Biden calls for boost in investment in clean energy
VP Joe Biden gave a speech at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas calling on policymakers to boost investments in clean energy. Failure to invest in clean energy would be the “biggest mistake” that the U.S. could ever make, Biden said. “There’s absolutely no reason why the U.S. can’t lean the world in clean energy, he added.

Feds release draft wildlife-protection plan for Hawaii wind project
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public input on a draft wildlife-protection plan for Kawailoa Wind Power’s 30 turbine wind project in Oahu, Hawaii. Comments on the draft plan will be accepted through October 11.

Iowa county approves plan to allow wind projects
The supervisors of Johnson County, Iowa, have signed off on an ordinance that will allow wind farms, such as one proposed by PNE Wind USA, to be built on land owned by the county. PNE Wind USA will shoulder the cost of building the wind farm, and its output will be used to supply customers within Johnson County.

Clipper Windpower cuts 75 from its workforce
Clipper Windpower was forced to lay off 75 workers, mostly from its wind turbine factory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a result of increased competition and customers’ difficulties with financing, the company said. Pratt & Whitney Power Systems, which oversees Clipper, said it continues to support the company’s onshore wind turbine business.

Siemens wins contract to supply turbines for 5 Brazilian wind projects.

Vestas secures 7-year extension of service contract for Canadian wind farm.

Iberdrola increases renewable-energy capacity in Europe to more than 8 gigawatts

U.S. firms are making innovative, more powerful wind turbines.

U.S. companies are building a new generation of wind turbines that are up to 50 times more powerful than those designed in the 1980s, while addressing aesthetic, sound and safety concerns.  “I’ve been called everything from brilliant to a nincompoop over this…but there’s a lot of people interested in this kind of thing, taking energy out of the wind,” said Sabri Sansoy, who has developed a prototype turbine that spins in a figure-eight motion.

Components for wind project arrive in New Hampshire

A cargo ship bearing wind turbine parts for a major wind project in Berlin, N.H., has docked in Portsmouth Harbor.  “This is very exciting, and we are looking to do this right so that we can attract more of this cargo because we understand there are wind projects scheduled for the next eight to 10 years,” said Port Director Geno Marconi. 

Expiration of tax incentives for renewables would raise power rates

State renewable-energy goals are likely to push up retail power costs by 2020, which could force the states to rethink their policies, according to a report from Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.  “If current tax incentives expire as scheduled, meeting renewable targets will require real rate increases through 2020 in excess of 10% in 15 jurisdictions that together account for more than a quarter of U.S. retail electricity sales,”  the report said.  Colorado, California, Arizona, the District of Columbia, New Mexico, Washington, New Jersey, Kansas, Delaware and Maine would face the biggest price increases, the report added. 

 Canada won’t renew program for renewable energy, official says

Canada’s government won’t be allocating new funds to the ecoEnergy for Renewable Power program, which helps finance renewable-energy projects, according to Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver.  The government must slash at least $4.19 billion in spending every year to help it balance its budget by fiscal 2014.  “You’ve got to make choices.  You’ve got to make decisions.  Things have to be affordable,” Oliver said. 

 Wind turbines supplied 20% of Iowa’s power in Q2, AWEA reports

Iowa’s wind farms generated 20% of the state’s total electricity output in the second quarter, according to a report the AWEA.  The national average for wind generated power during the same period was about 3%, according to the Energy Information Administration.

 Texas grid operator lauds wind farms’ contribution during heat wave.

Officials of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas praised the state’s wind farms, especially  those along the Gulf Coast, for generating more electricity when a heat wave pushed up demand to record levels this week. 

 Public meetings scheduled for 1,000-turbine Wyoming wind project.

The Bureau of Land Management will hold public meetings on August 22 and 23 regarding Power Co. of Wyoming’s proposed Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project near Rawlings, Wyoming.  The 1,000 turbine wind farm would become the biggest in North America if completed.

