Congratulations Binghamton University

TO: Campus Presidents
FROM: Deborah F. Stanley, Interim Chancellor

Colleagues, please join me in celebrating a significant moment for the SUNY family and recognize the great effort and advocacy of Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger coming to fruition! Recently, President Joe Biden announced 21 state winners of the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge—a competition to encourage and support economic recovery in communities across the nation. Binghamton University was among those honored and, in fact, led a New York State coalition that was awarded one of the largest grants—$63.7 million in federal funding—with Governor Kathy Hochul directing another $50 million to construct the Battery-NY Center.  

​The Center will be a global hub for energy storage innovation, commercialization, and workforce development. The work done there will transform the Southern Tier economy and, in turn, play an important role in helping the state and the country achieve ambitious clean energy goals to combat climate change. 
I applaud President Stenger for his leadership in creating an anchor of energy research and development in our state. President Stenger has dedicated resources for Distinguished Professor and 2019 Nobel Prize Winner M. Stanley Whittingham, whose award-winning work in this space and expertise will be leveraged at the Battery-NY Center. 
Together with Binghamton University Associate Vice President Per Stromhaug, Dr. Whittingham and their collaborators will develop the next generation of lithium-based batteries and other clean energy technologies, as well as educate and train the next generation workforce. This important undertaking will most certainly elevate Binghamton and the entire SUNY system, underscoring the transformational research occurring on our campuses. 
I cannot emphasize enough how impactful this award will be for SUNY, New York, and our nation. We look forward to seeing the resurgence of domestic manufacturing and the next generation of energy storage right here in New York. The far-reaching impact of the Battery-NY Center will be felt for years to come.