WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that Case Western Reserve University will receive more than $1,350,000 through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The investment will help fund research to improve the efficiency and increase their lifespan of Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and packaging materials. 

“New energy technology keeps the U.S. competitive and helps reduce utility bills for Ohioans. Our country’s economic and environmental future depends on a strong domestic clean energy sector,” said Brown. 

Last month, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced bipartisan legislation to spur investment in an innovative new energy technology and support jobs in Ohio. The bill would benefit companies like Sunpower Inc., located in Athens, which has developed a promising electric power generation technology – the high-efficiency linear generator. The Senators’ bill would provide parity to these companies by allowing them to access an investment tax credit that will help them scale their product to market. 

The Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2018 (SETO FY2018) funding program addresses the affordability, flexibility, and performance of solar technologies on the grid. This program funds early-stage research projects that advance both solar PV and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technologies and supports efforts that prepare the solar workforce for the industry’s future needs.  

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