Stony Brook University Advocates for Energy Resilience Research Funding in Washington DC

In a strategic move aimed at advancing innovation and national security alongside the US Navy, the Director of Ecosystems Growth and Impact at Stony Brook University, David Hamilton, recently journeyed to Washington, DC, to champion for substantial funding to support energy resilience research projects. In collaboration with the US Navy and UMASS Lowell, Stony Brook University is actively engaged in cutting-edge energy resilience research.

Energy resilience is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions while preventing, withstanding, responding to, and recovering rapidly from disruptions. With the world evolving at a rapid pace, achieving energy independence and resilience demands a transformative approach that taps into fundamental research, the development of new technologies, and validation of existing ones to ensure both security and sustainability.

The US Navy and the nation as a whole are in the process of transitioning from conventional energy sources to sustainable technologies, necessitating researchers to tackle operational technology challenges from a fresh perspective. Areas the Navy is particularly keen on include addressing electrical power disruption, integrating renewable energy sources into the grid, enhancing energy safety and life-cycle sustainability, developing energy storage solutions, refining microgrids, bolstering physical and cyber grid security, producing low to zero-carbon fuels, mitigating carbon emissions, and enhancing the inspection and structural health monitoring of critical energy infrastructure.

During his visit to Capitol Hill, David Hamilton, in collaboration with colleagues from UMASS Lowell, held meetings with the offices of Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Senator Markey, Rep. LaLota, and Rep. Trehan. The Graduate School, located in Washington, DC, played a pivotal role in coordinating these congressional engagements and continues to work closely with Stony Brook University leadership, faculty, staff, and students to advance the institution’s federal priorities.