FirstEnergy Corp. is seeking permits to build what it described as the "Center for Advanced Energy Technology" in Akron, Ohio, to train staff on new digital grid technologies to improve services for customers.

The $37 million facility will help the company modernize the electric grid across its six-state territory, by providing engineers and technicians with a hands-on environment for upgrading the grid and evaluating and testing equipment, according to a Dec. 14 release.

"Having a facility where we can evaluate and test these technologies under real-world conditions will help us keep power flowing to our customers around the clock," Carl Bridenbaugh, vice president for transmission, said in the news release.

The center will support FirstEnergy's multiyear investment initiative "Energizing the Future" to upgrade its transmission facilities with advanced equipment and technologies to minimize power outages.