WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced today $5.8 million in funding for four innovative energy technology projects across the 14th Congressional District. The funds were awarded by the Energy Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) through its "OPEN 2012" program. Rep. Eshoo has been a strong advocate for the fundamental research needed to develop revolutionary energy technologies and worked directly with business and academic leaders from Silicon Valley to propose the ARPA-E initiative.

"The innovative energy applications of tomorrow will be born out of our investments today," Rep. Eshoo said. "Consumers, businesses, universities and local schools will all benefit from a brighter energy future. These awards are a commitment to that vision and demonstrate how Silicon Valley will be a focal point of America's energy revolution for years to come."

ARPA-E seeks out innovative and promising projects that have the potential to revolutionize energy technology for the next generation. The projects selected offer simple, cost-effective solutions to a number of energy issues. The following projects in the 14th Congressional District were awarded funding in this announcement:

$399,901 to Stanford University

Photonic Radiative Day-Time Cooling Devices: Stanford Univeristy will develop a coating for the rooftops of buildings and cars that reflects sunlight and allows heat to escape, enabling passive cooling, even when the sun is shining. This device requires no electricity and would reduce the need for air conditioning, leading to energy and cost saving.

$523,172 to Glint Photonics, Inc.

Self-Tracking Concentrator Photovoltaics: Glint will develop a solar concentrator that can capture the full amount of available sunlight regardless of the sun's position. Unlike today's technology, this concentrator does not require complex moving parts to track the sun's movements. Glint's inexpensive design uses an automatic optical system of fluid layers that adjust their positions in response to solar heat.

$4,000,000 to Alveo Energy

Open Framework Electrode Batteries for Cost-Effective Energy Storage: Alveo Energy will develop a grid-scale storage battery using Prussian Blue dye as the basis for active material within the battery. Prussian Blue is inexpensive, readily available, and most commonly known for its application in blueprint documents. Alveo will repurpose this inexpensive dye for a new battery that can endure more charges under more extreme circumstances without suffering internal damage, helping to facilitate the adoption and deployment of renewable energy technology.

$935,196 to Palo Alto Research Center (PARC)

Printed Integral Batteries: PARC will develop an innovative manufacturing process for lithium-ion batteries that reduces manufacturing costs and improves performance. PARC's printing process would manufacture narrow stripes within battery layers that could improve the amount of energy storage allowing an extended electric vehicle driving range.

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