SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES $500,000 FOR CENTER FOR OCEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AT UNH

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced today that her request for continued investment in research initiatives at the University of New Hampshire's Center for Ocean Renewable Energy (CORE) has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Shaheen secured $500,000 for CORE, which focuses on the research of and transition to ocean renewable energy sources, such as tidal, wave, ocean current, and offshore wind energy as a part of America's growing renewable energy portfolio.  These funds were included in the Fiscal Year 2011 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, which is now ready for consideration by the full Senate. 

"New Hampshire is poised to lead the way in our transition to a clean energy economy, and the Center for Ocean Renewable Energy is one of the reasons why," said Shaheen.  "Reducing our dependence on dirty fossil fuels is imperative for our environment, our national security and our economy.  It is critical that we invest in research and development that will help facilitate our transition to renewable energy and help create new clean energy jobs in our state and communities." 

"The University of New Hampshire is grateful to Senator Shaheen for her leadership in securing additional support for ocean renewable energy research at UNH," said Kenneth Baldwin, professor and director of CORE. "This funding will enable CORE to deploy and validate the testing and evaluation infrastructure for ocean renewable energy, and make CORE a cost-effective center for technology developers, inventors and those pursuing innovative and promising ocean renewable energy technologies." 

This project will continue research initiatives at CORE's open-water tidal and wave energy test sites and support collaboration with the private sector. The funding will enable CORE to develop projects with inventors and small companies to fast-track evaluation and demonstration of promising, innovative technologies, through laboratory testing and scaled-up deployment at CORE's open water test sites.