U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu has chosen 53 new wind energy projects for up to $8.5 million in total DOE funding.

Selections are have been made for four topic areas: market acceptance, environmental impact, workforce development, and distributed wind technology. 

Selections of two additional topic areas (supporting wind turbine research and testing; and transmission analysis, planning and assessments), will be announced at a later date.

These projects will help in addressing market and deployment challenges identified in DOE’s 2008 report: “20% Wind Energy by 2030.”

The report found that the nation possesses affordable wind energy resources in excess of those needed to generate 20 percent of U.S. electricity needs. The report also identified major challenges including:  investment in a national transmission system; larger electric load balance areas and better regional planning; reduction in wind turbine capital costs; improvement of turbine performance; siting and environmental issues; and workforce development.

Last month, Chu confirmed plans for providing $93 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support further development of wind energy. Chu also announced more than $100 million in funding from the Recovery Act for NREL facility and infrastructure improvements.