You might think the U.S. wind industry could not be busier. Even without the PTC, construction is booming, for this year at least. The recently proposed EPA rules may provide some of the stimulus previously delivered by the tax credit. Although that remains to be seen, what is visible it that the air is getting…
Ohio freezes state’s renewable energy goals; immediate action needed
Gov. John Kasich has an opportunity to retain a wind industry in Ohio if he uses his line-item veto today to remove an anti-wind-energy provision from the budget bill – with $2.5 billion in current investment, hundreds of millions in local leases and tax payments, over 60 factories, and thousands of Ohio jobs on the…
Gov. Kasich should veto wind energy-killing provision of H.B. 483 that jeopardizes $2.5 billion investment in Ohio
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) calls on Governor John Kasich to protect billions of dollars in potential investments in Ohio by using his line item veto to strike a provision in House Bill (H.B.) 483, which places unduly restrictive setbacks on new Ohio wind farms. “This would kill further wind energy development in Ohio…
DOE data show states with most wind energy have largest electric rate decline
Newly released Department of Energy (DOE) data show that consumers in the states that use the most wind energy have fared far better than consumers in states that use less wind energy. The 11 states that produce more than seven percent of their electricity from wind energy have seen their electricity prices fall by 0.37%…
The AWEA WINDPOWER 2014, Wednesday, May 7 in review
Day Two of WINDPOWER 2014 was a good day. One thing I noticed was an influx of small companies – many of which, I had never heard of. This is exciting news. Seeing these exhibitors gives reason to be optimistic in what some consider a “down market.” For a change of pace, WINDPOWER 2014 featured…
Photoblog: AWEA Windpower 2014, Day One
Windpower 2014 attendees: Read the most recent windpower news on the Windpower Engineering and Development homepage, check our Twitter (@windpower_eng) for updates from the show floor, and each day watch out for a new photoblog!
Building a culture of safety in windpower businesses
Compared to long-established industries such as oil and gas, windpower is a young venture. Many of its leaders, however, come from more mature fields. In their new wind-industry roles, they’ve brought with them – to varying degrees – safety-first work processes. The incident reporting funnel, for example, which brings accidents experienced in the field to…
A new way to visualize the wind energy tax credit
An AWEA guest blog by Jason Dedrick, associate professor, Syracuse University The question of whether the federal government should support wind energy has been debated since the Production Tax Credit (PTC) was created in 1992. The credit has been allowed to expire five times, most recently at the end of 2013. This year, President Obama’s…
U.S. wind industry breaking electricity grid records, thanks to transmission upgrades and new project development
Wind energy is breaking records across the U.S., thanks to long-needed transmission upgrades that are relieving congestion on the power grid and allowing more clean energy to reach consumers. Last week, a new record was set in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), reaching over 10,000 MW of wind. This was the most ever…
American wind power reaches major power generation milestones in 2013
American wind power topped 4% of the U.S. power grid for the first time last year and has delivered 30% of all new generating capacity for the last five years. In Iowa and South Dakota, wind power now exceeds 25% of total electricity production. In nine states it provided more than 12% and in 17…
Supreme Court rules in favor of the wind industry
Recently, the Supreme Court refused to hear and therefore upheld the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on grid cost-allocation in the Midwest. AWEA responded with this statement to the news. “We are pleased that the Supreme Court declined to review the ruling by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that transmission upgrades…
U.S. wind industry fourth quarter 2013 market report
At the end of 2013 there were more U.S. wind power megawatts under construction than ever in history: Over 12,000 MW of new generating capacity was under construction, with a record-breaking 10,900 MW starting construction activity during the fourth quarter. At least 60 PPAs for nearly 8,000 MW were signed by utilities and corporate purchasers,…
Wind Industry CEO Tom Kiernan joins Electric Power Executive Roundtable
Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), becomes the latest energy executive to confirm his participation in the annual Executive Roundtable, which takes place as part of the 16th annual ELECTRIC POWER conference and exposition held April 1-3 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Kiernan joins four other…
American wind power sees unprecedented growth entering 2014
Largest-ever crop of wind farms under construction, building U.S. industry’s momentum The American wind energy industry responded to the extension of the Production Tax Credit in 2013 by starting construction on an historic and unprecedented number of new wind farms, backed by Power Purchase Agreements with electric utilities on a record scale by the close…
AWEA exec discusses why you should attend next week’s Wind Project O&M and Safety Seminar
I’m Nic Sharpley, managing editor of Windpower Engineering & Development magazine. Welcome to another edition of Wind Talk, our podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s newsmakers in their own words. Today, we have Michele Mihelic, Director of Worker Health and Safety Policy, and Standards Development at AWEA. Michele is…
Defending RPSs and driving demand for a new wind vision
Panelists had a lot to say at the recent AWEA Fall Symposium. The first session dealt with ides for driving demand for wind power, such as lower generation costs, wind power as a natural hedge against rising natural-gas prices, and competition as a way to generate more renewable energy. The panel chaired by Robert Crowell,…
Shermco Industries hosts opening reception and presents at 2014 AWEA Operations, Maintenance & Safety Conference
To kick off the 2014 AWEA Operations, Maintenance & Reliability Seminar, held Jan. 15 to16, 2014 in San Diego, Calif., Shermco Industries, an AWEA Mega Watt-sponsor, will host an opening-night reception. Networking and refreshments will be enjoyed at the conclusion of the first day’s sessions, from 5 to 6 p.m., at the Hotel del Coronado.…
American Wind Energy Association comments on U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Eagle Permit Tenure Rule
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) welcomes the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (FWS) final rule to extend the total maximum duration of take permits allowed for under the 2009 Eagle Permit Rule. However, this rule must only be a first step in creating a rational and effective approach to eagle permitting, and we look…
Wind Talk: Wind industry growth and an early recap of 2013
The year’s construction activity started slow with only one turbine launched in the first quarter. But since then, construction has been significantly picking up and will carry over well into 2014. In this WindTalk podcast, AWEA Senior Policy Analyst Emily Williams reviews the year’s significant developments and discusses more positive news, such as some utilities…
Shermco’s Kevin Alewine appointed to task force for DOE Wind Vision Project
In addition to documenting and analyzing the current status of wind technologies and the wind industry, the objectives of the initiative are to: Provide leadership in development of a cohesive long-term vision for the benefit of the broad U.S. wind power community Analyze a range of aggressive but attainable industry growth scenarios Provide best available…