27 Aug
Wind Application Centers Finds Home at Montana State University
Ahh, this little bit of news is near and dear to my heart! As many of you may, or may not know, I am a Montanan, and as such must face more extremes in weather than you’d ever believe. Snow on the 4th of July, got it…winter from September til May, yep…winds up to 100 miles per hour and temps dipping as high as 110 and as low as -42, check, all here. That said, Montana State University, is also here and now the home to a Wind Application Center. Bravo!
According to reports, “the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has named Montana State the home for a new Wind Applications Center.” Yeah!! By assigning MSU this title, $40,000 a year for 3 years will be rolling into the University to help put wind specific topics and courses into the engineering programs. Robb Larson, a professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering says:
“We’re a land grant institution dedicated to outreach and engineering,…It makes sense to support this industry that will eventually help students find jobs in their own state and support this clean, renewable energy industry.”
The hope is that on top of the government grants, more supplemental grants come in to really provide adequate funds to launch a full-fledged Wind Technology division. With some reports counting on wind power to provide up to 20% of the nation’s electrical generation by as early as 2030, more of these grants, and more of these programs need to start popping up soon! Go Wind Power!
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