AWEA Small-Wind Update, May 6, 2008

 

Dear AWEA Small Wind Turbine Committee,

 

Here is this month’s latest news in the small wind industry:

 

1.         Small Wind Credit Falls From Farm Bill

2.         New Grant Program in Colorado

3.         Women in Wind Energy Award Nomination Forms Available

4.         Small Wind Events at WINDPOWER 2008

 

_______________________

 

1.          Small-Wind Investment Tax Credit and Others Removed from Farm Bill

An Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for small wind systems and a variety of other tax provisions were removed from the farm bill late last month over concerns about spending levels.  The fate of the farm bill as a whole has been in question for months over budget-related issues between Congress and the White House, which have resulted in the removal of several spending items deemed too expensive or not directly related to farm policy.

The size of the farm bill tax title has since been reduced from $14 billion to under $2 billion.  The budgetary footprint of the proposed ITC was estimated to be $5 million and would have created a 30% credit, capped at $4,000, for residential and commercial wind systems with capacities of 100 kilowatts and below.  

House leadership may soon seek to include an energy tax title in a supplemental appropriations bill.  Should this development present an opportunity for small wind, AWEA will engage with House and Senate leaders about including a credit for small wind systems in any legislation that includes energy provisions.

 

2.          Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Partners for Small Wind Grant of $100,000

 

A new program will offer a 25% cost-share to applicants who install wind turbines for on-farm use in the Eastern Plains of Colorado.  The $100,000 grant was obtained last week by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) and will be administered by RMFU's partners, Southeast Colorado RC&D and iCast.

 

The deadline to apply for funds from Southeast Colorado RC&D in June 6, 2008; application forms can be found at www.iCASTusa.org/WindRFP.

 

Promotion of rural small wind installations is a high priority of RMFU's Cooperative Development Center and its director of renewable energy, Tony Frank. "With these funds from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, we and our partners will help rural agricultural families participate in Gov. Ritter's New Energy Economy. With the passage of HB-1160, the Homegrown Power bill," individuals will be able to feed power back into the grid at significant cost savings."

 

 

3.          Nominate Recipients for Women in Wind Energy Awards

 

The group Women in Wind Energy (WoWE) is now accepting nominations for “Woman of the Year” and “Rookie of the Year” awards.  Winners will be announced at the 4th Annual WoWE Luncheon on June 3 during AWEA’s WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition in Houston, TX.  E-mail womenofwindenergy@windustry.org to RSVP to the event.

 

The nomination form can be found at www.womenofwindenergy.org. For more information, contact:

 

Louise Nemmers Mageli

Women of Wind Energy - Program Coordinator

612.870.3467

lmageli@windustry.com

 

 

4.          Small-Wind Events at AWEA’s WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition

 

     The following events at this year’s AWEA WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition have been created specifically for the small-wind community.  The conference and exhibition will be held in Houston, TX this year from June 1-4, 2008.

 

     More information about WINDPOWER, including registration instructions, can be found at www.windpowerexpo.org.

 

 

AWEA Small Wind Committee Meeting

Attendance restricted to members of the small-wind industry.

Wednesday, June 4 from 4:00pm – 5:00pm
RSVP to rstimmel@awea.org

 

Standards Coordinating Committee Meeting
Wednesday, June 4 from 11:30am – 1:30pm
RSVP to rstimmel@awea.org by May 15

 

AWEA Small Wind Standard Development Subcommittee
Tuesday, June 3 from 5:15pm – 6:15pm
Room 361D
RSVP to rstimmel@awea.org by May 15

 

AWEA Small Wind Reception
Monday, June 2 from 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Room 370C

RSVP to rstimmel@awea.org

 

 

 

   Small Wind events calendar

For a comprehensive list of small-wind events around the country, see the Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America site at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/calendar.asp  

 

 

 

 

 

Ron Stimmel

Small-Wind Advocate

American Wind Energy Association

1101 14th St. Nw, 12th Floor

Washington, D.C. 20005

Ph: (202) 383-2546