The Wind Technology Testing Center is the first commercial blade test facility in the nation capable of handling blades as long as 90 meters.
A worker takes a picture of one of three blades from a giant wind turbine after it was unloaded from the deck of the ship Federal Pioneer at the Port of Cleveland. The turbine, which was shipped from Europe, will stretch 24 stories high to the tip of the blade and will be installed at the Lincoln Electric Co. in Euclid, Ohio. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)BOSTON — The nation's largest wind blade testing facility is opening for business on Boston's waterfront.
Gov. Deval Patrick is scheduled to join other officials Wednesday for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Wind Technology Testing Center, the first commercial blade test facility in the nation capable of handling blades as long as 90 meters.
In 2009, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced Massachusetts would receive $25 million in federal stimulus dollars for construction of the testing center on Boston Harbor in the city's Charlestown neighborhood,
The center is designed to help wind turbine developers reduce costs, improve technical advancements and speed deployment of the next generation of blades to the marketplace.
Locating the center on the harbor will allow test blades too long to negotiate highways and local roads to be delivered by ship.