TypeError: Cannot read properties of null (reading 'sendTransaction')

[paulcoffee85]

Came across this problem after finding immediate fix, but thought others could benefit. So posting anway.

$ npx hardhat run scripts/deploy_and_store.js --network goerli
Nothing to compile
TypeError: Cannot read properties of null (reading 'sendTransaction')
   at ContractFactory.<anonymous> (C:\Users\paulc\Events\node_modules\@ethersproject\contracts\src.ts\index.ts:1247:38)      
   at step (C:\Users\paulc\Events\node_modules\@ethersproject\contracts\lib\index.js:48:23)
   at Object.next (C:\Users\paulc\Events\node_modules\@ethersproject\contracts\lib\index.js:29:53)
   at fulfilled (C:\Users\paulc\Events\node_modules\@ethersproject\contracts\lib\index.js:20:58)```

[paulcoffee85]

At least 4 Resolves are:

1 ) In your hardhat.config.js you should have accounts instead of account. Due to this typo, ethers cannot invoke 'sendTransaction' once the signer is null

2. First line of your hardhat.config.js should be
   require('dotenv').config()

3. Add 0x to PRIVATE_KEY

4. You need to provide your private key your hardhat.config.js file instead of your public key/address.