Rosen, Cortez Masto Applaud DOE Grant Funding for New Nevada Project to Advance Solar Technologies

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) released the following statement announcing a $3 million grant from DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office to be awarded to NV Energy as part of a series of new projects aimed at lowering solar electricity costs, boosting solar manufacturing, and protecting our solar technology and energy supplies from the threat of a cyberattack.

“We’re glad to see this funding awarded to NV Energy,” said the Senators. “These investments will help make solar more affordable for everyday Nevadans by strengthening the security and resiliency of our solar energy supply.” 

BACKGROUND: The Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office will award NV Energy with this funding to evaluate using behind the meter (BTM) storage, demand response, and utility “electric storage as a service” to extend the benefits and adoption of BTM solar through grid services. These services will be enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain-powered smart contracts that can track and settle transactions leveraging information from smart meters and smart inverters. The team will develop AI to use excess storage capacity for grid operations and to pay customers for their extra capacity.

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