U.S. investing in new era for wind farms

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WASHINGTON, June 29 (UPI) -- Investing in mechanics of wind turbines will not only help the United States become a clean-energy leader but also diversify the energy mix, an official said.

U.S. President Barack Obama this year set a goal of using clean energy to generate 80 percent of the country's electricity by 2035.

As part of that vision, the Energy Department said six different projects in the United States would be the focus of a combined $7.5 million in investments during the next two years to advance the next generation of drivetrains for wind turbines.

"Developing innovative drivetrain technologies will allow U.S. manufacturers to build larger, more cost-effective, and more efficient wind turbines than any in operation today," Energy Department Steven Secretary Chu said in a statement. "The projects announced today will help the United States to lead the global wind energy industry in this critical technology area, diversify our domestic energy portfolio, and create new jobs for American workers."

Research and development targeted in the Energy Department's investment will focus on ways to make wind energy cheaper and more efficient.

The six projects are located in four states -- California, Colorado, Florida and New York.