DOE
will
make
an
initial
$20m
commitment
for
what
it
is
calling
a
“research
and
demonstration
initiative”
in
fiscal
year
2012
which
ends
30
September,
subject
to
congressional
appropriations.
Energy
Secretary
Steven
Chu
says
DOE
will
focus
on
funding
highly
innovative
American-made
technologies
that
will
achieve
large
cost
reductions
over
existing
offshore
wind
technologies
in
US
coastal
conditions.
The
demonstrations
will
help
address
key
challenges
associated
with
installing
utility-scale
offshore
wind
farms,
connecting
turbines
to
the
onshore
power
grid,
and
navigating
new
permitting
and
approval
processes.
“The
new
offshore
wind
energy
initiative…
