Binghamton University is set to receive $4 million in federal funds, intended for the research and development of thin, flexible solar cells that could allow windows and even clothing to act as energy sources.

The announcement was made Wednesday by Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who said that the initiative would focus on finding inexpensive and efficient means of harnessing solar energy, as well as reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

“A project like this provides hope for the future of the Southern Tier and America,” Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

Seshu Desu, dean of the Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, will head the research. It will be conducted at the Center for Autonomous Solar Power, a part of the University’s Innovative Technologies Complex. Desu estimated the project would take three to five years.

Just .04 percent of electricity is produced from solar means worldwide. Desu said that the sun provides enough energy in one hour to supply the Earth for an entire year.

Current silicon-based solar technology is able to harness only a small percentage of the energy the sun emits, but Desu has already developed compounds that can harness the entire spectrum. These enable energy to be absorbed in lower-light settings. Desu said CASP’s work would create a product whose entire surface area could absorb the sun’s energy.

The goal for CASP is to incorporate the components that capture, store and transfer the energy — already researched — into one functional design. The materials used in the research will be chosen with the environment and cost-effectiveness in mind.

“The mission of CASP starts with sustainable materials,” Desu said.

BU was recognized in July as one of 11 “green” colleges by the Princeton Review for its commitment to the environment.

“It is vital that we look at long-term future energy generation from solar power, and Binghamton University is the right place to do just that,” said BU President Lois B. DeFleur.

Officials said the product of CASP’s work would create a financial boon for the Southern Tier, with local manufactures slated to reproduce the technology once developed.

“The research could have a very powerful impact on the creation of jobs and growth of the economy,” Hinchey (D-N.Y.) said. “It’s just the beginning.”

Significant funding for CASP was secured through the 2009 Defense Appropriations. The funds were signed into law on Sept. 30.

Earmarks, a form of government-appropriated money, have been a controversial topic in the 2008 presidential election. But Schumer said the kind of earmark designated for CASP is positive because it meets three requirements: it’s public, it’s intended for the state he represents and it withstood legislative debate.

Hinchey, who is up for re-election in the 22nd district, said the type of research CASP is conducting, rather than searching for oil domestically, is the answer to the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.

“Everybody’s talking about ‘drill baby drill,’ but they don’t know what they’re talking about,” he said.