06/14/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/14/2021 12:09
'Wind energy is an essential part of our fight against the climate crisis, and that means one thing for talented and driven young people like these students: jobs, jobs, jobs,' said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. 'With their help, I have no doubt that we'll propel the wind industry to sky-high heights, and send a gust of growth from coast to coast that lifts every American community into a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous future.'
Each year, the Collegiate Wind Competition integrates a new challenge into the contest that reflects real-world wind industry needs. Taking the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of supply chain disruptions into account, the 2021 challengetasked teams with developing projects for deployment in highly uncertain times, with a significant degree of unknown risks and delays. This year's competition also featured a new 'Connection Creation Contest,' which challenged students to engage with industry professionals, their local communities, and local media outlets, in order to broaden their understanding of the workforce and educate new audiences about the benefits of wind and renewable energy.
The full list of winners is below:
'Congratulations to the students at Virginia Tech for winning the Connection Creation Contest in the Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition,' said U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner. 'Virginia is proud to be a leader in renewable energy and I look forward to seeing the extraordinary work these students continue to do in the jobs of tomorrow.'
'Congratulations to the students of Virginia Tech's Collegiate Wind Competition team on their victory in the Connection Creation Contest. Their accomplishment showed an impressive understanding of the wind power industry and an ability to engage the community in their goals. This achievement shows once again how Virginia Tech leads the way in the STEM field and equips young people for the challenges of the future,' said U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith.
'Congratulations to Cal Poly's Wind Energy Team for their recognition in the 2021 Collegiate Wind Competition! They embodied the 'learn by doing motto,' tackling this real world project with dedication and determination. We know renewable energy is the future, so it is imperative that we have a workforce that is prepared for these future-oriented jobs. We will need smart people, like the members of the Cal Poly Wind Energy Team, to lead the way,' said U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal.
The 2022 Collegiate Wind Competitionis scheduled for May 16-19, 2022, at the American Clean Power Association's CLEANPOWER 2022 Conference & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas. For more details about Collegiate Wind Competition, visit the CWC website.