Leaders from the wind industry and across the clean energy sector arrived in Houston today as the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) opens WINDPOWER 2019, the largest wind energy conference in the Western Hemisphere. The show features its largest exhibit hall in five years to accommodate the business deals that have driven both U.S. wind power jobs…
AWEA: Strengthening America’s “Electric Highway” will fast-track U.S. economic growth
The United States urgently needs a 21st Century update of its aging power grid and the solution, well-planned transmission investment, will more than pay for itself according to a new report released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Grid Vision: The Electric Highway to a 21st Century Economy outlines why an interconnected, modern transmission…
U.S representatives introduce the Renewable Energy Transferability Act
Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Darin LaHood (R-IL-18) have introduced the Renewable Energy Transferability Act. The Act would let the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC) be transferable on a limited basis to any entity involved in a renewable energy project, such wind or solar power. “Climate change is one…
U.S. Senator Wyden introduces Clean Energy for America Act
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore, has introduced the Clean Energy for America Act, which creates new tax incentives for the production of clean energy and the promotion of new technologies. According to a one-page summary of the Act, the bill proposes a simpler set of “long-term, performance-based energy tax incentives that are technology-neutral and promote…
U.S. wind development pipeline grew by 6,146 MW in first quarter
A burst of new wind farm announcements in the first quarter of 2019 propelled the total volume of U.S. wind power construction and development activity to a record level according to the newly released U.S. Wind Industry First Quarter 2019 Market Report. The American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) report reveals that U.S. project developers announced new wind…
Renewable groups urge Congress to support clean energy funding
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Energy Storage Association, Solar Energy Industries Association, and other renewable energy organizations have sent a joint letter to Congress urging consistent funding for energy innovation in the Department of Energy’s FY 2020 Budget and opposing the Administration’s proposed deep cuts. The Administration has…
TransWest Express Transmission Project passes major development hurdle
American families and businesses will soon have access to more affordable, reliable clean energy, thanks to a unanimous decision from the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council approving the TransWest Express (TWE) Transmission Project. The long-distance, high-voltage transmission line will reliably deliver large amounts of energy, including cost-saving wind power, to help power homes and businesses across the…
FERC tells Southwest Power Pool to remove its membership exit fee
Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directed the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) to eliminate the membership exit fee for non-transmission owners. This decision granted a complaint about SPP’s exit fee raised by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the Wind Coalition (now Advanced Power Alliance). “We applaud FERC for removing the exit fee barrier,…
AWEA’s statement on Trump’s energy & infrastructure executive orders
The U.S. Government recently announced two new executive orders aimed at streamlining the federal processes around energy infrastructure development. According to a government-released fact sheet, the first order is designed to “addresses the regional and local energy supply constraints and to promote an efficient energy market.” The other aims to “improve the process for issuing…
U.S. wind power grew 8% in 2018 amid record demand
The American wind industry emerged from 2018 stronger than ever, now able to power 30 million American homes after 8% capacity growth last year. The newly released U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report, Year Ending 2018 reveals that U.S. wind power supports a record 114,000 American jobs, over 500 domestic factories, and more than $1 billion a…
AWEA endorses ITC bill for energy storage
U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., introduced a bill today that would establish a federal investment tax credit for business, residential, and utility-scale use of batteries and other energy storage technologies. Among other things, the legislation seeks to establish a 30% tax credit for both commercial and residential energy storage through 2021. That incentive would be…
Powering the future together at WINDPOWER 2019
WINDPOWER 2019 George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas May 20 to 23, 2019 It is a true powerhouse in the industry, leading the nation in wind-power generation with more installed wind capacity than all but five countries in the world. It is also home to nearly four dozen turbine manufacturing facilities and numerous component…
New industry initiative to invest in wind-wildlife solutions
Leaders of the Wind Wildlife Research Fund announced that the Fund, a new wind industry-led initiative to pool investment for wind-wildlife solutions, raised $828,000 to support and implement seven priority research projects in 2019. By investing in key research, the Fund aims to develop solutions to wildlife challenges, focus conservation efforts, expedite wind energy siting and permitting, and…
New Mexico takes bold step toward a cleaner, stronger 21st Century economy
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law The Energy Transition Act (SB489), advancing the state’s national leadership in renewable energy with a goal to source 50% of New Mexico’s energy from renewable sources by 2030. The law sets even higher goals for the future, targeting 80% renewable energy by 2040 and 100% carbon-free…
Grain Belt Express transmission line passes major regulatory hurdle
Low-cost clean energy is one big step closer to reaching more American consumers thanks to a unanimous decision this week by the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) approving the Grain Belt Express transmission project. The long-distance, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power line will reliably deliver large amounts of clean energy, including cost-saving wind power, to homes and businesses.…
AWEA: How do corporate wind deals benefit local communities?
Editor’s note: This blog post comes from the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) Into the Wind blog. It was written by Anna Hofmann, the Government & Public Affairs Coordinator at AWEA. You can read AWEA’s other blog postings here. More than ever, companies are looking to power their businesses using wind energy. Across the world, companies more than doubled the renewable energy…
AWEA recognizes industry leaders in operations and safety
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) last week recognized five accomplished individuals and companies as part of its Safety and Health Excellence Recognition and Excellence in Operations programs. Each year, these programs recognize industry leaders that go above and beyond to prioritize operational efficiency and workforce safety. Chris Meehan, Vice President of Wind Operations at Invenergy, a U.S.-based wind-farm…
Former Iowa senator, Jeff Danielson, joins AWEA
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has hired Jeff Danielson to lead state policy advocacy efforts across Midwestern and Plains states. In his new role as AWEA’s Central Region Director, Danielson will advocate for pro-growth policies to help wind power expand and meet strong consumer demand for clean energy. Prior to joining AWEA, Danielson served…
A look beyond offshore wind: What to pay attention to this year
Offshore wind has dominated the industry news cycle, and will likely maintain its position as a prominent development in renewables. But the aquatic turbine towers shouldn’t overshadow a number of other noteworthy federal and technological developments related to wind that are worth looking into. Deploying drones Unmanned aerial vehicles have streamlined turbine blade inspections by…
Consumer demand drives record year for buying wind energy
Fortune 500 brands and a range of other non-utility entities, including cities and universities, are catalyzing America’s growing demand for renewable energy by purchasing a record amount of wind power in 2018 according to a new report by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Consumer demand combined with policy stability and low, stable prices helped…