FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2007
CONTACT: Geoff Embler or Jamie Loftus
Sen. Hutchison Urges Department of Energy to Support Cooperation Agreement with Texas Universities
Supports wind energy research in Texas
WASHINGTON -- Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman in support of the Lone Star Wind Alliance’s application to develop an advanced wind turbine blade test facility. Senator Hutchison is the author of the Creating Renewable Energy through Science and Technology (CREST) Act of 2007, which encourages the development of new and emerging energy technologies such as wind power. The CREST Act is cosponsored by several other senators, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
“While oil and gas remain important resources for our state and nation, we must explore our vast potential for renewable energy production,” Senator Hutchison said. “Our research institutions are among the finest in the world and possess the resources and experience to make this endeavor a success.”
In the letter, Sen. Hutchison expressed support for the Lone Star Wind Alliance’s application to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with DOE. Such an agreement would take advantage of the Wind Alliance’s world class research centers in the fields of large composite structures, wind engineering, electromechanical controls and power electronics.
Sen. Hutchison discussed renewable energy issues with members of the Lone Star Wind Alliance during a visit to Houston last week. The consortium includes researchers from leading Texas institutions including the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at Austin, West Texas A&M University, and other universities, such as Stanford University, New Mexico State University, Old Dominion University and Montana State University.
The letter was co-signed by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sen. John Warner (R-VA) and Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). The text of the letter is included below:
Dear Secretary Bodman:
We are writing to you in support of the Lone Star Wind Alliance’s application for a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The Lone Star Wind Alliance possesses world-leading research centers in the fields of large composite structures, wind engineering, electromechanical controls and power electronics. This partnership consists of many of our nation’s brightest minds from a wide range of universities including Stanford University, New Mexico State University, Old Dominion University and Montana State University, as well as leading Texas research institutions including the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at Austin, and West Texas A&M University. Collectively, these institutions have extensive knowledge and experience in wind energy, and they can provide the Department of Energy with a broad, national range of research capabilities.
The Department of Energy’s leadership in developing alternative sources of energy is extremely important and is having a positive impact on our nation’s energy supplies. Wind has the potential to provide a much needed source of energy to the U.S. However, we must first increase our capacity to perform full-scale testing of megawatt-scale wind turbine blades. Affiliating a new advanced wind turbine blade test facility with the Lone Star Wind Alliance is the best way to achieve this goal, and we encourage you to give their application strong consideration.
America is on the verge of a breakthrough in wind energy. We are proud to support the Department of Energy’s wind energy program, and I am confident that the Lone State Wind Alliance is prepared to provide leadership as we enter a new era of energy development.
--END--
|
