he added.
Neumann said the nomination would not have been possible “without the extraordinary dedication” of his team and “the work that has been and is being done under our public-private partnership with Colorado Springs Utilities.”
The city-owned utility had been looking at buying conventional emissions control technology for its power plants when it met Neumann. After several successful tests of Neumann’s technology at the Martin Drake Power Plant downtown, Utilities decided to invest in the NeuStream scrubbers rather than purchase existing technology.
Bruce McCormick, Utilities’ chief energy services officer, said in a recent interview that Utilities “certainly” took risk into consideration.
“But when you’re convinced that the cost is much lower and the performance is much better, those are the things that tell you, ‘Hey, it’s time to take that risk,’ he said.
The utility also factored in “the benefits to our local community around economic development,” McCormick said, referring to hopes that the technology would prosper.
The technology has faced increased scrutiny over the past year – and future funding from ratepayers is still in question – as city officials debate the future of the Drake power plant. Most recently, questions have surfaced about why Utilities awarded Neumann a sole-source contract.
In announcing the Edison Award nomination, Neumann said his technology has the “potential for revolutionary impact in a wide-range of product areas important to the industrial and economic well-being of the United States and the rest of the world.”
Neumann said the nomination came about from a recommendation from an “unnamed member” of the Edison Awards Steering Committee. Finalists will be announced in February.
This is good news for Neumann Systems Group and for the community. I hope both NSG and the community prosper — and not suffer a slow, gnarly political and regulatory decline.
Congratulations Mr Neumann & Co.
Congratulations Mr Neumann. Somehow I think Bach and company will still screw it all up.
Great news. What a blow to Leigh, Dougan and Bach. Just shows the political agenda of the Three Stooges. How many plots around Drake does Hoff and Leigh have interest in?
Neumann said his technology has the “potential for revolutionary impact in a wide-range of product areas important to the industrial and economic well-being of the United States and the rest of the world.”
Yes, it has potential. Look, I’m fine with it if we the ratepayers are buying a verified working and proven system that actually performs at the level it advertised. But it doesn’t….and never has yet. Why should ratepayers be forced to build up Mr. Neumann’s business? Especially when we were never given a choice! Go fund R&D yourself, Mr. Neumann. And while you’re at it, how about paying us back for all we’ve invested in you so far rather than threatening to leave and whining about our city leadership?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the secret CSU communications group did the nomination and paid the fee to enter the awards? How about investigating that, Gazette?
Mr. Johnson, this is Steve Berry with the Colorado Springs Utilities Corporate Communications office. I can save the Gazette the trouble of an “investigation.” In no way did our office have anything to do with this nomination or the award. In fact, we read about it in Daniel’s blog for the first time, just as you did.
With that said, congratulations to Dr. Neumann and his team!
Congrats Mr. Newman Merry Christmas.Wishing you a better and brighter New Year.
Lilithia
Being COS is such a “patriotic” community, Please report on the support Neustream technology has received from the military and government.
Congratulations Dr. Neumann for bringing your innovative ideas to fruition in the great city of Colorado Springs. The critics of your technology I assume are ignorant to the potential of what your invention could mean to Colorado Springs, The United States of America and the world. You have developed a technology right here in Colorado Springs that has the potential to liberate fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, oil and gasoline) from the burdens of “greenhouse gases” which the world is looking for solution. Your technology offers our planet this solution. Only our local politics stand in the way of what I consider the greatest environmental accomplishment since Solar and Wind. The planet will never completely depend on Solar and Wind to sustain our electrical needs since they are unpredictable. Therefore, fossil fuels will remain a part of this planet for the foreseeable future. Dr. Neumann, your brilliant work offers our planet a way to reverse the effects of global warming. The world now depends on our local government to endorse and not banish the greatest gift we can give it……..clean energy. I applaud your desire to make a difference Dr. Neumann and to better our local community in the process. Thank you for developing a simple concept that has the potential to change the world we live in. That is what Mr. Edison achieved and why you deserve to stand in the shadows of his legacy.
Mr Neumann – Congratulations on the nomination! You deserve it!! You are doing great things for our community!
We’re behind you and wish you nothing but success!