Portland State Receives Federal Funding To Lead Regional Innovation In Smart Energy Storage
By University Communications
Portland State is leading a regional consortium of 23 companies, government agencies and nonprofits that are committed to turning the region into a global powerhouse for smart, grid-level, energy storage. The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced this week that it will fund this effort with a $500,000 Strategy Development Grant under the novel Tech Hubs program — one of only 29 awarded from nearly 400 applications nationwide.
The Pacific Northwest Smart Energy Strategy Development Consortium will promote investments in clean energy storage and the software technologies that make energy available at a moment’s notice.
EDA’s investment will uncover where relatively small investments have big impacts on the region’s ability to become a global leader in smart and connected energy storage. The consortium will develop concrete plans to fill any gaps in the energy storage ecosystem, focusing on economic growth and on making well-paying jobs accessible to everyone in the region. The consortium’s planning work will be used to apply for second phase funding of up to $75 million from EDA.
The Tech Hubs Strategy Development grant acknowledges the Portland region’s critical mass of energy storage companies.
