CHARLESTOWN, MA-On December 1, 2008, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of twin climate and energy panels in the House, attended the ground breaking ceremony of the Wind Technology Testing Center (WTTC) facility located in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Markey was joined by the Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles.  In May of 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Massachusetts a $25 million grant from the Economic Recovery Act to support construction of this $34 million facility that will test commercial-sized wind turbine blades.

Rep. Markey speaks at the event alongside Gil Speling, Special Assistant to the Department of Energy’s Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Rahul Yarala, Executive Director of the WTTC

Speaking at the ceremony, Rep. Markey said: “New England winds have tested the wills of sailors and citizens for centuries.  Now we will be taking the lead in testing and developing the wind turbines that will help power our nation in the 21st Century.  This new clean energy facility will help ensure that the Bay State has a front row seat for the clean energy revolution.”