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| 12 Nov 2009 09:19:01 pm |
 Wind is working in Texas to help reduce greenhouse gases |
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Throughout this year's energy and climate change debates, the wind industry contented that increased use of wind energy would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Now there is more evidence to back up the claim.
A new report from Environment Texas concludes that the state has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions in part through increased use of wind and other renewables to generate electricity.
Texas remains the leading state in carbon dioxide emissions, but those emissions declined 2% between 2004 and 2007. Most of that is due to decreased use of natural gas because of the economic slowdown. But the report also noted that carbon emissions from electricity generation dropped by 4% between 2004 and 2007, as utilities switched providers switched from coal to natural gas and wind.
Texas now generates 2.5% of its electricity from wind, compared with .5% five years ago. |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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| 11 Nov 2009 08:38:50 pm |
| Prospects for offshore development keep shifting in the wind |
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Anyone waiting for a clear sign that offshore wind will happen in the United States anytime soon will have to wait longer, based on the mixed signals received here in recent days.
Late last week, the Massachusetts Historical Commission endorsed a request by two Indian tribes that Nantucket Sound, site of the proposed Cape Wind project, be considered for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The tribes argue that the Sound includes the site of a sacred burial ground. The request now goes to the National Park Service, whose sister agency, the Minerals Management Service (both are part of the U.S. Interior Department) earlier this year released a favorable final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project.
But the Historical announcement was balanced by other more positive developments last week. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass, Chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, called on the Interior Department to approve the Cape Wind project before the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December.
“Approving the Cape Wind project as the nation’s first commercial offshore wind project before the start of the U.N. conference would send a strong message to international negotiators about the United States’ commitment to developing sources of clean energy and reducing global warming pollution,” Rep. Markey said.
And earlier in the week, before the public announcement by the historical commission, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he expected a final decision on Cape Wind by the end of the year.
The Cape Wind project has been politically dicey for the Massachusetts delegation because of opposition from some Cape Cod residents, including the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
Finally, in another positive development, the governors of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware announced on November 10, that they had signed an agreement to cooperate on offshore wind issues, including facilitating transmission and promoting favorable federal policies. |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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| 10 Nov 2009 09:20:25 pm |
| Good news from the wind belt, courtesy of NPR |
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Here is a link to a terrific story done by a National Public Radio correspondent in South Dakota about the impact a wind manufacturing facility is having in Howard, South Dakota.
An excerpt:
"On the edge of town two wind turbines churn against a grey sky. The turbines help power the businesses in Howard, including the Knight and Carver blade plant. Howard is pushing for local energy independence. For community leaders this is about a transformation into a whole new economy, based on green jobs and green energy. The wind isn't going to stop blowing on the Great Plains. In the end energy independence in America might depend on places like Howard, South Dakota."
This is a story that is unfolding all over the United States, and we should be telling it--Americans need to understand the value of wind energy, and see how it is changing people's lives for the better. Listen, and pass it around. |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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| 09 Nov 2009 07:39:44 pm |
| Disconnect--Detroit and Washington on jobs, imports |
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Last week, large segments of the wind industry gathered in Detroit at an AWEA-sponsored "supply chain" workshop to help U.S. companies get involved in manufacturing components for wind turbines. The Detroit location was intentional: the region needs jobs, and the industry believes it can help supply them.
Back in Washington, a mini-controversy was brewing over the prospects of a Chinese firm supplying turbines for a Texas wind farm that would be financed, in part, using U.S. Treasury Department grants.
How can both be true?
First, the Texas project has only been proposed, and even if it becomes a firm proposal, it will have to meet strict criteria to receive a grant.
Second, it is not part of a trend. In fact, more turbine parts are being made in the United States than ever. AWEA announced earlier this year that 55 new manufacturing plants were opened, announced, or expanded last year. The U.S. has been rapidly increasing wind manufacturing from less than 25% of turbine value a few years ago to nearly 50% today. Since 2004, the U.S. has increased domestic wind manufacturing capabilities 12 times over. Several non-U.S.turbine manufacturers already have built U.S. plants and begun manufacturing here.
Third, to continue to attract investment in U.S. manufacturing, the U.S. has to show a strong commitment to wind energy. We have started to do that with the continuation of financial inecentives. We also need to adopt a strong renewable electricity standard, which will signal a serious commitment and likely draw more investment in manufacturing.
Fourth, the Treasury grants already issued as a result of the stimulus funding have had a significant impact. According to Denise Bode, AWEA's CEO, "The Recovery Act is now a proven success putting people back to work building wind projects here in the U.S. We need to regain control of our energy future, lead the world in wind manufacturing, and support the American worker by passing a comprehensive energy and climate change bill that includes a strong Renewable Electricity Standard." |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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| 06 Nov 2009 09:54:41 pm |
| A diverse wind industry on display in Detroit |
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The wind industry that convened in Detroit this week was a different crowd than typically attends a wind energy event—the talk was more of kilowatts than megawatts, reflecting a higher profile for small and community wind.
The Small and Community Wind Conference and exhibition was a first for AWEA, and program organizers saw the attendance as a sign of strong interest in two sectors of the industry that are coming into their own.
The Small and Community Wind conference and Exhbition took place in concert with AWEA’s Supply Chain Workshop. Total attendance was more than 2100, splt roughly evenly among three topic areas, according to the conference organizers.
“The numbers indicate the tremendous interest in small wind,” said Charles Newcomb, a small wind program co-chair and Vice President of NextGen Energy. “The meetings were well attended right until the end of the conference. There was a strong desire among attendees to know more about small wind,” he said.
That enthusiasm was also in evidence on the show floor, where exhibitors reported not only leads for future sales but even deals closed this week. One small wind turbine manufacturer reported that he sold 10 of his $70,000 turbines over the two day conference.
Community Wind organizers were also enthusiastic. This sector is less visible than small wind, and there are still different views about how to define it. But there was no doubt the interest about one third of those who registered indicated their interest was in community wind, and the agenda, which ranged from the Wind for School program to the challenges of selling power to rural coops and utilities, as well as financing and project development sessions, reflected both the diversity of players and willingness to take on tough issues.
“This conference is really the coming of age event for Community Wind,” said Jacob Susman, CEO of OwnEnergy, a community wind developer, and co-chair of the conference. “A number of compelling factors have converged to create the ‘perfect storm’ for Community Wind in the U.S., including the need for local jobs, economic development and renewable projects that can seamlessly connect to the existing grid infrastructure.
Proving his point, during the week, OwnEnergy announced a partnership with a subsidiary of the Nationals Farmers Union to develop a 20 MW wind project in in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
The increased visibility of small and community wind is a positive development. The wind industry as a whole will grow in political clout as it broadens its scope and image. The Wind for Schools program, for example, which was extensively discussed in Detroit, allows the industry to build a rural base of support that may well differ from the constituency that grows out of utility-scale development.
So, too, connecting with rural electric cooperatives, seemingly a natural constituency for wind energy, may be easier as more coops buy power from community wind developers.
One sign that small and community wind have been granted a more permanent seat at the table—planning is already starting on next year’s program. |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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