Hagan Applauds Grant Awarded to NC State for their Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan applauded the announcement that North Carolina State University will be awarded a grant to lead a $140 million new Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CEMII) project. Senator Hagan sent a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz in support of NC State's application. The project is expected to create or sustain 1,000 jobs in the first five years of operation and will be announced today by President Obama on NC State's campus in Raleigh.

"I am pleased the Department of Energy has decided to invest in North Carolina and our world-class University system," said Senator Hagan. "The Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute at NC State will create jobs, strengthen the manufacturing sector, foster new scientific research, and help to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Creating jobs is my number one priority in the Senate, and this project is the right way to invest our limited federal dollars. I will continue advocating in Washington for federal investment in research projects throughout North Carolina that will encourage innovation and bring jobs back to our state."

The Institute, which will be headquartered at NC State and involve a partnership between six academic institutions and 18 companies, will focus on creating commercially-viable applications for WBG semiconductor devices and systems. The State of North Carolina and the University system have already committed over $16 million to the Institute.

Creating jobs and growing the economy have been Hagan's number one priority in the Senate. Senator Hagan's bipartisan AMERICA Works Act would close the skills gap for advanced manufacturing positions by encouraging our nation's job training programs to match the skills of workers with the needs of employers. The legislation, which is supported by the National Association of Manufacturers and many other associations, employers and educators, establishes a national industry-recognized credentialing system so that community colleges and job-training centers are training job seekers for positions that are available now.

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