Minnesota Ag Connection - National/World News - Texas to Create $8.4 Million Renewable Energy Institute

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Texas to Create $8.4 Million Renewable Energy Institute
USAgNet - 07/29/2010

Texas Tech University and the National Institute for Renewable Energy, a non-profit, public/private collaboration, will receive $8.4 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund allowing them to help resolve key scientific and technology issues facing the wind power industry. The announcement came from Gov. Rick Perry, the Texas Tech University System, the Innovate Texas Foundation and The Wind Alliance.

"Texas is home to some of the brightest minds in the energy business, both in the private sector and at our world-class universities, like Texas Tech," Gov. Perry said. "This TETF investment will ensure that Texas can continue to add wind capacity and prepare to connect wind farms to the grid and our major cities, helping address the growing energy needs of a population that is expanding by about 1,000 people per day."

Texas Tech and its wind research organizations will receive $6.4 million of the award.

"We are thrilled to receive this Texas Emerging Technology Fund grant," Texas Tech University System Chancellor Kent Hance said. "Texas Tech is nationally recognized as a leader in wind-energy research. As our country moves toward energy independence, Texas Tech will continue to create innovative solutions and make advancements in all areas of the power generation sector. Because of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, consumers will benefit more quickly from the ever expanding investments in wind power generation technologies."

Wind power will fuel more than high-paying jobs by providing incremental power production and expanding rural community and school district tax receipts. When combined with other forms of energy, wind power expands energy independence and extends Texas’ global energy leadership.

NIRE will receive $2 million in support of its plans to design, construct and operate research wind farms, selling the power generated in the commercial marketplace to fund a non-profit research center. NIRE also will provide services to industry partners and offer an industry consortium, which will be managed by The Wind Alliance.

National organizations supporting NIRE include the American Wind Energy Association, The Wind Alliance and The Wind Coalition. They will be joined by as many as 30 private-sector firms with large investments in renewable energy projects.