Granholm Announces Two New Centers of Energy Excellence

Centers will focus on advanced manufacturing of wind-turbine components

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Greg Main today announced two new Centers of Energy Excellence (COEE) designations for wind manufacturing companies Energetx Composites and Astraeus Wind Energy.  

“Michigan is bullish on clean energy, especially wind,” Granholm said. “We are acting boldly and decisively to be the state that develops the technologies, manufactures the products and creates the green jobs that will make us the clean energy manufacturing capital of North America.” 

The Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) board today approved a COEE designation and $3.5 million in funding for Energetx Composites, the Holland-based spin-off of S2 Yachts, which will collaborate with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Dow Chemical Company to manufacture wind turbine blades with advanced materials. Dow and ORNL will deliver innovative materials and technical expertise to Energetx, and the University of Michigan and Kettering University will contribute workforce training. The project will receive $3.5 million in matching funds from the U.S. Department of Energy. 

The MSF also approved a COEE designation and $6 million in funding for Astraeus Wind Energy, a cooperative venture between MAG Industrial Automation Systems (Port Huron and Sterling Heights) and Dowding Machining (Eaton Rapids) and in collaboration with ORNL and the Dow Chemical Company. The center will be focused on the automated manufacturing of wind turbine blade components using advanced materials. The project will receive $7 million in matching funds from the U.S. Department of Energy. 

“The projects announced today have the potential to revolutionize the way that wind turbine blades are manufactured, and position Michigan as the center for advanced manufacturing, advanced materials and the supply chain for wind energy systems,” Main said. 

 

In 2008, the MSF board awarded up to $43 million to six designated Centers of Energy Excellence. At the end of 2009, Granholm signed legislation which established a second phase of the COEE program, allowing for up to $30 million to fund additional centers. The second round was launched in January 2010. In total, there are 10 Centers of Energy Excellence including the two announced today: A123Systems Inc., Adaptive Materials and Sakti3 in Ann Arbor; Working Bugs LLCin East Lansing; American Process Inc. in Alpena; Swedish Biogas International in Flint; Mascoma Corporation in Kinross and Dow Chemical in Midland. 

For complete details on how companies can apply for funding, including eligibility requirements, proposal format and the application process, please visit MichiganBusiness.org/COEE. 

  

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.