Date: Jul 15, 2014 Source: Vermont Business Journal (
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US Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and US Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) on Wednesday announced $683,388 in recovery funding for Barre, Vermont's Northern Power Systems. Northern Power was one of just 28 wind energy projects nationwide to receive nearly $13.8 million in Department of Energy funding intended for research, testing and analysis. The federal investment was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
In announcing the funding, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu noted that wind power capacity in the U.S. increased by 8,558 megawatts in 2008. A nationwide investment of $16 billion in 2008 made the U.S. the fastest-growing wind power market in the world for the fourth consecutive year.
Sen. Leahy said, "This reflects the priorities for Vermont and the nation that we have pursued on the Appropriations Committee, and I'm pleased to see another tangible result in this announcement about Vermont's Northern Power Systems project. These projects will help to strengthen our economy while also growing green jobs and will take us farther in expanding our renewable energy deployment here at home."
Sen. Sanders said, "We must move, as aggressively as possible, to become energy independent, to address the crisis of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming and, in the process, create millions of new jobs over a period of years in the clean-energy field. Federal investment in Vermont's green jobs sector is another welcome sign that Vermont can be a national leader in this area."
Rep. Welch said, "This federal investment in Vermont's economic recovery will enhance Northern Power's ability to compete in the rapidly growing clean energy economy. These funds will create good jobs in Vermont and further enhance the state's leadership in developing renewable energy resources."
