Nat'l wind energy research center at UMaine gets early nod from Senate
A Senate subcommittee today approved $4.8 million to establish a National Center for Deepwater Offshore Wind Research at the University of Maine, according to Sen. Susan Collin's office.
The funding was approved by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and is included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The measure is now scheduled to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow before being sent to the full Senate. Gov. John Baldacci and Habib Dagher, director of the University of Maine's Advanced Engineered Wood Composite Center, in early June met with U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu to advocate for the funding. The delegation asked for $20 million in economic stimulus money to fund an offshore wind research center that would include a facility at UMaine and coastal and offshore test centers.
According to Collin's office, estimates are that the development of just 5 gigawatts of offshore wind in Maine could attract $20 billion of investment to the state and could create more than 15,000 jobs that would be sustained over 30 years.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments