UMaine offshore wind lab nets $3M
The University of Maine's AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center is receiving a $3 million federal grant to buy equipment for its deepwater offshore wind research laboratory.
The grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration will fund the purchase of equipment for structural testing and pilot manufacturing of wind turbine components, according to a press release from U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. The funding also helps support studies on how to integrate new cellulose fibers from forest products into composites technology. In August, Collins brought Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to visit UMaine's offshore wind laboratory, and in October wrote a letter to the EDA in support of UMaine's funding request.
UMaine leads the DeepCWind Consortium, a group of nonprofits, businesses and utilities exploring offshore wind potential, with a goal of generating 5 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030. UMaine hopes to deploy a test turbine next summer off Monhegan Island, one of three state-approved offshore wind testing sites. The project has already received nearly $30 million from the federal government.
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