229 renewable-energy projects are cleared by Defense Department
The Department of Defense said it found that 229 or 249 renewable-energy projects in 35 states and Puerto Rico would have negligible or no impact on military operations. The approved projects include more than 6,000 of wind turbines and 30 solar installations with a combined capacity of more than 10 gigawatts, the department said. The 20 projects that were deemed by the department to require “further study” were mostly wind ventures on the west coast.

First Wind completes EIS for 70 MW wind project in Hawaii
The environmental impact statement has been completed for First Wind’s 70 megawatt Kawailoa Wind Farm project in Oahu, Hawaii. First Wind expects construction to start in late 23011 and finish sometime in 2012. The wind farm, slated to become Hawaii’s largest, would generate enough electricity to supply 14,500 homes.

Report: 16% of world’s energy supply in 2010 came from renewables
Despite the global economic downturn, renewable energy performed well in 2010, accounting for 16% of the energy supply worldwide, according to U.S. backed Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century. At least 119 countries embraced a form of renewable-energy policy in 2010, almost twice the amount in 2005, the report showed.

Study: World’s wind power capacity will grow threefold by 2017
Wind power capacity worldwide is expected to grow threefold between 2010 and 2017, according to Pike Research. Global wind power capacity likely will rise from 194.3 gigawatts in 2010 to 565.9 GW by 2017, the group said. The global wind market will be worth an estimated $153 billion in 2017, compared with $56 billion in 2010, the group added.

Study: Clean-energy sector is fueling job growth
The clean-energy industry accounted for almost 40,000 jobs in Minnesota and 2.7 million across the U.S. last year, according to a study by the Brookings Institution. The growth of employment in the sector surpassed the rest of the economy, the study showed. “In short, the clean economy increasingly looks like a promising location for the emergency of significant new technologies, processes, and industries that will shape the next economy and generate new jobs,” the researchers stated.

Australia announces plan to increase reliance on renewable energy
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced plans to reduce the country’s greenhouse-gas emissions by 80% within 40 years by shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Duke Energy buys CPVs Cimarron 2 project, gets set for fall construction

Clean Line Energy transmission project gets favorable ALJ ruling in Oklahoma

Eyeing massive potential, Carolinas join forces in offshore wind initiative

Wind Power Economic Development Summit coming to Des Moines Sept 14

AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium (Nov 2-4) Registration now Open

Clipper Windpower secures $2.3 million award for low-speed turbines
The Iowa Power Fund Board approved a $2.3 million grant for Clipper Windpower’s manufacturing facility in Cedar Rapids.  The company will invest $18 million in the project, which will develop and produce low-speed wind turbines.  “Most of the wind turbines now are in northern and northwestern Iowa.  With wind turbines designed for low-class wind-speed areas, we’d be able to put more wind turbines in northeast and parts of southern Iowa,” said Kristin Hanks of the Iowa Office of Energy Independence. 

The State that knows wind energy the best overwhelmingly supports it.
Voters in Iowa, the state that launched the wind-energy revolution with the first renewable-energy purchase requirement in 1983—and where this year wind has generated 18.8% of the state’s electricity so far – overwhelmingly approve of wind energy and the companies that make it. 

Ill. County judge expected to rule today on wind-turbine case
A judge in Lake County, IL., is expected to rule today on whether Village officials were right to issue a special-use permit for a wind turbine in Libertyville.  The lawsuit against the village and the wind turbine’s owner, Aldridge Electric, was filed by a group of residents who claim that the turbine is too loud.  Aldridge Electric plans to keep the wind turbine.

Montana regulators vote to keep wind power pricing offers secret
The Montana Public Service Commission voted 3-2 to keep confidential the wind power pricing offers from two developers while the commission reviews NorthWestern Energy’s offer for another wind project.  Invenergy and Sagebrush Wind said that the information they submitted to the PSC contains trade secrets that must be kept from the public.

Wind is a “more attractive energy source” for health reasons
Wind energy’s detractors often have baseless arguments against new projects, writes David Suzuki.  The audible sound from a wind turbine is comparable with the average sound level in a living room and has no health effects, writes Suzuki.  The evidence seems clear that wind turbines built with appropriate setbacks do not constitute a health hazard.  And wind becomes a more attractive energy source when you consider the health impacts of the main energy alternative, burning coal and other fossil fuels, he writes.

