U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has marked budget worth $93 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support further development of wind energy in the country.

Wind energy will be one of the most important contributors in meeting President Obama’s target of generating 10 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2012, said Secretary Chu.

The break-up of the plan is as follows:

$45 million for enhancing the federal government’s ability to support the wind industry through testing the performance and reliability of current and next generation wind turbine drive train systems. 

DOE will make available $14 million to advance technology development in the private sector.  This effort will aim to improve the quality and use of lighter weight, advanced materials for turbine blades, towers, and other components.  Another area of emphasis will be process controls for lamination, blade finishing, trimming, grind, painting, materials handling and inspection.

$24 million for the development of up to three consortia between universities and industry to focus on critical wind energy challenges.  These partnerships will allow universities to establish research and development programmes to advance material design, performance measurements, analytical models, and work with the industry to improve power systems operations, maintenance and repair, and component manufacturing.

DOE will invest $10 million at its own National Wind Technology Center in Colorado. This funding will enhance the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s ability to support the wind industry through testing current and next generation wind turbine drive train systems.