U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) today announced that the University of Maine will receive $12.4 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The funding will be used to construct a new Advanced Nanocomposties in Renewable Energy Laboratory at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center.
“I am delighted to have helped successfully secure funding for this important project,” said Senator Collins. “I am a strong supporter of UMaine’s Composites Center because of its excellence in research and development, and because of the project’s vital role in securing our renewable energy needs. This new facility will be one of the nation’s leading laboratories for the development of advanced composites for offshore wind energy research.”
As a result of her hard work and advocacy, Senator Collins has successfully secured more than $25 million for UMaine’s offshore wind research program since Octobr. In addition to today’s $12 million NIST grant, Senator Collins was instrumental in advocating for an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and also secured $5 million included in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill.
The 30,000 square foot laboratory addition will support a materials and engineering research program designed to capitalize on two of the state’s key resources, wind energy and wood. Maine has an estimated 149 gigawatts of offshore wind energy within 50 nautical miles of its shoreline, according to figures from UMaine. The facility, when complete, would be the only one of its kind in the country with the capabilities to design, manufacture, and test advanced wood composite components for offshore wind facilities. Experts estimate that developing 5 GW of offshore wind in Maine would create 15,000 jobs and bring $20 billion to the state.
The funding is being distributed to Maine through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which Senator Collins helped author. The NIST grant awards will support the construction of new scientific research facilities at 11 universities nationwide and will launch more than $250 million in new laboratory construction projects beginning early next year. The UMaine project is expected to be completed by Spring 2011.
In December, Senator Collins wrote to the Department of Commerce in support of the University’s funding request. A copy of her letter can be found
here.