Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Economic Development Corp. president and CEO Greg Main have announced two new Centers of Energy Excellence (COEE) designations for wind manufacturing companies Energetx Composites and Astraeus Wind Energy.
The COEE program brings companies, academic institutions, national labs and the state together to support cutting-edge research and development and pioneer new energy technology.
“Michigan is bullish on clean energy, especially wind,” Granholm said. “We are acting boldly and decisively to be the state that develops the technologies, manufactures the products and creates the green jobs that will make us the clean energy manufacturing capital of North America.”
The Michigan Strategic Fund board approved a COEE designation and $3.5 million in funding for Energetx Composites, the Holland-based spin-off of S2 Yachts, which will collaborate with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Dow Chemical Co. to manufacture wind turbine blades with advanced materials.
Dow and ORNL will deliver innovative materials and technical expertise to Energetx, and the University of Michigan and Kettering University will contribute work force training. The project will receive $3.5 million in matching funds from the United States Department of Energy.
The MSF also approved a COEE designation and $6 million in funding for Astraeus Wind Energy, a cooperative venture between MAG Industrial Automation Systems of Port Huron and Sterling Heights and Dowding Machining of Eaton Rapids, also in collaboration with ORNL and the Dow Chemical. The center will be focused on the automated manufacturing of wind turbine blade components using advanced materials. The project will receive $7 million in matching funds from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“The projects announced today have the potential to revolutionize the way that wind turbine blades are manufactured, and position Michigan as the center for advanced manufacturing, advanced materials and the supply chain for wind energy systems,” Main said.
In 2008, the MSF board awarded up to $43 million to six designated Centers of Energy Excellence. At the end of 2009, Granholm signed legislation which established a second phase of the COEE program, allowing for up to $30 million to fund additional centers. The second round was launched in January 2010.
In total, there are 10 Centers of Energy Excellence including the two announced this week: A123Systems Inc., Adaptive Materials and Sakti3 in Ann Arbor; Working Bugs LLC in East Lansing; American Process Inc. in Alpena; Swedish Biogas International in Flint; Mascoma Corp. in Kinross and Dow Chemical in Midland.
For complete details on how companies can apply for funding, including eligibility requirements, proposal format and the application process, please visit www.MichiganAdvantage.org/COEE.
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Source: Michigan Dept. of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth (DELEG)
Prepared By: John Sarver