INSTALLED U.S. WIND POWER CAPACITY SURGED 45% IN 2007

American Wind Energy Association ^ | 17 Jan 2008 | Christine Real de Azua (press officer)

[alnitak]

Shattering all its previous records, the U.S. wind energy industry installed 5,244 megawatts (MW) in 2007, expanding the nation’s total wind power generating capacity by 45% in a single calendar year and injecting an investment of over $9 billion into the economy, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced today. The new wind projects account for about 30% of the entire new power-producing capacity added nationally in 2007 and will power the equivalent of 1.5 million American households annually while strengthening U.S. energy supply with clean, homegrown electric power.

“This is the third consecutive year of record-setting growth, establishing wind power as one of the largest sources of new electricity supply for the country,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “This remarkable and accelerating growth is driven by strong demand, favorable economics, and a period of welcome relief from the on-again, off-again, boom-and-bust, cycle of the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind power.”

“But the PTC and tax incentives for other renewable energy sources are now in danger of lapsing at the end of this year—and at the worst moment for the U.S economy,” added Swisher. “The U.S. wind industry calls on Congress and the President to quickly extend the PTC—the only existing U.S. incentive for wind power—in order to sustain this remarkable growth along with the manufacturing jobs, fresh economic opportunities, and reduction of global warming pollution that it provides.”

The U.S. wind power fleet now numbers 16,818 MW and spans 34 states. American wind farms will generate an estimated 48 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind energy in 2008, just over 1% of U.S. electricity supply, powering the equivalent of over 4.5 million homes.

[traditional1]

Atlamont Pass:

(picture YOUR neighborhood looking like THIS!)

[BuglerTex]

You are right arm about this! The increased resistance will slow the rotation of the earth, weakening the Van Allen belts, incite volcanism through the reduction in the movement relative to the molten core and violate the conservation of gravity.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Unfortunately wind power can’t sustain itself without tax dollars.

Maybe the new wind turbines will make wind power economical.

[bugs_dallas]

Global slowing??!?!?! OH NOEZ!!!!

[Uncledave]

The capacity factor in the 30% range is forecasted in the project planning - this isn’t some surprise. Capacity factor is the ratio of how much power is produced vs to nameplate capacity on the machine if it were producing full power to its full potential 24/7.

The wind turbine is spinning, producing electricity most of the time, just not making as much juice as it could if the winds were at strong 24.7. But again, wind developers measure the wind for a year or two in an area and this becomes part of the financial model of the project.

[Uncledave]

Turbines out in those prairies are on land leased by those farmers.

I’d love to lease a small footprint of space on my land for a megawatt-class turbine, and get many thousands of dollars per year per tower in rent. Living in CT, where the wind is low, it’s not going to happen, though.

[BuglerTex]

Global slowing - you have the nail on its head. Flaming pants we have to get this word out before it all flies off the handle.

[N3WBI3]

Right cause lord knows no tax dollars go into the coal or oil industry... Thanks for playing..

[thackney]

——>Right cause lord knows no tax dollars go into the coal or oil industry... <——

A lot more tax dollars come out of the oil industry than go in it.

ExxonMobil made $39.5 billion in profits last year.
They also paid $97.5 billion in taxes.

Sales-based taxes - $30.381B
Other taxes and duties - $39.203B
Income taxes - $27.902B

ExxonMobil’s 2006 Financial and Operating Review
http://exxonmobil.com/Corporate/Files/Corporate/fo_2006.pdf
Page 22

- - - - - -

ConocoPhillips 2006
Net Income $15.5 billion
Taxes $31.0 billion

Income taxes $ 12.783B
Taxes other than income taxes $ 18.187B

ConocoPhillips 2006 Annual Report
Consolidated Income Statement
http://www.conocophillips.com/NR/rdonlyres/CA84868B-CB7C-4A44-BB60-AD5EFF254023/0/64_67.pdf

- - - - - -

Chevron
Income $3.8 Billion
Taxes $8.4 Billion

Taxes other than on income $ 5.533B
Income Tax $ 2.859B

[goldfinch]

Won’t be much longer before we are told wind mills are stripping so much energy out of the winds across the plains that the weather is being negatively impacted!

And all the farmers in South Dakota will have to learn to stand straight up without leaning into the wind.

[rhombus]

So for you it’s a matter of fairness in passing out the goodies? What’s your point?

[traditional1]

"Living in CT, where the wind is low, it’s not going to happen, though."

The bulk of the U.S. population does not live in the wind-swept prairies, and "load centers" (i.e., major populated areas, industrial complexes, etc.) are far removed from the plains. Transmission towers (those ugly eyesores we all would "welcome" in our communities) are necessary to carry the power from windfarms, too, and these are NEVER shown in the "modern" wind farm photos, either.

Wind power will not replace the need for conventional generating plants, no matter how much greenies wish for it to be so.

[thackney]

Part of the reason Texas is looking at building 765,000 Volt Transmission Lines.

[traditional1]

"Part of the reason Texas is looking at building 765,000 Volt Transmission Lines."

Yeah; the other part is to transfer "cheap power" from Mexico !

[thackney]

No, ERCOT does not import or export power except under short-term emergencies.

[traditional1]

"No, ERCOT does not import or export power except under short-term emergencies"

Yeah; I'm quite aware of ERCOT's "independent Reliability Entity" registration at NERC, and recognized at FERC as such, BUT, believe me, when the FERC decides Mexico has a right to interconnect AND deliver power under an OATT (Open Access Transmission Tariff), you think Texas can stop it? ROFL

[thackney]

The existence of ERCOT is the independence of not wheeling power outside the state borders.

Power can already be sold across the nations and borders and has for many decades. Just not through ERCOT.

[thackney]

U.S. Electricity Imports from and Electricity Exports to Canada and Mexico
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epat6p3.html

[traditional1]

Right; all it takes to wheel across international U.S. Borders is a Presidential Permit, and ERCOT will soon be having such a condition, and will join the rest of the Regions.....it’s just a matter of who is in Power, and who gives FERC its marching orders.

[thackney]

ERCOT is not subject to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s jurisdiction under sections 203, 205, or 206 of the Federal Power Act.