WASHINGTON D.C. – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and
Ron Wyden announced today that a partnership involving PV Powered, a
manufacturer of photovoltaic solar inverters in Bend, Oregon, will receive up
to $3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop solar energy
grid integration systems (SEGIS). A
portion of that funding will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act.
“Every day, we’re seeing countries like China and India pour
resources into the development of clean energy technology,” Merkley said.
“To stay competitive in the world market and restore America’s long-term
economic stability, the United States must transition to a clean energy
economy. The key will be making investments in American clean energy jobs
like those being created at PV Powered in Bend.”
“Finding
ways to connect solar power technology to our electric grid and bringing new,
high-paying jobs into Oregon is a win-win no matter how you slice it,” Wyden
said. “This funding will continue Oregon’s reputation as an alternative energy
powerhouse and improve our economy at the same time.”
PV Powered’s project will optimize critical tools and techniques
for connecting an array of different solar electric systems to the electricity
grid.
PV Powered will be partnering with Portland
General Electric (Portland, OR), South Dakota State University (Brookings, SD),
and Northern Plains Power Technologies (Brookings, SD), Schweitzer Engineering
Laboratories (Pullman, WA), SENSUS (Raleigh, NC) for the project.
PV Powered was first selected to receive an award through the SEGIS program in
September 2008.
According to the DOE, the selected
projects focus on the most promising technology advances and include
development of intelligent system controls. These projects ultimately seek to
maintain or improve power quality and reliability, as well as return economic
value, while increasing integration of solar technologies into the U.S.
electrical grid.
PV Powered was founded in 2003 and is the largest
manufacturer of solar power inverter technology in the United States.
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