The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

News Items from the American Wind Energy Association and editorials:

U.S. SENATE MAKES HISTORY, AGAIN, BY PASSING
NATIONAL RENEWABLES PORTFOLIO STANDARD
August 1st, 2003

Standard Calls for 10% of Nation's Electricity from
New Renewable Energy Sources by 2020

Washington, DC – The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) applauded last night’s passage by the U.S. Senate of the 2002 Senate energy bill that includes a national renewable energy portfolio standard ("renewables portfolio standard," or RPS), along with other key policy measures sought by the U.S. wind energy industry.

The bill's RPS provision requires 10% of the nation’s electricity to come from new renewable energy sources by 2020. Currently, approximately 2% of the nation’s electricity needs are generated by non-hydro renewable energy sources. In addition, the bill includes a three-year extension of the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) and a provision establishing a Small Turbine Investment Credit (STIC) for homes and farms installing small wind generators.

The Senate bill will now be sent to a joint House-Senate conference committee...READ MORE >

WIND ENERGY CAN RELIEVE NATURAL GAS SHORTAGE
June 18th, 2003

Clean, renewable, limitless domestic energy source
can sharply reduce need for natural gas in electricity generation

Washington, DC – Wind energy is already helping to reduce the current natural gas supply shortage in the US, and could be deployed rapidly over the next few years to bring it under control, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

The current supply shortage amounts to 3-4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (Bcf/day), according to energy experts, and the increasing use of gas for electricity generation is one of the major causes of the shortfall. But in many areas of the country where wind farms are generating electricity, they are directly helping to conserve vital natural gas supplies.

"We estimate that the wind farms already in place, and those that will be installed by the end of this year, will be saving about 0.5 Bcf/day in 2004," said AWEA executive director Randall Swisher. "That means the natural gas shortage would be 10-15% worse if it were not for the relatively small amount of wind generation we have today."

In addition, Swisher said, rapid expansion of the nation's wind turbine fleet could sharply boost wind generation over the next four years, increasing its output to the equivalent of 3 Bcf/day (about as much natural gas as the states of Colorado and Alaska produce today). "Wind plants can be permitted and built relatively quickly—typically, within one to two years," Swisher said. "AWEA has proposed specific transmission plans for 30,000 MW of wind in the Midwest and West. We believe that at least that much new wind development is feasible by the end of 2007 under strong policy leadership. AWEA expects a cumulative total of 6,000 MW of wind will have been installed in the U.S. by the end of this year."

The North American supply of natural gas is increasingly limited...READ MORE >

WIND FARMS DO NOT HURT PROPERTY VALUES, STUDY FINDS
May 20th, 2003

First-ever national analysis of data refutes claim
advanced by wind energy opponents

The presence of commercial-scale wind turbines does not appear to harm "viewshed" property values, according to a study the Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) presented on May 20 at WINDPOWER 2003, the annual Conference and Exhibition of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) in Austin, Texas.

The REPP study is the first to systematically analyze property values data in order to examine the charge often voiced by wind farm opponents that wind development will lower the value of property within view of the turbines. Wind power has grown at an average rate of 24.5% in the U.S. over the past five years, and there are now utility-scale projects in 27 states across the country. A search by REPP for either European or U.S. studies on the effect of wind development on property values showed that no systematic review had yet been undertaken.

"We are pleased to see that the first systematic study on the issue of property values and wind power development yields the good news for landowners that wind projects do not harm viewshed property values," said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. " It will be important to continue to collect data as more projects come online...READ MORE >