Analysis: The future is bright for US renewables

Friday, December 23, 2016

Analysis: The future is bright for US renewables

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From: "Wind Energy SmartBrief" <awea@smartbrief.com>
Date: Dec 23, 2016 12:38 PM
Subject: Analysis: The future is bright for US renewables
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AWEA: Low-cost wind is a favorite of Fortune 500 companies | Analysis: The future is bright for US renewables | Iowa energy strategy prioritizes renewables

Created for aquarianm@gmail.com | Web Version

December 23, 2016

News for wind power professionals and advocates

Industry Update

AWEA: Low-cost wind is a favorite of Fortune 500 companies

The low cost of wind makes it an attractive energy source for Fortune 500 companies seeking power purchase agreements, according to the American Wind Energy Association. US companies "have applied market-leading innovation to develop new financial tools -- including virtual power purchase agreements -- that get projects built where they otherwise might not be," said Hannah Hunt of AWEA and the report's lead author.

North American Windpower online (12/22)

Analysis: The future is bright for US renewables

Renewable-energy supporters in the US are optimistic about the future of clean energy options. American Wind Energy Association CEO Tom Kiernan has called wind a "mainstream energy source."

The Associated Press (12/22)

Iowa energy strategy prioritizes renewables

An Iowa government report recommends increased renewable-energy generation and a stronger electrical grid, among other things. "Iowa has a tradition of leading on clean energy, and this strategy continues that," said Environmental Law & Policy Center attorney Josh Mandelbaum.

The Des Moines Register (Iowa) (tiered subscription model) (12/21), Midwest Energy News (12/21)

Project Focus

Southern buys wind facilities in Texas

Southern Power has purchased a pair of wind farms in Texas: the 174-megawatt Salt Fork Wind facility in Donley County and the 126-MW Tyler Bluff Wind facility near Fort Worth.

FuelFix.com (12/22)

Other News

Nordex wins 2 turbine supply deals in the US SeeNews Renewables (12/23)

Vestas to supply MidAmerican with 77 turbines for Iowa project ReNews.biz (U.K.) (12/23)

Economy, Energy & Trends

Statoil to conduct offshore wind feasibility study in N.Y.

Statoil will investigate the feasibility of wind development off the coast of New York after winning a provisional federal lease auction last week. "The US is a key emerging market for offshore wind -- both bottom-fixed and floating -- with significant potential along both the east and west coasts," said executive Irene Rummelhoff.

CNBC (12/21)

Policy Watch

Mich. regulator OKs DTE Energy plan to buy wind project

The Michigan Public Service Commission has signed off on a deal in which DTE Energy would acquire Pine River Wind Engineering's 161.3-megawatt Pine River project upon completion. The project is expected to feature 65 turbines.

SeeNews Renewables (12/23)

N.D. PSC OKs first phase of wind farm

The North Dakota Public Service Commission has approved the first phase of a Renewable Energy Systems wind farm with up to 53 turbines and a total capacity of 179 megawatts.

The Bismarck Tribune (N.D.) (12/22)

AWEA News

Study finds billions of dollars of economic benefits from just one transmission project

A recently released study finds that Pattern Energy Group LP's proposed Southern Cross transmission line will spur $3.9 billion in economic benefits. Mississippi, Louisiana and the greater southwest stand to gain over both the short and long term, according to researchers. Learn more.

Learn more about AWEA:

AWEA Home | AWEA and Wind News | Events | Take Action

Know what you want to do, hold the thought firmly, and do every day what should be done, and every sunset will see you that much nearer your goal.

Elbert Hubbard,
writer

These stories were selected and summarized by independent editors at SmartBrief Inc., not by AWEA's staff, and do not represent AWEA positions. They reflect the variety of daily coverage of American wind power.

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The AWEA's annual expo:
Global WINDPOWER 2004
McCormick Place
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March 28-31, 2004

I was there...
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Please note the E-mail link by the title of the webpage. Comments, stories, and article submissions are welcome. Any accepted submission entitles the submitter to a link on the Journal page included at the bottom of their submitted entry when published to the journal. The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal makes no claim as to the accuracy of submitted material. The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal neither endorses nor opposes opinions expressed in submitted material. Submitter must provide name, city, and state or country. The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal imples no promise to publish all submissions. Adult content will definitely NOT be published. Submitted material will be screened and appropriate entries published at the owner's discretion.

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Why I Publish This Blog:

"One thing that many people do not realize is that states like Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana,
and Michigan are sitting on a gold mine of wind energy potential. Or, more properly, next to the mine.
The Great Lakes are probably the area in the USA with the third largest inland wind energy potential.
Think of just the nickname for Chicago. "The Windy City". Milwaukee is even windier, I can tell you.
Why? Because they sit on the edge of a great flat area where there is both a land-water temperature
differential, and a large flat expanse of water that is comparably shallow.
Oilrigs certainly operate in deeper waters. And you won't have to construct transmission lines all the
way from the plains of Montana to put it to use.

The Great Lakes area has an opportunity to get the jump on wind energy's future, if that fact is
recognized and exploited. Wind energy means jobs for construction and maintenance workers, thousands
of them. Wind energy means leasing rights and extra money for family farmers struggling to make it on
agriculture alone. In most cases farmers can grow crops right up to the base of a windmill. The land
footprint has a small impact on total farm acreage. Wind energy also means freedom from fluctuating
fuel prices. Wind is free. The cost of a barrel of polluting oil can be raised or lowered drastically
based on fears or political whims. The potential gains are enormous. We've all seen the flow of good
manufacturing jobs out of the area. Well, they can't tell the wind to blow in another country so it's
more "convenient" or cheaper to produce. The wind is perfectly happy to whip up opportunities for us
right around here. Most of all, because we here in the Great Lakes region have the potential to have
a huge positive impact on U.S. energy industry emissions' contribution to global warming."