The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will award up to $8.5 million to 53 new wind energy projects. These projects will help begin to address market and deployment challenges identified in DOE's 2008 report: ‘20% Wind Energy by 2030.’
‘Wind energy is one of our most promising renewable energy sources,’ says DOE Secretary Steven Chu. ‘By continuing to make investments in renewable energy, we can cut our dependence on foreign oil and invest in a clean energy agenda that creates jobs and puts money back into the pockets of consumers.’
The ‘20% Wind Energy by 2030’ report found that the U.S. possesses affordable wind energy resources in excess of those needed to generate 20% of U.S. electricity needs.
Projects that will receive funding fall into four categories: market acceptance, environmental impact, workforce development and distributed wind technology. Selections of two additional topic areas (supporting wind turbine research and testing; and transmission analysis, planning and assessments) will be announced at a later date.
To see the list of recipients, visit energy.gov.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Energy
