Saturday, June 26, 2010

Deepwater Wind Research

...It is reported to be the first Department of Energy funding commitment expressly dedicated to so-called deepwater wind power research. During a visit Friday to the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center where he was accompanied by Senator Susan Collins, US Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a $20 million federal investment in deepwater wind energy research. Chu is an academic physicist and longtime proponent of alternate energy sources and of shifting away from fossil fuels.
As reported by BigNews.biz, Senator Collins reflected on the potential of deepwater offshore wind, and expressed hope that the new federal funding will help the Maine researchers meet their lofty goal of building the world's first floating turbine wind facility by 2012:
"I believe that deepwater, offshore wind has enormous potential to help us meet our nation's electricity needs and to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. But, it also presents an exciting opportunity for the State of Maine to create thousands of much-needed, good-paying green jobs," Senator Collins said.

This "You Tube" segment is from 2007, long before he was Energy Secretary,  I am confident Secretary Chu, who is heading up the efforts to stop the rupture of the BP 'BOP,' never expected such a tragedy.