US offering $45 million for huge wind energy test bed

[waqasahmed]

On a day when one of the largest wind farm plans bit the dust, the US Department of Energy is offering up a five-year, $45 million contract to design and build a large dynamometer facility for testing 5 to 15 MW rated wind turbines and equipment.
The DOE says such a facility is needed as the US has fallen behind other countries in the race to build ever-larger wind turbines for energy production. According to the DOE, the average size of wind turbines installed in the United States in 2007 increased to roughly 1.65 MW. Additionally, turbines already developed range in the 2.5 MW to 3.5 MW capacity sizes; with plans being developed for even greater power ratings. The larger wind turbines have outpaced the availability of US-based testing facilities, the DOE stated.

More info here

At least they're doing something to meet our demands for future energy needs!