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New Mexico, nicknamed the Land of Enchantment, is rapidly becoming the “Land of Windchantment.” There is a veritable wind land rush taking place in the state, with a plethora of wind developers signing wind power leases with ranchers across the eastern plains.
Agreement has been reached on the European Union Renewable Energy Directive that could paved the way for the economic bloc to achieve its plans for a 20% renewables contribution to total energy demand and a 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, the so-called 20:20:20 plan. The deal, between the European Parliament, the French Presidency, on behalf of the Council, and the European Commission, means that more than one third of EU electricity must come from renewables by 2020.
Dominion and Shell WindEnergy Inc. announced the completion of the NedPower Mount Storm LLC wind energy project in which they each own a 50 percent interest. Sited along the high ridges of West Virginia, the project is now fully operational, generating up to 264 megawatts (MW) of electricity for the mid-Atlantic power grid.
ITC Great Plains LLC announced the purchase of two interconnection substations in Kansas as part of a strategic partnership with the Mid-Kansas Electric Company LLC.
REpower Systems AG has signed contracts in France and the United States for the supply of 44 wind turbines. The REpower MM92 turbines, with 2 megawatt (MW) rated capacity, are intended for wind farms in the North East of France and in the Oregon.
Date: 12/9/2008
Wind Powering America has completed a new release of the JEDI Wind model, version W1.08.03. This version has updated default values based on an extensive survey of on-the-ground reported impacts, such as current cost data, job data, and tax data. There are also usability enhancements.
Overall project costs and the distribution of project costs have been revised, reflecting recent changes in capital costs, productivity improvements, and changing industry practices. The model now contains updated construction and O&M labor ratios (number of workers) based on current industry averages. The multiplier data is 2006 data from the Minnesota IMPLAN Group, reflecting the most recent data available from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
State specific tax estimates are included for most states. These are based on surveys of existing wind farms and state tax policy. Default construction and operations period labor costs and payroll parameters (including average wage per hour) now automatically adjust in accordance with state industry job and earnings ratios. Default project construction and O&M cost factors now reflect economies of scale, accounting for increased construction and operating efficiencies observed as individual projects increase in size.
To make the model easier to use, we have added more information to on-screen comments, automatic “pop-ups,” and additions to the FAQ section. We have redefined the direct and indirect impacts to be more intuitive and more consistent with traditional input-output reporting conventions.
You can download the JEDI Wind Model or read more information about the revisions on the Wind Powering America Web site.
Econcern has announced agreements that will see €863 million [US $1.1 billion] invested in more than 720 megawatts (MW) of onshore wind farms in China. The announcement was made at the 14th UN Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland, as part of the Global Wind Energy Council’s (GWEC) “Wind Power Works” campaign.
Date: 12/8/2008 to 1/5/2009
Location: CO
Nominations for Wind Cooperative of the Year for 2008 (MS Word 57 KB)
are now being accepted. All electric cooperatives that are members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association are eligible, and their is no cost to nominate.
The Wind Cooperative of the Year Award is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program.
The 2008 winner will be recognized at the NRECA TechAdvantage Conference in New Orleans, La., Feb. 11-14, 2009. All nominations are due by close of business on Jan. 5th, 2009.
Date: 12/17/2008
Location: CO
10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MST
Get an update on transmission studies and developments throughout the United States. Find out what needs to be done to significantly increase the penetration of wind generation, and what the impacts and benefits will be for consumer-owned utilities. Reserve your place early.
Sponsors include: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Public Power Association — DEED program, Western Area Power Administration, U.S. DOE Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Utility Wind Integration Group, American Wind Energy Association — AWEA Utility Working Group,
National Wind Coordinating Collaborative.
Date: 1/14/2009
Location: CO
10 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. MST
Examine site-specific and cumulative issues related to wind energy generation. Topics will include environmental benefits associated with wind, public perception and engagement, siting and regulatory framework, environmental and siting challenges. Reserve your place early.
