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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— 
(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; 
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(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; 
(B) understanding of the interaction be-
tween each wind turbine component; 
(C) siting of wind energy systems to maxi-
mize efficiency and minimize variable genera-
tion; 
(D) integration of wind energy systems 
into the existing electric grid to ensure reli-
ability; and 
(E) understanding of the wake effect be-
tween upwind and downwind turbine operations; 
(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 
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(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; 
(10) wind turbines with a maximum electric 
power production capacity of 100 kilowatts or less; 
(11) technical processes to enable— 
(A) scalability of transmission from re-
motely located renewable resource rich areas; 
and 
(B) optimization of advanced infrastruc-
ture design, including high voltage trans-
mission; and 
(12) other research areas as determined by the 
Secretary. 
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 and geo-
graphic diversity to measure wind energy system 
performance under the full productive range of wind 
conditions in the United States; 
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(2) demonstration projects carried out under 
this program are— 
(A) conducted in collaboration with indus-
try and, as appropriate, with academic institu-
tions; and 
(B) located in various geographic areas 
representing various wind class regimes; 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. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. 
In carrying out this Act, the Secretary of Energy 
shall— 
(1) coordinate with the Office of Minority Eco-
nomic Impact and with the Office of Small and Dis-
advantaged Business Utilization; and 
(2) provide special consideration to applications 
submitted by institutions, businesses, or entities con-
taining majority representation by individuals identi-
fied in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineer-
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ing Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 
1885b). 
SEC. 5. COMPETITIVE AWARDS. 
Awards under section 2 and section 3 shall be made 
on a competitive basis with an emphasis on technical 
merit. 
SEC. 6. COORDINATION AND NONDUPLICATION. 
To the maximum extent practicable the Secretary of 
Energy shall coordinate activities under this Act with 
other programs of the Department of Energy and other 
Federal research programs. 
SEC. 7. 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. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 9, 
2009. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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