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DeLauro Visits Proton OnSite, ARPA-E Program Site

July 31, 2017

Important Federal Investments in Research & Technology Create Spectrum of Good Jobs

NEW HAVEN, CT (7/31/2017) – Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) went to Proton OnSite in Wallingford to discuss and see first-hand the benefits of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) program, including the job opportunities created through its investment in innovative technologies.

ARPA-E advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment. ARPA-E awardees are unique because they are developing entirely new ways to generate, store, and use energy. In November 2015, Proton On-Site was awarded a $2.5 million ARPA-E grant to develop a high-efficiency hydrogen-iron flow battery capable of generating hydrogen to power fuel cells while also storing energy on the electric grid. The battery can be recharged either using grid electricity or through exposure to sunlight. The project began in May of 2015 and will continue until 2019. Proton Onsite is also a partner in four additional ARPA-E projects.

During her tour, led by Proton OnSite Vice-President for Research and Development, Dr. Kathy Ayers, DeLauro was able to see how these investments are creating jobs now and the potential for job growth in the future. Such investments can create a range of positions from assemblers to engineers to sales and marketing jobs as well as support jobs at supplier companies.

"The federal government has long played a key role in growing our economy, like with the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy [or ARPA-E] program advances high-impact energy technologies for new ways to generate, store and use energy." said DeLauro. "ARPA-E enables energy researchers to create good-paying jobs through funding, technical assistance, and market readiness."

Falling in line with President Trump's budget proposal which eliminated the program, the FY18 Energy & Water spending bill passed the House last week zeroed out all funding for the ARPA-E program, representing a $306 million cut from FY2017 enacted levels.

"It is baffling that House Republicans recently passed a bill eliminating this program." continued DeLauro. "If people are to see better and better lives for their families, we must make smart investments in projects that grow jobs."

"Not only do ARPA-E projects create jobs in development and manufacturing at companies like Proton OnSite," said Dr. Ayers, "but they also support research positions at universities and other partner institutions, like our National Labs. We also work with many other small companies across the country."

ARPA-E projects have the potential to radically improve U.S. economic prosperity, national security, and environmental well-being. They focus on transformational energy projects that can be meaningfully advanced with a small investment over a defined period of time. ARPA-E empowers America's energy researchers with funding, technical assistance, and market readiness.

Since 2009, ARPA-E has provided more than $1.5 billion in funding for 36 focused programs and three open funding solicitations. Many of ARPA-E's more than 580 project teams have successfully leveraged ARPA-E's funding to advance their technologies: 56 have formed new companies; 68 have partnered with another government agencies; and 74 teams have together raised more than $1.8 billion in publicly reported funding from the private sector to continue to advance their technology toward the market.

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