ARPA-E awards grants for high risk, high reward advanced energy research

Farmingdale, NY – On Tuesday, Rep. Steve Israel (D – Huntington) brought Dr. Arun Majumdar, Director of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E), to Long Island for an expo and panel discussion with Long Island advanced energy leaders.

“Long Island has the potential to be the next green jobs capital of the United States and ARPA-E is critical to helping fund the research and development of the advanced energy technologies that will get us there,” said Rep. Israel. “Long Island companies are already benefiting from ARPA-E grants. ATK received $1 million to research carbon capture technologies in Ronkonkoma. I’m pleased to be able to bring Long Island’s advanced energy leaders together with ARPA-E Director Arun Majumdar to discuss the future of advanced energy research.”

ARPA-E is an agency within the Department of Energy that focuses on high risk, high payoff concepts that will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve overall energy efficiency. The expo at Farmingdale State College included representatives from 25 Long Island energy and technology companies.

Rep. Israel has long supported ARPA-E and advocated for funding the agency after its creation in 2007. In 2009, Rep. Israel was successful in advocating for $400 million in funding for APRA-E in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Last week, Rep. Israel and ATK announced that ATK had received a $1 million ARPA-E grant for carbon capture technology research in Ronkonkoma.

Rep. Israel is a Member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Energy and Water.