Sponsors include: National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Public Power Association — DEED program, Western Area Power Administration, U.S. DOE Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Utility Wind Integration Group, American Wind Energy Association — AWEA Utility Working Group,
National Wind Coordinating Collaborative.
DONG Energy and Wind Estate A/S have completed the second phase of the Overgard onshore wind farm, making it Denmark’s largest such development the company says. The second phase added 10 new 2.3-megawatt (MW) machines next to 20 turbines already on the site. Situated some 25 km northwest of Randers in East Jutland, Overgard has a capacity of 63 MW.
A prototype of a new 3-megawatt (MW) onshore wind turbine has been installed at the Sudermarsch wind farm near Husum, Germany by REpower Systems AG. The company says its 3.XM, with a rated output of 3.3 MW, a rotor diameter of 104 meters and a hub height of 80 meters, bridges the gap between the present onshore product series and the 5 MW and 6 MW offshore class.
RES has today welcomed the announcement of two major offshore wind project milestones: Government consent for the 250MW Lincs wind farm off the Lincolnshire coast and the completion of major construction work of the adjacent 194MW Lynn and Inner Dowsing projects, currently the biggest offshore wind farm development in the world.
EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDFEN) has commissioned the 52-megawatt (MW) Chemin d’Ablis wind farm, the country’s largest such project to date. The project, which is spread across eight communes of the Eure-et-Loir department and is built alongside a 17-kilometer stretch of the A10 autoroute, comprises 26 wind turbines.
Greengate Power Corporation (Greengate) announced that it has received municipal approvals for the construction of three wind projects in Alberta, Canada totaling 550 megawatts (MW) in capacity.
3Tier has unveiled a 5-kilometer resolution global wind map based on one of the most accurate and comprehensive datasets ever created of global wind resources and their spatial and temporal variability. 3Tier unveiled its map and dataset at the 14th UN Climate Change Conference in Poznań, Poland, as part of the Global Wind Energy Council’s (GWEC) “Wind Power Works” campaign.
Clipper Windpower Plc has completed its 50:50 joint venture agreement with BP Wind Energy for the development of the 5050-megawatt (MW) Titan wind project located in South Dakota.
EDF Energies Nouvelles announced that it has commissioned the final stage of the Ventominho wind farm in Portugal. With 240 megawatts (MW) in total capacity and a single point of connection to the grid, the onshore wind farm is now fully operational.
The global economic turmoil has started having an impact on the wind energy industry in Europe, new analysis from research firm Frost & Sullivan says. Some companies are cutting down forecasts and production for 2009 and the market is showing the first signs of slowdown, Frost says, although it adds that the situation will have positive effects like a reduction in turbine prices due to falling raw material prices, and the reduction of delivery times of components.
Date: 12/1/2008
Stacia Cudd, National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.
Audio with Dave Drescher, John Deere Wind Energy Vice President (MP3 2.3 MB) Download Windows Media Player. Time: 00:02:30
John Deere has been involved with several community wind projects — but the project size and structures have grown beyond local ownership. That’s according to John Deere Wind Energy Vice President Dave Drescher who says the current financial crisis and other challenges have impacted Deere’s participation in wind energy development. Primarily due to increased capital costs, he says the company has taken a more active role.
“There is no question that the development process has grown in both cost and complexity. For instance, the arduous process of interconnecting a project to the grid is one that all developers face and that’s something that has a lot of regulatory complexity and process complexity to get it done. It can take several years. That’s just one example of the kinds of things with the growth of the wind business. There have been new challenges.”
And Drescher says the industry has to find a way to overcome each new challenge in order to meet the national vision of generating 20-percent of the nation’s electricity using wind energy by the year 2030.
“We think long-term, wind will play an increasingly important role as one of the sources of America’s energy needs. It would be poor stewardship, in my view, if we don’t find a way to harness a resource which can give us a source of clean, renewable energy at a very predictable cost. And that can translate for future generations. It’s also very good for rural communities, ranchers and landowners, so we think there’ll be a substantial benefit from the further development of wind as we progress towards the 20% vision that the Department of Energy has outlined.”
