Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced the U.S. National Science Foundation has designated the New Energy New York Storage Engine at Binghamton University as a Regional Innovation Engine, part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
The project will receive up to $15 million for two years and up to $160 million over 10 years “to establish a hub that will accelerate innovation, technology translation and the creation of a skilled workforce to grow the capacity of the domestic battery industry,” according to a media release from Hochul’s office. The state will match up to 20% for the first five years of the project as well as provide support through established programs.
“With this transformative National Science Foundation grant, we are putting Binghamton and all of New York State back at the cutting edge of manufacturing and innovation,” Hochul said. “The modern era of battery technology was born right here in New York, and thanks to Majority Leader Schumer, President Biden and New York’s congressional delegation, the CHIPS and Science Act is helping to ensure that the future of batteries is built here as well.”
“With the prestigious NSF Engines award, the Southern Tier and Upstate NY has officially secured its place as the next loop on America’s battery belt,” U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said. “For years I have worked to craft and lead to passage these new programs to spur economic development, create good-paying jobs, and spark scientific innovation, specifically with places like Binghamton and Upstate NY in mind. Binghamton’s battery hub is already electrifying Upstate New York’s workforce and economy, but this investment is the crown jewel that will help fuel the scientific discovery and innovation to ensure this industry is here to stay in America.”
The NENY Storage Engine was one of sixteen national finalists for the designation, out of an original pool of 188.
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger said, “Another extraordinary win for Binghamton University’s New Energy New York (NENY) and the entire coalition. We have all of the right academic and research collaborators on board, we are partnered with major industries as well as small businesses, and our ecosystem is diverse. This is what the NSF Engines program is all about. Of course, we want to thank Senator Schumer for his vision, leadership, and support for Binghamton University and the entire NENY coalition.”
The designation “builds upon prior federal and State combined investments of $113.7 million through Binghamton University to support the creation of Battery-NY, a cutting-edge technology development, manufacturing, and commercialization energy storage hub,” the release said. In addition to $50 million in state funding first announced by Hochul in 2022, Binghamton University was selected by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration to receive $63.7 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge.