Ground Broken at Wind Blade Test Ctr

Construction begins on DOE-backed facility to assess large-scale wind turbine blades, make Massachusetts a hub for wind power R&D

Boston, MA –  Federal and state officials recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a Wind Technology Testing Center that will become the nation’s first facility capable of testing blades up to 90 meters long that are integral to the future development of wind energy.

In May, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu awarded Massachusetts a $25 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support construction of the $40 million facility.

The new center, operated in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will test commercial-sized wind turbine blades to increase reliability, reduce cost, improve technical advancements and speed deployment of the next generation of wind turbine blades into the marketplace.

 The Center will be the first commercial large blade test facility in the nation to allow testing of blades longer than 50 meters, which currently can be done in Europe but not in the United States – putting American manufacturers at a disadvantage. The Wind Technology Testing Center will be equipped to assess turbine blades up to 90 meters long – nearly the length of a football field.

The location of the testing center at the Boston Autoport in Boston Harbor provides an optimal site, featuring proximity to substantial offshore wind resources, truck access, a rail spur and a 1200-foot-long dock for transporting blades from ocean-going vessels.Payette Breaks Ground at the Hershey Med. Ctr.