My Company

1. The Journey to
Renewable Energy Leadership
Presented by: Tier One
David Miller, JD, MBA
Vice Chancellor
Spring 2010
Commercialization & Economic Development
From here,
it’s possible.

2. Renewable Energy Leadership
Texas Tech University has been a leader in wind science engineering for 40 years
• Currently, the only Ph.D. program available in the U.S. is that offered by Texas Tech
• The Wind Science and Engineering (WISE) researchers developed the Enhanced Fujita
scale utilized by the National Weather Service
• Texas Tech has the only university owned 200 meter instrumented tower
• Texas Tech has partnered in the development and licensing of one of the most robust
work force development curriculums in the U.S.
NIRE is committed to:
• Developing & operating renewable research facilities
• Creating an industry-wide renewable energy consortium in partnership with the
Wind Alliance
• Providing prototyping and certification services
• R&D focus is on introduction of new technologies, reducing the cost of wind
energy and developing viable energy storage technologies
Primary goals of the NWRC include:
• Develop & educate the workforce for the budding wind energy sector
• Resolve key scientific issues, including such topics as the impact of wake dynamics
and turbulence
• Develop new technologies to enhance the American wind energy industry (Storage
and enhance performance and reliability)
Confidential & Proprietary

3. Organizational Structure
Contract for Research
Services/Funding and
Industry SLA
Consortium
Equity
Partner
Bond
holder’s Wind Farm/Facility
Operations Academic National Other Fed. Trade
Ground (For-Profit) Partners Laboratories Agencies Organizations
Leases
Power
Purchase Services
Agreements
(For-Profit)
Technology
Commercialization
NIRE by-laws provide for an independent Board and likely include members from organizations such as Innovate Texas Foundation, The Wind
Alliance and AWEA. (Members are pre-competitive) NWRC formed under TX law and in compliance with GASB 14
Confidential & Proprietary

4. Funding & Sustainability Plan
Initial Funding Vehicles Annual Wind Farm
Gross Revenue
• Texas Emerging Technology
Fund (ETF)
• Texas Tech University
• Industry
• Private Development
Annual Gross Revenue
Annual Consortium from Services to
Membership Fees Industry Partners
Confidential & Proprietary

5. Funding Summary and Leverage
Initiative TTU ETF Private Initiative
Total
Research Superiority $6.4M $6M $8.4M $20.8M
Start-up capital $0 $1M $0 $1M
Equipment $0 $.4M $0 $.4M
Wind Farm (31MW) $0 $1M $47M $48M
Wind Farm (150MW) $0 $0 $297M $297M
Buildings/Campus $0 $0 $142M $142M
Source Total $6.4M $8.4M $494.4M $509.2M
Confidential & Proprietary

6. Initiative Supporters and Partners
Government & Trade Academia Industry
Confidential & Proprietary

7. The National Institute for Renewable
Energy
www.thenire.org
Confidential & Proprietary

8. The National Wind Resource Center
www.windcenter.com
Confidential & Proprietary