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Energy Department to spend $33M on clean energy tech research

The fresh funding is intended to boost support for projects in regions that have typically received fewer federal research dollars.
WASHINGTON D.C., Aug. 28 2022 -- A sign outside the Department of Energy building on Independence Ave SW. (Image credit: John Hewitt Jones)

The Department of Energy has announced $33 million in fresh funding for research projects focused on clean energy technology.

On Wednesday, the agency said it had allocated support for 14 projects in regions of the United States that historically have received a disproportionately low amount of research funding.

The selected initiatives will investigate topics including fusion and quantum computing, as well as grid integration, renewable solar and wind energy, and advanced manufacturing.

According to the agency, the funding projects will be spearheaded by major universities such as Boise State University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and West Virginia University.

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In a statement, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granhom said: “Today’s funding will help ensure all regions of the country share in the ownership of priority research that advances science and addresses energy and environmental issues as the country moves ahead to reach the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious climate goals.”

She added: “America’s next big energy breakthrough can come from anywhere in the nation, and that’s why Federal R&D investments should reach and benefit all parts of the country … [t]he funding we’re announcing today will spur innovation and create energy jobs around the nation.”

The funding which will be provided through the Energy Department’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), which is intended to distribute federal research funding across a wider geographical area and strengthen research capabilities in underserved regions. EPSCoR has 28 designated jurisdictions, including 25 states and three U.S. territories.

The Commerce Department in May announced a program with similar goals for research funding as part of its $500 million Tech Hubs program, which is intended to significantly expand opportunities for technology research and development across the United States.

The Tech Hubs program was authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act and is intended to expand opportunities for the commercialization of innovative technology outside traditional industry hubs such as Austin, Boston, New York and San Francisco.

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The Energy Department’s planned funding will provide about $33 million in Fiscal Year 2023 dollars for two-year projects and list of the projects and universities selected has been announced by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES).

Nihal Krishan

Written by Nihal Krishan

Nihal Krishan is a technology reporter for FedScoop. He came to the publication from The Washington Examiner where he was a Big Tech Reporter, and previously covered the tech industry at Mother Jones and Global Competition Review. In addition to tech policy, he has also covered national politics with a focus on the economy and campaign finance. His work has been published in the Boston Globe, USA TODAY, HuffPost, and the Arizona Republic, and he has appeared on NPR, SiriusXM, and PBS Arizona. Krishan is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School for Journalism. You can reach him at nihal.krishan@fedscoop.com.

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