A worker reaches for the lifting harness before a 50 ton nacelle containing a 1.5 megawatt turbine is lifted into place at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) National Wind Technology Center near Boulder, Colorado on August 21, 2009. NREL purchased two new wind turbines for testing and research at its lab at the foothills of the Colorado Rockies. UPI/Gary C. Caskey | License Photo

U.S. President Barack Obama looks at solar panels as he tours the Solyndra solar panel company with Solyndra executive vice president Ben Bierman (R) in Fremont, California on May 26, 2010. UPI/Paul Chinn/Pool | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy said it was investing more than $230 million in projects ranging from geothermal energy to wind energy systems.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that 32 projects in 14 states would share $38 million over the next three years to develop geothermal energy technologies.


The International Energy Agency this summer recommended that governments introduce incentives that would encourage the commercial development of geothermal technologies and payments to third parties that introduce alternative energy to the grid.

Another $150 million in loan guarantees was awarded to Massachusetts solar energy company 1366 Technologies Inc. to develop a silicon-based wafer that Chu said could significantly reduce the costs of solar manufacturing.

Twenty states will share $43 million over the next five years to develop 41 wind energy systems, the Energy Department said.

"Through these awards, the Department of Energy is developing the critical technology and knowledge base necessary to responsibly develop this resource, enhance our energy security and create new clean energy jobs," Chu said.

U.S. President Barack Obama outlined a goal of generating 80 percent of the nation's electricity through clean energy resources by 2035.