Moniz Says ARPA-E Funding Needed for New Technologies

Increased funding for the Energy Department’s program to push high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that aren’t quite ready for private-sector investment is important to support early-stage clean energy technologies, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said at an annual showcase of energy innovations.

Although private investments are important to help commercialize new renewable technologies, it’s the federal government’s funding through its ARPA-E program (Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy) that really helps make these startup technologies a reality, Moniz said March 1 at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit.

The Energy Department said ARPA-E projects could radically improve U.S. economic prosperity, national security and environmental well ...