History

May 2009 – Presenting preliminary information at the 2009 American Wind Energy Association show in Chicago.

January 2009 – Started the detailed design including environmental and permitting work. Began industry outreach and business development activities.

November 2008 – Hired Rahul Yarala from within the wind industry to be the executive director for WTTC.

September 2008 – Program definition was completed. It provided the conceptual design of the facility, project cost estimates, and confirmed the core functional requirements. Project costs were significantly higher than the 2007 assumptions but with the leadership of Governor Patrick and Secretary Bowles the program was given new support to continue because of its significance to the Commonwealth and the US wind industry.

June 2007 – U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman came to Boston to announce that Massachusetts, along with a Texas consortium, are both selected to enter into CRADA relationships with NREL. Gov. Deval Patrick received the award from the secretary, and committed the Commonwealth to undertaking this groundbreaking partnership.

November 2006 – The Massachusetts Partnership, involving MTC, the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, the Renewable Energy Research Laboratory of UMass – Amherst, and the Massachusetts Port Authority submits an initial application for the CRADA to NREL.

July 2006 – The National Renewable Energy Laboratory announces the availability of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement for the development of a wind turbine blade test facility, for up to $2 million of equipment and technology, to be funded by the U.S. Dept. of Energy.