Lawmakers have been ramping up bill introductions ahead of the August recess, including measures to advance the Department of Energy’s quantum research and grid resilience capabilities.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced legislation Thursday that would provide an unprecedented $2.5 billion in funding over the next five years for a wide range of quantum-related DOE programs.
“For the last five years, the Department of Energy has pioneered research into quantum technologies to ensure the United States leads the world in computing, security, and connectivity,” Durbin said of the “DOE Quantum Leadership Act of 2024.” “I want to keep that momentum going.”
Lawmakers and advocates alike believe the increasing mix of renewables, energy storage technology and heightened demand will likely become too complex for the supercomputers currently in use by grid operators.
