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Sandia Technology logo A quarterly research and development magazine.

Winter 2006/2007
Volume 8, No. 4

SANDIA TECHNOLOGY

news notes


DOE selects Sandia Labs as Solid-State Lighting Center

Jerry simmons and Secretary Bodman
The mixture of light from LEDs of multiple colors creates white light with a high color rendering quality. (Courtesy of Fred Schubert, RPI)
Sandia National Laboratories is the new home of the National Laboratory Center for Solid-State Lighting Research and Development. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman made the announcement at a news conference at Sandia’s International Programs Building in October.

Sandia will conduct vital solid-state lighting research and coordinate related research efforts at several other national laboratories. DOE will provide funding of $5 million for seven research projects in solid-state lighting, including $2.6 million for four Sandia projects, Bodman said. The funding comes from DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

“The research will be conducted at the new nanotechnology centers at our national laboratories,” Bodman said, including the just dedicated Sandia/Los Alamos Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT). “This is part of nearly $20 million we are committing this year to support research and development efforts in this rapidly emerging technology.”

Jerry Simmons and Secretary Bodman
Jerry Simmons, left, senior manager of Sandia’s Energy Sciences Department briefs visitors, including DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman. Shortly after, Bodman announced that the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Sandia is the new home of the National Laboratory Center for Solid-State Lighting Research and Development. (Photo by Randy Montoya)
Bodman laid out the case for investment in solid-state lighting R&D, noting that 18 percent of all U.S. energy generated — valued at $55 billion — goes to lighting homes, offices, and factories. “We believe a set of revolutionary new technologies, called solid-state lighting, offers excellent prospects for meeting our future lighting needs in a less costly, more efficient way than today’s incandescent and even fluorescent fixtures,” Bodman said.

“We also believe that solid-state lighting presents an excellent opportunity for the U.S. to assume a leadership role in an emerging industry that can generate thousands of highpaying, high-quality jobs in the years ahead and help maintain the U.S. economy’s strong record of global leadership in growth and jobs creation.”

U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman said he hoped the tens of thousands of high-paying jobs that will emerge in this budding industry in the next few years will stay in the U.S., rather than go overseas. “It makes sense that this research will be done right here at Sandia, where scientists are already hard at work developing this technology.”

U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici praised DOE for making the investment in solid-state lighting research. He said there are many ways the nation can address the issue of the overconsumption of crude oil from overseas. He predicted a bright future for solid-state lighting. “There will be spin-offs” from this research, he said, and the labs involved will find “the longest waiting list they’ve ever seen” for partners from industry and academia eager to collaborate on research projects.

Technical Contact: Jerry Simmons (505) 844-8402, jsimmon@sandia.gov
Media Contact: Chris Burroughs (505) 844-0948, coburro@sandia.gov