Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, D-N.Y., has announced major new investments in clean energy through the New York Power Authority and New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA), including funding for a new wind turbine blade testing center that will be coming to the state.
The governor announced that NYSERDA has awarded $4.2 million to Intertek, an international provider of quality-assurance testing and certification, to open the East Coast's first solar testing laboratory in Cortland and launch a new wind turbine blade testing lab at Clarkson University.
Intertek will partner with Clarkson University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Alfred State College, Binghamton University and AWS TruePower to form the Center for Evaluation of Clean Energy Technology, an organization that will benefit manufacturers of clean energy technology by providing access to testing equipment and expertise.
According to the governor, having accredited testing labs for renewable energy technologies will make it easier for manufacturers – especially those in the Northeast – to get products certified and ready for market.
"NYSERDA's support for the new solar and wind blade testing centers is an excellent opportunity to enhance New York's economy by making it easier for manufacturers to get their products to market," Carol Murphy, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, said in a statement in response to the governor's announcement. "When combined with programs like the NY-Sun Initiative, these investments are strengthening New York's transition to an advanced energy economy and helping to solidify our status as a national leader and innovator.’
Other initiatives announced by the governor include a $450 million commitment to improve energy efficiency in state buildings, a goal to quadruple the amount of solar power installed in New York by 2013, and a pollution-prevention program.