Ore. County officials vote to increase fee for wind projects
Commissioners of Umatilla County, Ore., approved a plan to increase the conditional-use-permit fee for wind power development.  Under the plan, “wind and other energy facilities” with a capacity of more than a megawatt must pay $5,000 plus $1,000 for each wind turbine.

Home Depot starts selling small wind turbines for private use in some states

Fishermen, shippers concerned about wind development off Va. Coast

Any plan to put up wind turbines off the coast of Virginia must take into account the concerns of fishing, shipping and other industries, according to industry representatives at the Virginia Offshore Wind Conference.  Hopefully policymakers can make a better-informed decision that eliminates conflict, or certainly reduces conflict, with commercial shipping, considering that shipping plays such a vital role in the economy of the commonwealth, said Jeff Keever of the Virginia Port Authority.  The Department of the Interior could begin leasing offshore tracts as soon as 2012. 

Nevada agency seeks to clear path for wind projects

The Nevada State Office of Energy will begin discussions aimed at removing obstacles to wind-power development in the state, said Stacey Crowley, director of the agency.  Out of five wind projects in Nevada, only one has secured the permits to start construction, but a lawsuit is threatening to delay it.  Aside from regulatory, financing and legal hurdles, the state’s limited transmission capacity is a hindrance to wind projects, said Tom Darin, a regional representative of the AWEA.

Minn. County officials decline to present new data on wind project

Commissioners of Goodhue County, Minn., decided not to endorse information that might lead state regulators to require AWA Goodhue Wind to conduct an avian study before it could be issued a permit to build a 52 turbine wind farm.  The information includes federal data regarding the potential impact of wind projects on bird life. 

Investor Interest in U.S. wind power is growing.

Interest in U.S. wind power is growing, thanks in part to renewable-energy standards in 30 states, federal tax credits, strong support from Wall Street and increasing interest from Chinese investors, columnist Ronan Farren writes.  The biggest challenger to wind power is natural gas because, unlike in the EU where feed-in tariffs for renewable energy are mandated by governments, utility rates in the U.S. are largely based on market prices, which gives gas, at near-record lows, a current advantage. 

120-MW wind farm is planned for Neb. County

Way Wind and Nordex USA announced plans to build a wind farm across 8,000 acres in Wayne County, Neb.  The 48-turbine wind farm is expected to generate up to 120 megawatts, enough to power 46,500 homes.  The project is expected to be operational by the end of 2013, said Wes Slaymaker a partner in Way Wind.

Vestas secures order for 83 wind turbines from wind project in Canada.

Germany announces plan to close the country’s 17 nuclear plants by 2022.

Brazil seeks to obtain 16% of its power from renewables in 10 years.

Oregon regulators ask court to clarify decision regarding wind farm’s sound level.

Manufacturer begins installing 2.5 MW wind turbine in Ohio.

Lincoln Electric has started installing a 2.5 megawatt Kenersys wind turbine at its headquarters in Euclid, Ohio. 

Vestas CEO:  Wind sector needs infrastructure upgrade and policy

The wind industry needs the right policy to unlock its “enormous” potential, said Ditlev Engel, president and CEO of Vestas Wind Systems.  In addition, the country must upgrade its aging transmission network, Engel said. 

Iowa Leads Nation in Wind Energy Generation

The state of Iowa is continuing its tradition of leadership in wind energy and showcasing the state’s forward looking strategy to develop alternative energy sources for the economy of the future.

Well on the path to generate 20 percent of its electricity from wind turbines, Iowa is receiving recognition from several key government an industry leaders who say Iowa will play an important role in meeting President Obama’s new energy goals. 

