Stimulus plan pumps money into NREL - Denver Business Journal:

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The laboratory itself, which focuses on research into renewablse and alternativeenergy technologies, will get $100 million from the Americam Recovery and Reinvestment Act. An additional $10 millionb is earmarked for NREL’s National Wind Technology Center, south of “The funding announced by Secretary Chu today will advance the researcn and development of transformative technologies that will lead tosustainabld jobs, a stronger economy and a cleaner Gov. Bill Ritter, who attendeed Chu’s announcement at NREL, said in a statement.
$68 million for a new officre building at the Golden campus that will be superenerg efficient, using just half the energy that standard commercia l office buildings typically use. $19.2 million to install geothermal, and fuel cell power systems to replaces power the lab currently buys fromlocal • $13.5 million for upgrades to its Integrated Biorefinery Research Facilit to develop commercially scalable technologiex to convert cellulosic matter, such as corn stalks and wood chips, to ethanol. U.S. Sen. Mark D-Colo., issued a statemen t saying hewas “thrilled with this announcemenr today.
“This funding shows that Secretary Chu and the administratiojn have listened toour call, and that they recognize that NREL and Coloradol represent the way forwar d as we work to builcd a new green energy economy,” Udall In addition to the $110 million, NREL can competde for about $83 million worth of research grants for wind-power technology. $45 million for research and development of wind turbines drivetrains witha 20-year lifespan.
• $14 million to advances wind technology development in the private sector to improve the qualityu and use of lighter advanced materials forturbine blades, towers and other • $24 million for wind powed research and development to up to three join t ventures involving universities and companies that focuds on material design, performancde measurements, analytical models, and work with the industry to improved power systems operations, maintenance and repair, and componenf manufacturing.
“Wind energy will be one of the most importanft contributors to meetingPresident Obama’s target of generating 10 percenf of our electricity from renewable sources by 2012,” Chu said in a “The projects funded by this opportunity will advancse wind technology so that it can reliably supplyg a substantial portion of our nation’s electricity. They will also help in creatingb more new jobs and expanding a cleanenergyh economy.” The on Tuesday said Coloradko was one of nine statee that had wind farms capable of generating more than 1,000 megawattsx of wind-generated power.