Drescher says that’s why — despite today’s economic situation — John Deere wants to keep moving forward with wind projects.
“It’s hard to say in detail what this is going to mean. But we’re continuing all of our 2009 project plans. The business is capital intensive and all developers and owners of wind projects need access to capital it costs, which makes the projects work. So really, it remains to be seen how deep and how long this financial turmoil will last and we’re going to have to monitor these developments very carefully.”
Drescher notes John Deere has been committed to the economic growth and sustainability of agricultural communities for more than 170 years. He says the benefits of wind energy investments to the rural American economy — and the economic growth opportunities for landowners, ranchers and other ag-related businesses — make it a perfect fit for their business.
Environmental Business and Supply Base transfer to India with the further development on the local market place.
The new prospects of the Indian State promotion policy and legislative regulations toward attracting foreign investors’ confidence and expectations
With the economy in a slump, people are looking for every way to pinch a penny. Deep Patel, Founder & CEO of GoGreenSolar.com, is urging holiday shoppers this year to consider giving gifts that can lower energy bills.
With cost-sharing funds of US $1.5 million from the California Energy Commission, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) will begin demonstrating a new application for distributed energy resources known as a microgrid.
Date: 12/4/2008
Location: DC
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET
AWEA will discuss its newest publication, Wind Energy for a New Era: An Agenda for the New President and Congress (PDF 5.5 MB) Download Adobe Reader. The U.S. Department of Energy’s 20% Wind Energy by 2030 (PDF 3.95 MB) Download Adobe Reader vision drives the wind industry’s federal policy agenda.
AWEA staff will provide a brief overview of the 20% report and discuss the following federal policies, designed to help wind energy remain on the pathway to 20% wind power by 2030:
Webcasts are free, but you must register to participate.
Date: 12/9/2008
Location: DC
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
AWEA will discuss its newest publication, Wind Energy for a New Era: An Agenda for the New President and Congress (PDF 5.5 MB) Download Adobe Reader. The U.S. Department of Energy’s 20% Wind Energy by 2030 (PDF 3.95 MB) Download Adobe Reader vision drives the wind industry’s federal policy agenda.
AWEA staff will provide a brief overview of the 20% report and discuss the following federal policies, designed to help wind energy remain on the pathway to 20% wind power by 2030:
Webcasts are free, but you must register to participate.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that it has entered into a long-term agreement with Hatchet Ridge Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Babcock & Brown, to purchase up to 103 megawatts (MW) of wind energy. The project will generate up to 303 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy annually.
Finavera Renewables Inc. announced its bid to develop four wind energy projects in British Columbia. To facilitate the bid into BC Hydro’s 2008 Clean Power Call, Finavera Renewables signed a memorandum of understanding with GE Energy Financial Services, for proposed financing of up to 295 megawatts (MW) of wind power projects in the Peace region in northeast British Columbia.
Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s quasi-public authority responsible for technology investing and innovation development, announced that it will administer a new US $9 million “Connecticut Clean Tech Fund” which will make investments in seed- and early-stage companies focused on innovations that conserve energy and resources, protect the environment or eliminate harmful waste.
What do you think about the current situation in the stock market? Also what do you think about solar stocks currently and what is your outlook for them in the future? Thanks. — B. Harris, Dallas Texas
The “welcome” sign to continued alternative energy development in the State of Washington is out. The Washington State Supreme Court yesterday affirmed the primacy of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council’s (EFSEC) authority to process applications for site certification of alternative energy facilities that choose to “opt in” to EFSEC, and upheld Governor Chris Gregoire’s approval of the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project (KVWPP). As a result of the decision, KVWPP will be built in central Washington. Once complete, the 65-turbine, 130-MW project will generate clean renewable power for over 30,000 homes each year. The project developer, Horizon Wind Energy, was represented at the local, adjudicative and appellate levels of the KVWPP proceedings by Stoel Rives attorneys Timothy McMahan and Erin Anderson, with the support of a team of Stoel attorneys over the six years that culminated in this precedent-setting wind energy decision.
