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The new Energy Systems Integration Facility is the nation's first facility to help both public and private sector researchers scale-up promising clean energy technologies -- from solar modules and wind turbines to electric vehicles and efficient, interactive home appliances -- and test how they interact with each other and the grid at utility-scale. | Video courtesy of NREL.

Earlier this year, President Obama spoke to the American people about the dangers we face as the effects of climate change intensify. He and Secretary Moniz have pointed out that as extreme weather events occur more frequently, we’re also seeing more severe impacts on our energy infrastructure. These effects -- from intense storms, heat waves and droughts -- have highlighted the critical need for a more resilient, reliable and responsive electric grid.

As part of the Department’s commitment to finding climate change solutions, Secretary Moniz is in Colorado today at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) for the opening of an innovative facility that’s bringing researchers together from industry and government. The new Energy Systems Integration Facility, or ESIF for short, will play a vital role in transforming the way we use the electric grid and finding answers to the energy challenges we face.

Meanwhile, Americans are increasingly powering homes, businesses and vehicles with renewable energy resources -- and that means we must find ways to integrate these sources into our current grid. ESIF is the nation’s first research facility that will help both public and private sector researchers scale up promising clean energy technologies and offer the tools needed to test how they interact with each other and the grid at utility-scale. You can see unique elements of the facility by browsing images in this slideshow.

Read more about ESIF here, and stay tuned to energy.gov/climate-change for more information about how the Energy Department is working to find a global solution to one of the world’s most pressing problems.