RETI to Power
American Industry
American industry is at an inflection point. Given today’s surging demand for power — driven by AI, data centers, and the reshoring of U.S. industry — our grid is straining at the exact moment we need it most. The NSF RETI Engine is built to meet this challenge.
As a U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines awardee, anchored in the heart of America’s historic energy corridor, RETI brings together leading research universities and over 60 industry, government, investor, and community partners to develop the technologies that will secure America’s energy supply, strengthen our grid, and power the next generation of U.S. industry.
OUR REGION
Supercharging the Nation’s Energy Future
Appalachia built America’s industrial backbone. It powered the steel mills, chemical plants, and factories that made the United States the most productive nation on earth. That legacy is not history. It is our foundation.
West Virginia and western Pennsylvania are among the top energy-producing regions in the country, with deep existing infrastructure, a world-class technical workforce, and a tradition of industrial innovation that runs generations deep. This is the right place to solve America’s energy security challenge, not despite its industrial past, but because of it.
RETI is rooted here. And the solutions we develop here will power American industry everywhere.
Today’s Investment.
Tomorrow’s Projected Impacts.
$321 Million
Catalyzing the next leading industrial energy hub through public and private investments
$1 Billion Invested
Securing energy supply for industrial growth
150+ Startups
Building a resilient innovation ecosystem
21,000+ Jobs
Resulting in regional workforce development and economic growth
WE ARE RETI…
Ensuring energy reliability through innovation.
Advancing grid security with AI and emerging technologies.
Strengthening manufacturing, growing industry, and creating new jobs.
Accelerating technology deployment through smart policy and regional alignment.
Ensuring Energy Resilience
RETI is built on strategic drivers that create an integrated ecosystem for impact:
Research and Development
Applied, industry-inspired research focused on energy challenges that matter the most to industry and communities.
Translation to Practice
Structured pathways that scale and de-risk research innovations from lab to market.
Workforce Development
Talent pipelines aligned with industry demand, spanning students, displaced workers, and mid-career professionals.
Policy and Engagement
Reducing policy barriers to scale innovation, while prioritizing community well-being and regional needs.
Capital and Commercialization
Enabling startups to scale and grow in the region, creating significant economic impact.
The Power of Partnership
West Virginia University, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and USRIA together with 60+ regional and national partners, is driving forward a bold vision for energy security and resilience.
WVU energy strategist preparing Appalachia for what’s coming next
Long before Sam Taylor began helping West Virginia University chart Appalachia’s energy future, time away from the Mountain State showed him why he wanted to come home.
Seminar Series: Ben Kroposki, Ph.D.
10/15/2026
Leading voices on grid reliability, security, and the future of energy infrastructure.
Ben Kroposki, Ph.D.
Director, Power Systems Engineering Center
National Lab of the Rockies
Grid-Forming Inverters for Improved Reliability