Today, in a news conference at Texas Tech University, Governor Rick Perry announced an $8.4 million award to fund the university’s research program in wind energy.
“I’m not sure that in our 20 plus years of working together, there has been an opportunity to impact rural Texas in a more progressive and positive way than this wind energy project that we’re working on,” the Governor said, touching on the importance such a program has to rural areas and their economy.
The award, granted by the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, will be, in part, used by the university to hire specialists and researchers in wind technology.
The state and university hope that with the congregation of these talents, technological and scientific issues inhibiting the wind industry can be solved right here on the South Plains.
Consequently, wind energy would be cheaper and more available to our rural areas.
This would not only create renewable energy, but also a new source of income for local investors.
Not only will such advancements be beneficial, they will be ground breaking.
TTU President Guy Bailey explained how unique the university’s program will be.
“TTU with its partners established a national institute of renewable energy that brings together industry, government and academia in a partnership to make this happen, and we will build and operate the first wind research farm in the nation.”
Gov. Perry says that with this funding the South Plains and Panhandle regions will become dominant in the movement to discover and develop renewable resources.
KFYO Local News 