Restoration Institute to represent South Carolina at Washington offshore wind meeting
February 17, 2010
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – February 17, 2010 – Clemson University Restoration Institute’s Nick Rigas will represent South Carolina Feb. 19 in Washington at a special meeting of Atlantic coast states on the future of offshore wind energy.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will host the meeting of East Coast states, many of which have interests in developing offshore wind projects, and discussion of how to advance the burgeoning U.S. industry.
Salazar invited governors or their representatives for candid discussions on competitiveness, hurdles in bringing offshore wind projects to market and a commitment to work together.
In November the U.S. Department of Energy selected the Restoration Institute and its partners to build the world’s largest wind turbine drive train testing facility. The energy department awarded the institute a $45 million grant that was matched with $53 million from public and private partners.
The $98 million funding award was the largest ever received by Clemson University.
As senior scientist and director of the facility, Rigas has overall responsibility for design, construction and operation of what will be the only facility in the world capable of testing wind turbine drive trains in the 5-megawatt to 15-megawatt range with 30 percent overload capacity.
Rigas also is director of the Restoration Institute’s Renewable Energy focus area, where he works to promote development of South Carolina’s indigenous clean energy resources for economic development, energy security, protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for the state’s citizens.