According to the 2010 AWEA Industry Report, Iowa continues to lead the nation in wind generation with 15 percent of its electricity coming from wind.  That number is expected to reach 20 percent later this year when Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy completes its expansion, bringing Iowa one step closer to its goal of generating half the state’s electricity from wind by the year 2030.  That would also allow it to export 30 percent of its wind energy to other states.

AWEA:  Feds’ draft plan on eagle conservation could delay wind projects.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed guidelines for land-based wind turbines and eagle conservation could “add years to the time it takes to develop a project”, said a spokeswoman for the American Wind Energy Association.  The proposed guidelines call for a 10-mile buffer between wind turbines and eagle nesting sites, said Andrew Spielman, an attorney from Hogan Lovells.  “It will be hard to come by a 314-square-mile area in the West that doesn’t have nesting eagles or eagle prey in it,” Spielman said. 

Panel seeks ways to better integrate wind power in BPA’s grid

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) RECONVENED A STAKEHOLDERS’ COMMITTEE ON Monday to discuss how to better integrate the growing supply of wind power in the Pacific Northwest grid.  In the past two weeks, an energy surplus from a  massive spring runoff in the region’s dams prompted BPA to limit the output from wind farms and other non-hydro power sources.

Wyoming rancher touts the benefits of wind energy

Rancher Shaun Sims said wind turbines have no adverse effect on wildlife or ranching operations on his land.  Sims is one of 11 people featured in a campaign launched by the AWEA.  The wind turbines on Sims’ property in Evanston, WY., have “helped our ranch financially, and it’s something you can count on,” he said.  Their hometowns and their professions may differ, but they’ve all been blessed by the breezes blowing across their land and the benefits of economic development that spill over into their communities., Said Denise Bode, CEO of AWEA.

Grads of Idaho wind-energy program must compete for job openings

Several graduates from the wind-energy program at the College of Southern Idaho are finding difficulty securing jobs in the industry.  “We need more infra-structure up in the state of Idaho to bring more jobs,” said Mark Goodman, a wind-energy instructor at the college.  “We’re as perplexed as our students why those jobs aren’t immediately available.  Developers need to get more products up and more jobs out.”  “It’s not like there are no opportunities, but sometimes students think that when they finish this program they will just have to wait by the phone,” said Todd Schwarz, instructional dean at the college.

Washington wind project secures conditional use permit.
A hearing examiner has awarded a conditional use permit for First Wind’s Palouse Wind Project in Whitman County, WA. If built, the wind farm is expected to deliver 100 megawatts of electricity, or enough to supply 25,000 households.

Siemens signs deal to supply 73 turbines to Kansas wind project.
Siemens agreed to supply 73 wind turbines to Duke Energy Renewables’ 168-megawatt Ironwood Windpower Project in Ford County, Kan. Duke signed a 20-year agreement to sell the farm’s electricity and renewable-energy credits to Westar Energy.

AWEA: Feds’ draft plans on wind energy and wildlife are unworkable.
Guidelines proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on land-based wind turbines and eagle conservation are “extremely problematic” and “unworkable,” according to the American Wind Energy Association. The agency should reform the proposals and review the recommendations made in March 2010 by an advisory committee composed of conservation groups, industry representatives and state and federal government bodies, AWEA said. The FWS should achieve a more workable outcome for both wildlife and wind energy,” said John Anderson, the group’s director of siting policy.

AWEA: U.S. wind sector accounts for 75,000 jobs, over 400 factories.
The U.S. wind-power industry is directly responsible for 75,000 jobs, over 400 manufacturing operations in 43 states, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Wind turbines deployed in the U.S. in 2010 had 50% domestic content, and that is likely to increase if the industry receives consistent policies from Congress and the federal government, AWEA added.

Consistent tax policy is key to wind-energy sector’s growth, execs say
The uncertainty about whether Congress will extend the Treasury Department’s Section 1603 Investment Tax Credit and the production tax incentive for wind energy is driving away investors from the industry, according to executives at the American Wind Energy Association’s WINDPOWER 2011 conference in Anaheim, Calif. “Our company wants to invest and it wants to invest now, but it’s really hard to make that investment without long-term certainty,” said Steve Trenholm, CEO of E.ON Climate and Renewables.

