By Bryan Navarro 

MEDFORD, Ore. -- A Medford start up business is in the running for a national green energy award.

Umpqua Energy is developing ways to allow gasoline engines to burn more efficiently and with better emissions.

One of the company's products is a De-Nox Catalyst, which is added to the end of a car's tailpipe. The De-Nox Catalyst turns harmful emission gases into safe nitrogen and oxygen.

Umpqua Energy is in a contest to win an Energy Innovators Award from the U.S. Department of Energy. Part of the challenge is public voting which ends February 6th.

You can vote for Umpqua, click here.