Gov. Jim Doyle, D-Wis., has announced the creation of the Clean Energy Generation, Transmission and Storage Systems (CEGTS) consortium that combines the expertise of state industry and government partners with the research and development capabilities of the public and private academic institutions of Wisconsin.Â
The consortium will build upon the strong network of energy research expertise between Madison and Milwaukee academic institutions and industry. The Center for Renewable Energy Systems (CRES) in Madison and the Southeastern Wisconsin Energy Technology Research consortium in Milwaukee will join together as a focused single statewide power and energy organization.
This consortium will provide continuous research and development for the state's industrial leaders in a wide range of technologies that are crucial for clean energy development and economic growth, such as wind turbine and power conversion, composite structures and nanomaterials, and energy storage for stationary and mobile applications.
The consortium will have access to the CRES in order to conduct sponsored research that focuses on the integration of new clean energy technologies into highly efficient systems. CRES will be one of the first tenants in the new Wisconsin Energy Institute, a $50 million building project initiated by Doyle to house the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. The university plans to begin construction of the facilities in June.
Consortium activities will be conducted at the UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee campuses, as well as at Marquette University and the Milwaukee School of Engineering, by researchers from a variety of disciplines.
The consortium will be funded by a combination of federal, state, regional, local and private industry sources. Additional financial support for facilities, infrastructure and outreach activities will be sought from private foundations. The Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence will provide $300,000 in seed capital for the first two years of operation. The project is expected to leverage $37 million in combined sponsored research over a 10-year period.
SOURCE: Office of Gov. Jim Doyle