Vestas lands order for 34 turbines in Tehachapi, CA.

Did you Know?

The last time California was host to the WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition was in 2007 with only 5,200 attendees.  At the time, the U.S. wind energy industry had installed just 17,000 megawatts of generating capacity, including 2,400 MW in California.  This year, only four years later, WINDPOWER returns to California with 20,000 attendees representing a U.S. wind energy industry with 41,000 MW online, of which 3,177 MW is in California.   Editors Note:  NWREI will be present with Dee Ruleaux, Colleen Piller, Kathy Johnson and Jason Bodily.

Bill Gates calls for U.S., China cooperation on clean energy

American clean-energy developers should be open to working with Chinese companies because although 70% of clean-energy startups are in the U.S., they are likely to go to China for lower manufacturing costs, said Gill Gates.  “Any solution that turns the energy game into a nationalistic one-upmanship game isn’t going to get us where we need to go,” Gates said at an event in Seattle.  The U.S. government should more than double the amount it invests in research and development for renewable energy, Gates added. 

Japan to abandon nuclear plan, push for renewable energy

Japan will abandon a plan to generate 50% of its energy from nuclear by 2030, and will instead encourage energy efficiency and renewable-energy production, said Prime Minister Naoto Kan.  “We will thoroughly ensure safety for nuclear-power generation and make efforts to further promote renewable energy,” Kan said.

Vestas targets European offshore wind market with 7-MN wind turbine

Vestas Wind Systems has developed a massive, 7-megawatt wind turbine for the European offshore wind market.  The V164 turbine has a 538 foot rotor and its swept area could hold up to four 747’s parked end to end.

Vestas will supply 50 wind turbines to a project in China.

Did you know that out of 100,000 birds killed, only 3 are killed by wind turbines.

India is planning to add up to 17,000 MWs of renewable power through 2017.

Study:  Climate change won’t affect wind power in next 30 to 50 years

Global warming will not have a significant impact on wind-energy production in the lower 48 states in the next 30 to 50 years, according to a study by Indiana University.  “Areas where the model predicts decreases in wind density are quite limited, and many of the areas where wind density is predicted to decrease are off-limits for wind farms anyway, said one of the researchers.

Iowa governor says renewable energy will help boost state’s economy

Harnessing renewable-energy sources, including wind power, could help create up to 200,000 jobs in Iowa and boost family incomes by 25%, said Gov. Terry Branstad.  University of Iowa interim Provost P. Barry Butler said the wind-energy sector “has done a lot for the state,” said Butler, who is also a board member of the American Wind Energy Association. 

CNMI is ideal for wind, solar facilities, exec says.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is a good location for solar and wind farms, said James Thomas, a founder of Pacific Wind and Solar.  “We are actually one of the best places in the world for renewable solar (photovoltaic) and wind energy.” Said Thomas, citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  “That’s very, very unusual for most places on our planet,” he said.   

GE expects $21B in clean-tech revenue in 2011, Immelt says

General Electric expects to realize $21 billion in revenue from clean technology this year, CEO Jeffrey Immelt said.  That is compared with the $5 billion the company earned in the segment in 2005, he said during a Massachusetts Institute of Technology forum on clean-energy innovation.  One area in which the private sector is not investing is nuclear energy, even before the crisis in Japan.  Its “financial aspects are overwhelming for utilities,” Immelt said.

BP Wind Energy starts construction on Texas wind project.

BP wind Energy said it has broken ground on its wind project in Texas’ Arch and Young counties.  The 90-turbine Trinity Hills wind farm is expected to have a generating capacity of 225 megawatts, or enough power for more than 65,000 homes.

Researchers seek ways to reduce “wake effects” in wind farms.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia are developing algorithms to reduce so-called “wake effects”, which occur when turbines in a wind farm disrupt the wind flow to other turbines.  The algorithms could help improve the placement of turbines for any given terrain, turbine type and wind condition, said the lead researcher.