I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3165 
To provide for a program of wind energy research, development, and 
demonstration, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 9, 2009 
Mr. TONKO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Science and Technology 
A BILL 
To provide for a program of wind energy research, 
development, and demonstration, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Wind Energy Research 
and Development Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 2. WIND ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall 
carry out a program of research and development to— 
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(1) improve the energy efficiency, reliability, 
and capacity of wind turbines; 
(2) optimize the design and adaptability of wind 
energy systems to the broadest practical range of at-
mospheric conditions; and 
(3) reduce the cost of construction, generation, 
and maintenance of wind energy systems. 
(b) PROGRAM.—The program under this section shall 
focus on research and development of— 
(1) new materials and designs to make larger, 
lighter, less expensive, and more reliable rotor 
blades; 
(2) technologies to improve gearbox perform-
ance and reliability; 
(3) automation, materials, and assembly of 
large-scale components to reduce manufacturing 
costs; 
(4) low-cost transportable towers greater than 
100 meters in height to capitalize on improved wind 
conditions at higher elevations; 
(5) advanced computational modeling tools to 
improve— 
(A) the reliability of aeroelastic simulations 
of wind energy systems; and 
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(B) understanding of the interaction be-
tween each wind turbine component; 
(6) advanced control systems and blade sensors 
to improve performance and reliability under a wide 
variety of wind conditions; 
(7) advanced generators, including— 
(A) medium-speed and low-speed genera-
tors; 
(B) direct-drive technology; and 
(C) the use of advanced magnets in gener-
ator rotors; 
(8) wind technology for offshore applications; 
(9) methods to assess and mitigate the effects 
of wind energy systems on radar and electro-
magnetic fields; and 
(10) wind turbines with a maximum electric 
power production capacity of 100 kilowatts or less. 
SEC. 3. WIND ENERGY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall 
conduct a wind energy demonstration program. In car-
rying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that— 
(1) the program is of sufficient size to measure 
wind energy system performance under the full pro-
ductive range of wind conditions in the United 
States; 
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(2) demonstration projects carried out under 
this program are conducted in collaboration with in-
dustry; and 
(3) data collected from demonstration projects 
carried out under this program is useful for carrying 
out section 2(b). 
(b) COST-SHARING.—The Secretary shall carry out 
the program under this section in compliance with section 
988(a) through (d) and section 989 of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16352(a) through (d) and 16353). 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Energy to carry out this Act $200,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014. 
Æ 
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