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| 12 Mar 2009 08:30:15 pm |
 Wind and Jobs Continue Growing in the Midwest |
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What's a wind industry supply chain? To find out, you'll have to go to Appleton Wisconsin March 31. And say hello to Gov. Jim Doyle while you are there.
Manufacturing related to the wind industry--that's the supply chain-- has become a bright spot in the middle of the recession-darkened economy. Over 8,000 components and parts are used in the construction of utility-scale wind turbines, and the wind industry created an estimated 35,000 jobs in 2008. To keep the momentum going, AWEA sponsored a supply-chain workshop in Cleveland back in January and 800 company representatives showed up to learn how they could get into the business.
Now AWEA is joining with several groups in Wisconsin to present a similar program at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton. Gov. Doyle, who will be speaking at the seminar, has long been a supporter of wind and other renewables, and Wisconsin is seen as a key state in wind component manufacturing potential.
The existing manufacturing and service industries, as well as academic and other institutions in Wisconsin makes it an ideal state to benefit from the growth of the wind energy industry. |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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| 12 Mar 2009 02:33:53 am |
| Maryland's Dan's Mountain Project Moves Closer to Approval |
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Word comes from Baltimore today that the Maryland Public Service Commission acted to grant the Dan's Mountain WindForce project fast track status through the review process, if certain conditions are met.
The project, in the far western part of the state in Allegany Country, would be the first major wind project in the state. |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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| 11 Mar 2009 05:32:14 pm |
| Report from the Renewable Energy Conference in Las Vegas |
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As many as 4000 attendees yesterday packed the Keynote Session at the 6th annual "Renewable Energy World" conference & expo in Las Vegas, NV, the largest all-renewables trade show in the U.S. They heard from AWEA CEO Denise Bode, as well as the heads of the trade associations representing solar, hydroelectric, renewable fuels, and geothermal energy.
Bode noted that 2008 was a remarkable year for the wind energy industry, as more than 8300 megawatts of new wind projects were brought on-line. She also remarked that the 2008 numbers put the wind industry ahead of the growth curve in the DOE "20% Wind Energy by 2030" report.
By the end of 2008, Bode said, there were 55 new or retooled U.S. manufacturers making wind turbine components. As a result, U.S.-made components for wind projects for the first time exceeded 50%. Most important of all, this resulted in the creation of about 35,000 new U.S. jobs.
Discussing the policy agenda in Washington, Bode remarked that the recently passed economic stimulus bill would provide additional help for the wind industry during the economic downturn, and she noted that President Obama and Congress view wind as one of the industries that will help lift the nation out of the economic doldrums. The wind industry, she said is poised not only to recover, but to accelerate its growth in the coming months.
Next on Congress's agenda in Washington is legislation to clear the way for construction of new transmission infrastructure, which Bode compared to construction of the nation's interstate highway system, and legislation to impose a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to provide long-term certainly for the wind energy industry.
The conference continues today and tomorrow. A panel thjis morning on wind power trends and market growth features past AWEA President Bob Gates, current AWEA President Jim Walker, and incoming AWEA President Don Furman.
Report provided by AWEA's Jeff Anthony |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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| 10 Mar 2009 08:53:58 pm |
| New Transmission Legislation Offered |
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The legislative docket is getting filled out. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-NM, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has introduced his own transmission legislation. It becomes the second major transmission vehicle in the Senate; last week, Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced his own bill.
The Bingaman and Reid bills are similar but not identical. Both bills set up a planning process for designation of new high voltage transmission lines that are needed to serve renewable energy facilities, require costs to be allocated among those who would benefit from the lines, and streamline the siting and approval process.
Bingaman's Energy and Natural Resources Committee plans a hearing on the transmission bills this Thursday.
The more difficult question is whether transmission legislation will be lumped together with legislation requiring a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and climate change legislation. If so, the process of getting is passed will be much more complicated. Stay tuned. |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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| 09 Mar 2009 05:48:56 pm |
| Small Wind Catching the Spotlight |
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| Now that small wind is catching up in economic incentives from the federal government, it is become more popular, and more visible. Watch this CNN story that includes a shot of AWEA's Ron Stimmel, who directs the associations's small wind program. |
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Category : AWEA News
| By : Chris Madison |
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