Posted on 11/10/2007 2:57:29 AM PST by alnitak
AWEA QUARTERLY MARKET REPORT: WIND DELIVERS VITAL NEW POWER SUPPLY WITH OVER 2,300 MEGAWATTS
INSTALLED THIS YEAR TO DATE
Wind energy trade group raises estimate for 2007 installations,
calls on U.S government to deliver strong renewable energy legislation
Continuing a major growth trend, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today announced a substantial increase in the projected installation of new wind energy facilities in 2007.
Previous projections for a record-setting 3,000 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity in 2007 have now been raised: AWEA reports that the U.S. wind energy industry is currently on track to complete a total 4,000 MW in 2007, shattering its 2006 record of 2,454 MW, and generating enough new electricity to power the equivalent of over one million homes.
In its third quarter market report, AWEA also reports that the industry has already added over 2,300 MW of generating capacity to the nation’s electrical grid so far this year with a total of more than 5,000 MW in various stages of construction, establishing wind as one of the largest sources of new power in the country today.
“The U.S wind energy industry is going to exceed what was already a record projection for installations this year,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “This is great news because it means that new, readily available, clean generation is reaching consumers at a time when electricity demand and global warming concerns are both on the rise.
“But the not-so-good news is that, even as we face these twin challenges [climate change and growing energy demand], our country does not have a long-term, national policy in place to promote renewable energy development.”
The federal production tax credit (PTC) for renewable energy will expire in December 2008, and there is no national renewable electricity standard (RES) or other long-term policy in place.
Commented Swisher, “A national long-term policy to promote renewable energy, like the Renewable Electricity Standard approved by the House of Representatives in August, is essential for wind and other renewable energy industries to grow successfully and cost-effectively. The U.S. wind energy industry urges Congressional leaders and the President to work together and bring to the finish line energy legislation that extends the production tax credit and establishes a national standard for renewable electricity.
“In addition to strengthening energy security and fighting global warming, more wind power and renewables will help stabilize electricity costs, and will create economic opportunity in both industrial and rural America.”
Wind power is delivering a generous return on public investment: the continuity in the PTC since 2005 has spurred both record-breaking new generating capacity (2,431 MW added in 2005, 2,454 MW in 2006, about 4,000 MW expected in 2007) and a wave of investment in manufacturing facilities and services across the country, including in states that do not have a large wind resource. Additional returns include lower pollution costs, and growing income for communities in which wind farms are installed.
The U.S. wind energy industry completed 1,251 MW of wind power generation since last reported, bringing the total installed to date this year to 2,310 MW and the total cumulative wind power generating capacity in the country to 13,885 MW, according to AWEA. One megawatt of wind power produces enough electricity on average to serve 250 to 300 American homes.
State highlights include:
--Texas again added the largest amount of new wind power generation (600 MW);
--Colorado installed 264 MW and now ranks as the state with the 6th-largest amount of wind power generation;
--Washington, with 140 MW of new wind capacity, pulls ahead of Minnesota into 4th place;
--Missouri saw the completion of its first utility-scale wind farm, a 56.7-MW project that generates power for electric cooperatives in the region and that makes Missouri the state with the 21st largest amount of wind power now installed;
--Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Iowa also saw the completion of utility-scale projects.
For a full list of projects completed this quarter, listing of states by capacity installed, and additional market information see http://www.awea.org/projects/
AWEA Third Quarter Market Report (pdf)
AWEA, formed in 1974, is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry. The association's membership includes turbine manufacturers, wind project developers, utilities, academicians, and interested individuals. More information on wind energy is available at the AWEA website: www.awea.org.
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As I understand it, as long as oil remains above roughly $50/bbl, wind turbines are a viable energy alternative. Out here in WA, our Ports on the Columbia River are doing land office business importing these turbine assemblies. Each unit has three mast sections, a hub, generator assembley, and three blades that all have to be moved individually from the port of arrival to the erection site by truck. Lots of jobs are involved, and the parts are quite a site when they roll down the freeway.
Why don’t they put them around DC? Lots of useless wind there.
Is this what you mean by "down for maintenance"? Thats a 50 ton generator housing about the size of a small house on fire up there. It'll be down shortly. (:^*)
“I have nothing against wind power. I oppose subsidizing it with tax dollars, whether they be federal, state or local.”
Why aren’t you concerned about the government subsidizing the oil companies aka; Iraq? The taxpayer is footing the bill for the war.
Both Kissinger and Greenspan broke rank recently and agreed the Iraq war is about oil...not WMD, not spreading democracy...but about oil.
If our government “subsidized” nuclear power plants and wind farms to the tune of what they’re spending on the war... we’d be energy independent in less than 5 years.
At what cost?
They’re the biggest money losing investment going. If it wasn’t for subsidies, they’d be a dead issue. It takes 20 to 25 years to pay themselves off. We have close to 150 in our county, on any given day, at least 30% of them are shut down due to mecanical failures.
The average is 30%.
Interesting....
I began to see wind farms in Colorado and as I traveled through Wyoming and Idaho, counted the number of units in the farm and the number of inoperative units. It varied between 10 to 12% inoperative.
This means that the cost of investment rises by say 10% resulting from unreliable generators.
If it is as high as 30%, it’s worse than I thought.
The 30% number is the result of a study of tens of thousands of windmills around the world. I think it was 30,000 winmills.
The production of on land windmills, IIR correctly was 29%, and those over ocean was something like 32%.
That acounted for everything, no wind, mechanical problems, maintance, etc.
I’m sure everyone knows that going in, and yet they still build them, so there’s money to be made. I’m just not sure how much of the money comes from subsidies, and how much from sales of electricity.
I don’t consider a tax break a subsidy, as taxes are nothing more than a punishment for financial success.
Exactly which oil company's are we subsidizing in Iraq? "Both Kissinger and Greenspan broke rank recently and agreed the Iraq war is about oil...not WMD, not spreading democracy...but about oil. " So how much have we got?
” So how much have we got?”
Very little oil so far....in return for wasted American lives and money.
Congressman Pelosi....is that you?
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