Ontarians say wind one of the safest forms of electricity generation

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Excerpt: A high 78% of Ontarians say wind energy is one of the safest forms of electricity generation according to a recent Oracle Research poll commissioned by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). The poll was conducted between February 22 to 29 and has a margin for error of ±3.1%, 19 times out o …

Electronics assembler acquires custom wire firm

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Excerpt: ETI, through its subsidiary American Cable & Harness LLC (ACH), Fort Atkinson, Wisc., has acquired the assets of CMK Enterprises Inc. and Calmer Industries LLC, Eagle, Wisc., a supplier for wire processing, custom wire, and cable-harness assembly, and UL 508A control box design and assembly. The …

Finally, we have bipartisan support!

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Excerpt: In some of my past show recaps, you'll sense my frustration with the dissent between parties over renewable energy decisions—particularly the PTC. One former member of FERC noted at a recent wind event that Democrats and Republicans used to agree on clean-energy policy until, basically, Solyndra. …

Green engineering grant worth $25,000. Application deadline, Nov 1, 2012

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Excerpt: A grant program helps eligible small companies and research groups focused on innovative control and measurement applications in renewable energy and clean-tech fields worldwide. Because of the success of customers involved in the National Instruments Green Engineering Grant program, the company is …

Dallas O&M Conference Recap

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Excerpt: I don't always get a chance to do much site seeing at these shows, but I did get to see a fair share of Dallas while here for Wind Energy Update's O&M Summit. On the way to my hotel, the taxi driver informed me that this was where Kennedy was shot (I know, but give me a break. It was before my t …

A Recap of ABB’s Automation and Power World 2012

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Excerpt: I learned something new today. The George Brown Convention Center in Houston is huge! Seriously, it's ginormous. I know this because I practically walked the entire two miles around the whole thing looking for the door. Once I approached the loading center, I figured it was time to ask for help. Sho …

Teetering toward two-blade turbines

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Excerpt: Despite the wide-spread use of three blade turbine, two blade versions offer fundamental advantages in light weight and low cost - if equipped with a teeter rotor. The 18th century Dutch built thousands of four-blade windmills, from Kinderdijk to Schiedam to Zaanse Schans. In the late 20th …

U.S. Senator tours generator manufacturer, pledges support for PTC

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Danotek, a manufacturer of efficient permanent magnet (PM) generators and power converter systems for the global wind energy market, recently hosted Senator Carl Levin, along with Rob Gramlich, Senior VP of Public Policy of AWEA (American Wind Energy Association) at the Danotek office and manufacturing facility. The two toured the facility and discussed how they may support Danotek’s growth and initiatives along with an extension to the PTC.

The wind industry, and Danotek in particular, seeks a long-term extension of the PTC at full value to ensure consistency and market certainty. While the industry was fortunate to gain short-term extensions in the past, these shorter time periods create uncertainty and a “boom-and-bust” cycle of short-term planning, near annual job layoffs and higher cost projects. Without a long-term policy, manufacturers are discouraged from investing, and expanding manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Long term tax policies, lasting more than a few years would also provide consistency and market certainty.

Senator Levin commented, “I want to stress the importance of tax credits in green energy’s future in America and the world. Companies like Danotek can be suppliers in this global effort, and if we don’t support them, we are going to lose an awful lot of great jobs in Michigan. Danotek’s got some great innovators and good investors, but it also needs some good public support. That’s what we’re going to work on in Washington.”

“We are urging Congress to pass legislation that provides a long-term extension of the PTC this year. Combined with a growing number of states that have adopted renewable electricity standards, the PTC has been a major driver of wind power development over the past six years. Installing more wind power would foster rural economic development, job creation, and energy price,” he added.

“It is inspiring to see the innovations taking place at companies like Danotek, one of a number of Michigan companies producing components of modern wind turbines. Michigan alone has at least 34 wind energy related manufacturing facilities serving this growing market.  With continued support from Congress in the form of an extension of the Production Tax Credit, we can maintain and expand this growth,” says AWEA Senior VP of Public Policy Rob Gramlich.

Under federal law, the PTC provides an income tax credit of $0.022/kWh for the production of electricity from utility-scale turbines. This incentive was created under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The PTC applies for the first 10 years of electricity production, and it is set to expire on December 31, 2012.

Danotek Motion Technologies
danotekmotion.com

Illinois based wind-gear service receives $1.6 million from state to support expansion

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Excerpt: ZF Friedrichshafen AG has expanded its wind power services by becoming an authorized repair center for all legacy models of Hansen Transmissions in wind turbines. To support OEM and owner-operator turbine service across North America, the repair facility, in Vernon Hills, Ill., has received appr …

AWEA Seminar: Financing, Investment and My First Time in NY

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Excerpt: I spent four months in Ireland in college. The local girls there weren't so familiar with Ohio (they asked if it was close to where Paris Hilton lived), but they had been to New York. I'd traveled my way around Paris, London, Berlin and more, but I could not say the same. Four years later, I know I' …