Stony Brook Urges Congress to Support Cutting-Edge Energy Resilience Research

In a significant push to advance innovation and national security efforts in collaboration with the US Navy, Stony Brook University’s Director of Ecosystems Growth and Impact, David Hamilton, traveled to Washington, DC, on March 5 to advocate on for robust funding to support energy resilience research projects. In collaboration with the US Navy and UMASS Lowell, SBU is performing cutting-edge energy resilience research.

Dave Hamilton advocating on Capitol Hill.

“Our research provides critical assistance to the Navy in its efforts to create a more sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure and to help achieve reduced carbon emission goals,” said Hamilton. “To achieve superior military energy resilience, Congress must continue to provide robust funding for university-government partnerships leveraging the innovative work and expertise of university researchers.”

Resilience is defined by the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions, and prevent, withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from disruptions. Because the world is changing faster than ever, achieving energy resilience and independence requires a transformative approach that leverages fundamental research, the development of new technologies, and validation of recently developed ones that can ensure security and sustainability. The transformation of the Navy’s and the nation’s energy reliance from conventional sources to sustainable technologies requires researchers to view and address many of the operational technology challenges from a different perspective. Specific areas of interest to the Navy include: addressing electrical power disruption, grid integration of renewable energy sources, addressing energy safety and life-cycle sustainability, energy storage, improved microgrids, physical and cyber grid security, production of low to zero-carbon fuels, reducing carbon emissions, and the inspection and structural health monitoring of critical energy infrastructure.

During his visit to Capitol Hill, Hamilton joined his UMASS-Lowell colleagues in meetings with the offices of Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, Senator Markey, Rep. LaLota and Rep. Trehan.

Stony Brook’s Office of Federal Relations located in Washington, DC, coordinated these congressional meetings and works closely with SBU leadership, faculty, staff, and students to advance SBU’s federal priorities.