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ALBANY—Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that GE Global Research in Niskayuna, New York has been awarded $2,800,000 through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), which will go towards design and development of optimized controls for a lightweight offshore wind turbine. 

“Wind power research can help lower energy costs across the board and advance a greener economy that lifts up our environment and the American people,” Congressman Tonko said. “These investments in sustainable technologies not only help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, they also support local business growth and job creation. The work being done at GE Research is one of the pillars of our Capital Region leadership in clean energy innovation. My congratulations to GE for their leadership in advancing America’s energy technologies, and my thanks to ARPA-E for helping our brightest minds create a brighter future for New Yorkers and all Americans.”

Congressman Tonko has been a leader in advancing wind energy research and innovation and the U.S. renewable energy sector as a whole. In July 2019, Tonko announced H.R. 3609, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019, a bill he sponsors that would give formal authorization to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Wind Energy. Later that month, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology advanced the bill. Congressman Tonko is also a cosponsor of H.R. 4091, the ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2019, which would greatly increase funding for DOE’s ARPA-E research program to support cutting-edge energy innovation.

John Lavelle, CEO of Offshore Wind at GE Renewable Energy, said, “Innovation is the key to driving down the cost of wind energy and accelerating the use of clean, renewable energy.  GE Renewable Energy is excited about the potential of offshore wind in New York and elsewhere in the United States, and we appreciate the leadership that Congressman Tonko has shown in supporting research to maintain the momentum in offshore wind and wind energy more broadly.”

ARPA-E funding was provided by their newest program, ATLANTIS (Aerodynamic Turbines, Lighter and Afloat, with Nautical Technologies and Integrated Servo-control). This program seeks to develop floating offshore wind turbines through new designs, technology innovations and experiments. The ATLANTIS program has awarded $26 million to 13 programs throughout the country.  

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