04.21.22

Cantwell Attends Groundbreaking of New PNNL, “Premier Energy Storage Research Center”

Set to open in 2023, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Grid Storage Launchpad facility will increase clean energy adaptation and will make America’s power grid more resilient and secure

RICHLAND, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony of Pacific Northwest National Lab’s (PNNL) new Grid Storage Launchpad facility in Richland, WA. The innovative Grid Storage Launchpad will serve as a collaborative setting for national laboratories, universities, and industry to speed innovation and deployment of grid-scale energy storage technologies.

“Energy storage is going to be one of the largest economic opportunities of the 21st century. By the end of 2030, analysts predict there will be 20 times more energy storage online than at the end of 2020. At that scale, it will require more than a $262 billion investment,” said Cantwell. “This facility that we are going to break ground on, will help us insure that we are in a positon to create those opportunities for people here in the United States.”

Cantwell has consistently advocated for PNNL’s energy storage R&D efforts and has supported federal appropriations for the new Grid Storage Launchpad, totaling $75 million since the 2019 fiscal year. During Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s confirmation hearing, Cantwell secured a commitment from Granholm to prioritize funding for the Grid Storage Launchpad. She has also promoted the Launchpad and PNNL’s capabilities with numerous other top Energy Department officials over the past few years including former-DOE Secretary Dan Brouillette, former-DOE Undersecretary Paul Dabbar, and current nominee for the Office of Electricity Maria Robinson.

Cantwell also authored much of the relevant legislation authorizing the R&D that will likely occur at the new facility, including the Grid Modernization Act of 2019 which was enacted into law in December 2020, and the Smart Grid Title of the 2007 Energy Bill. When the Department of Energy approved the construction of facility in 2021, Cantwell applauded the announcement.

At the groundbreaking, Dr. Steve Ashby, Director of PNNL said, “Today we celebrate an exciting milestone in our shared vision of a clean energy future that will serve our nation for generations to come…The GSL as we call it, will bring together critical scientific research and testing capabilities to accelerate this development, testing and validation of advanced grid scale energy storage systems.”

A recording of the groundbreaking ceremony is available HERE.

A full transcript of Senator Cantwell’s remarks is available HERE.