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July 30, 2009

Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009

Bill Summary and Status

Passed the House on September 9, 2009

Reported (as amended) by the Full Committee on July 29, 2009

Reported (as amended) by the Energy and Environment Subcommittee on July 21, 2009 

Introduced in the House on July 9, 2009

 

Section-by-Section

Sec. 1. Short title.

Section 1 states that this Act may be cited as the “Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009”.

Sec. 2. Wind Energy Research and Development Program.

Section 2(a) establishes the overall goals of the Department of Energy’s wind energy research and development program.

Section 2(b) identifies focus areas for this program, including: new materials and designs to make larger, lighter, less expensive, and more reliable rotor blades; advanced generators to improve the efficiency of converting blade rotation to electric power; advanced computational modeling tools; and innovative control systems and blade sensors to improve performance and reliability under a wide variety of wind conditions. It also authorizes the Secretary to pursue other promising wind energy research areas not explicitly identified in this section.

Sec. 3. Wind Energy Demonstration Program.

Section 3 instructs the Secretary to carry out a significant wind energy demonstration program in collaboration with industry following enacted cost-sharing law.

Sec. 4. Equal Opportunity.

Section 4 instructs the Secretary to provide special consideration to applications
submitted by institutions, businesses, or entities containing majority representation by individuals identified in the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act.

Sec. 5. Competitive Awards.

Section 5 states that all awards shall be made on a competitive basis with an emphasis on technical merit.

Sec. 6. Coordination and Nonduplication

Section 6 insturcts the Secretary to coordinate activities under this Act with other Federal research programs to the maximum extent practicable.

Sec. 7. Authorization of Appropriations.

Section 4 authorizes to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this Act $200,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014.