May 6 2010
At a briefing conducted in the Rayburn House Office Building located in Washington, D.C., the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) briefed the members of the Congressional Composites Caucus on the importance of composites in developing the wind energy producing capability of the country.
The briefing included presentations from composites sector specialists on wind energy: Molded Fiber Glass Companies’ Vice President for Technology Peter Emrich; Boatbuilding and Composites Director of AEWC Center of the University of Maine Bob Lindyberg; and PPG Industries Inc.’s Global Market Development Manager for Wind Energy Cheryl Richards.
The three specialists stressed on the importance of composites in the wind energy sector, including the need to develop composites technology for addressing the requirement of wind energy production, the wind energy’s future and the jobs created by composite manufacturers.
Cheryl Richards stated that composite materials facilitate the growth of the wind energy industry. Cheryl also envisions the creation of a National Renewable Electricity Standard, a policy that can promote investments and installations in the wind energy industry.
The Chief Staff Executive of ACMA Tom Dobbins commented that the growth in demand for wind power in turn drives the demand for composite materials, which are utilized for making hubs, nacelles and rotor blades of wind turbines. And since composites are corrosion resistant, lightweight and strong in nature they are ideal for producing wind turbines.
Source: http://www.acmanet.org/