U.S. wind farms now pay $222 million dollars a year to farming families and other rural landowners, according to new data released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today, with more than $156 million dollars going to landowners in counties with below average incomes. Wind energy generation saves about 226 gallons of water for…
Opportunities for women in wind power on the rise
As wind power ramps up, installing more new electricity generating capacity than other energy source last year, so are new opportunities for jobs and leadership positions for women in the U.S. wind energy industry. These changes will be reflected at this year’s WINDPOWER 2016 in New Orleans from May 23 to May 26, as women increasingly…
Wind power hails Oregon’s move toward 50% renewable energy
American wind power hailed Oregon’s bipartisan decision to raise the state renewable energy law to 50% renewables by 2040. The new state law doubles Oregon’s access to renewable energy, putting the state on the path to cut costs, keep the lights on, and create cleaner air. The new state renewable portfolio standard (RPS) target puts…
U.S. number one in global wind-power production
The United States continues to lead the world in wind energy production according to recently released data by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Over 31% of Iowa’s in-state electricity generation came from wind last year – marking another major milestone. This is the first time wind…
Over $128 billion dollars invested in U.S. economy by new wind-power projects over last 10 years
Building new wind farms in the U.S has added $13 billion a year on average to the American economy over the past five years. According to information released today by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), that’s more money each year than the annual revenue generated by Major League Baseball. “By building new wind farms…
The records keep falling: More new highs in wind-energy output
Editor’s note: The following is a blog posting from Michael Goggin, Senior Director of Research at the American Wind Energy Assiciation (AWEA). Yet again, wind power set energy generation and penetration records across the United States late last week. From the ERCOT grid in Texas north to the MISO grid in the Midwest, these achievements build…
Wind energy was top source for new electric capacity in 2015
Wind energy installed more electric generating capacity last year than any other energy source in America. The 8.6 GW of wind-power capacity installed surpassed the 7.3 GW of new solar photovoltaic capacity and 6 GW installed by natural gas, according to data from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the recently released Business Council…
AWEA’s statement on the Clean Power Plan stay
Editor’s note: A divided Supreme Court agreed this week to halt enforcement of President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP). The CPP offers a historic set of guidelines for reducing carbon pollution from power plants and acting on climate change. In response to the temporary stay of the CPP, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) issued the below statement…
A landmark year for U.S. energy evolution
Editor’s note: A new study from Bloomberg New Energy Finance and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy showed that energy efficiency is on the rise and that renewable generation set new records in 2015. The two organizations recently released the fourth annual Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The press release is below. American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA)…
American wind power posts second strongest quarter ever
The American wind industry installed 5,001 MW during the fourth quarter of 2015, more installations than in all of 2014, according to data released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Overall in 2015 the American wind industry installed 8,598 MW, the third largest amount ever installed in a year and a 77% increase over…
New 14-state study: Billions in benefits from adding more electric power transmission
Savings on producing electricity are just the start of the benefits to regions that expand their electrical transmission, according to a new study issued in Little Rock, Arkansas by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which supplies 14 states across the central U.S. Fuel cost savings alone totaled $240 million in the first year, from power line…
Governors’ coalition teams up wind and solar to advance renewable energy across U.S.
After seven years of promoting the benefits of adding wind energy to the U.S. electricity mix, the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition announced that it will pair its advocacy work for wind with work for solar energy as well. The change is reflected in the group’s new name, the Governors’ Wind and Solar Energy Coalition (GWSC). “This…
AWEA: Progress in wind-power leads clean-energy sector
The President plans to talk about progress tonight, including in clean energy. Wind energy has led the sector with the following recent progress: Adding more capacity than any other energy source, leading the country with 47% of all new electric generating capacity in 2015 (followed by gas at 35% and solar at 14%). More than…
National Lab report: Wind energy is a big win for consumers, environment, and economy
The study’s results show wind energy is highly effective at reducing carbon pollution while also protecting ratepayers against fuel price increases, a critical message for states and utilities as they begin to craft plans to reduce emissions to comply with EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
From good to great: AWEA’s five-year plan for the wind industry
Wind energy certainly has its challenges. Developers have their eyes set on greater wind speeds and that means taller towers and longer blades, but no one wants to pay higher prices. It’s also been a year full of funding and tax credit uncertainty, at least until recently. But at an American Wind Energy Association…
American wind power breezes past 70-GW milestone
American wind power just passed the 70 gigawatt (GW) mark, meaning enough wind-turbine capacity is now installed to supply over 19 million typical American homes with low-cost electricity. The announcement comes as political leaders from around the world, including the U.S., reached a historic agreement this month to reduce carbon pollution, further increasing the…
AWEA: U.S. wind industry leaders praise multi-year extension of tax credits
By voting to pass the 2016 budget, which includes a multi-year extension of the wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Congress secured stability for 73,000 American wind industry workers across all 50 states and private investors helping to grow American wind power. “We’re going to keep this American wind-power success…
Wind energy gains predictability from tax credits’ multi-year extension
The agreement by congressional leaders last night on a multi-year extension of renewable energy tax credits would secure several years of predictable policies that encourage private investment in wind energy, industry leaders said today. “This agreement will enable wind energy to create more affordable, reliable, and clean energy for America by providing multi-year predictability as…
Putting safety first: AWEA’s Safety Committee wants your feedback
If you’ve ever wondered just how safe the wind industry is you aren’t alone. The American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) Safety Committee was formed to help monitor and promote health and safety within the wind energy sector. But this isn’t always an easy task. “I’ve been involved since it started and now, as the Chair…
States across the U.S. set wind output records
By Michael Goggin Grid operators in Texas (ERCOT) and the Midwest (MISO) spent the past week neck and neck in a race for record wind output, leading to a near photo finish. Texas jumped into first place on October 22, eclipsing the record set by MISO in January 2015, only to have MISO regain the…