Invenergy's Grand Ridge wind farm south of the Illinois River will be the site of a federally-funded state-of-the-art wind turbine.

A U.S. Department of Energy $8 million dollar grant to Chicago"s Illinois Institute of Technology to install and study the wind turbine near Marseilles was jointly announced Thursday by Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, and Congressman Bobby Rush, D-Chicago.

The GE 1.5 megawatt test turbine will allow researchers two years to test the performance and reliability of such power generating systems with the goal of developing a new generation of more efficient and effective turbines.

The university research and development plan includes advanced concepts for rotor control and drive train control, robust sensors for blades, and improved aero elastic models to improve wind turbine performance and reliability.

The close proximity of IIT's turbine to the Grand Ridge wind farm will provide the opportunity to study turbine to turbine wake interaction, wind farm interaction, and wind energy efficiencies.

The funding also will allow for the development of wind energy courses and fellowships offered on the masters and undergraduate level.

"This funding will allow the energy of tomorrow to be created today," said Dr. Mohammad Shahidehpour, a Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology. "This investment will pay dividends in 21st century research and development that will be felt for generations to come."

The $8 million in funding awarded to the Illinois Institute of Technology is part of a larger effort by the U.S. Department of Energy totaling up to $24 million in financial support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus bill.

Grants for similar $8 million projects to improve land-based and offshore wind turbine performance and reliability also were awarded to University of Maine in Orono, and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

"This funding is a great step towards putting Illinois on the cutting edge of wind energy technology," said Halvorson. "Every dollar we invest in green energy here at home means less jobs that can be outsourced overseas. It will mean cleaner air and water for our children, and an energy source made right here in America."

"As Congress continues its work on passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act this project will demonstrate the potential of wind energy and help lead us to our ultimate goal of making our country more energy independent," said Rush.