James M. Jeffords: “Included in the legislation is a provision that requires the Department of Energy to spend not less than $2 million on…”

“Included in the legislation is a provision that requires the Department of Energy to spend not less than $2 million on the Small Wind Turbine Project. This effort is vitally important to our Nation's continued development of American wind technology for consumer use. It was added as a program at the Department of Energy in 1995, to develop cost-effective, highly reliable Small Wind Turbine systems for both domestic and international markets. In fact, due to the Small Wind Turbine Program, U.S. companies have been able to advance the performance and cost-effectiveness of small wind turbine systems. The participants in the Small Wind Turbine Project are Windlite Corp, a subsidiary of Atlantic Orient Corp, Bergey Windpower Co., and World Power Technology. Through the Small Wind Turbine Project, these three companies are advancing the technology of wind energy for homes, small businesses, rural development and export. To end the effort that these three companies are undertaking at this time would be a giant setback and for this reason the Congress has included funding to continue the project under their guidance.”