; (2) to reliably, cost-effectively, safely, and securely integrate and manage variable and distributed energy resources, including— (A) distributed generation; (B) combined heat and power; (C) energy storage; (D) electric vehicles; (E) energy efficiency; (F) demand response; (G) smart technologies that can enable integrated systems control of distributed energy resources; and (H) other technologies; (3) to improve the integration and interoperability of telecommunications, information technology, operational technologies, or other systems and technologies with the electric grid; (4) to help States overcome any technological, regulatory, business model, and market barriers; (5) to increase electricity reliability levels from levels available as of the date of enactment of this Act to levels sufficient to provide critical load; (6) to define the role of the electric utility of the future as compared to products provided by market-driven entities; (7) to mitigate specific challenges that are unique to the region where the project is located, including reliability and resilience concerns; (8) to address the problems faced by the research community at the time of the award