| Industry Update | Sponsored By | | |  | Opinion: Offering tax incentives for wind will yield long-term benefits Every successful economy needs affordable and plentiful energy -- and offering the wind industry tax incentives today is one way the U.S. can prepare for the future, writes Loren Steffy. "Development of wind technology could help address the country's future energy needs and fill an important role in diversifying our energy portfolio and enhancing energy security," he writes. Forbes (2/25) Upstate N.Y. sees wind farm proposals in the works Wind energy is growing in upstate New York, with 21 wind farms in operation and more proposed, including Lighthouse Wind. The project would have up to 70 turbines and produce enough electricity for 53,000 homes, according to Somerset, N.Y., Town Supervisor Dan Engert. Wind energy expansion in the region is hindered by a lack of transmission, as well as policy uncertainty regarding the Production Tax Credit, industry advocates say. American Wind Energy Association Vice President for Government and Public Affairs Rob Gramlich said that Congress should renew the PTC to avoid slowing the industry's growth. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (N.Y.) (tiered subscription model) (2/26)  | Global Crisis Call for Wind Energy Experts Want to help solve the greatest crisis of our time? Penn State's award-winning online grad programs in renewable energy and sustainability can give you the technical knowledge and project management skills needed to propel wind energy forward. Turn your passion into action. Make change happen with an online degree from Penn State. Learn more. | | EDF selects Mortenson to build Kan. wind farm Mortenson Construction's Wind Energy Group said it will build EDF Renewable Energy's Slate Creek Wind Project in Geuda Springs, Kan. The project will include 75 Vestas 2-megawatt wind turbines. "Since the beginning of our nearly 15-year relationship, Mortenson has constructed over 3,300 MW of wind power with EDF Renewable Energy in a very successful partnership," said Mortenson Wind Energy Group Vice President and General Manager Tim Maag. WindpowerEngineering.com (2/25) Sowitec, EDF to partner on Brazilian wind farms EDF Energies Nouvelles and Sowitec have signed an agreement to build wind farms in Brazil. The projects would have a total capacity of 800 megawatts. "Brazil has tremendous wind energy potential and a regulatory framework that is favorable to a massive expansion of renewables in the energy mix," said Energies Nouvelles CEO Antoine Cahuzac. Brazil has the 10th greatest installed wind capacity in the world. BNAmericas.com (2/25)  | 5 tips for managing negative online comments
The Internet gives your customers a voice online, but what can you do when that voice is yelling negative comments? With 5 tips, you can learn how to positively respond and help direct the conversation. Read the article and learn the 5 ways to respond positively. |
 | | Economy, Energy & Trends | Sponsored By | | |  | European Commission backs energy union proposal The EU will move forward with the European Commission's proposal for an energy union, the commission said Wednesday. An energy union would reduce the EU's energy dependency on Russia, cut emissions, facilitate energy trading and help in the fight against climate change, according to the European Commission. Europe's "disorderly patchwork on energy policies" are confusing and keep investors away, said the European Wind Energy Association. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (2/25)  | How SDN Makes Campus Networks Better
When should agencies adopt SDN? IDC reports that SDN provides immediate benefits for government campus networks, including modernized IT infrastructures that are more agile, cost-effective, and collaborative.
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 | | |  | Click here to learn more about Featured Content       U.K. government awards $486M in contracts for renewables projects The U.K. has granted over $485.8 million in investment contracts for 27 renewable energy projects in the first round of its Contracts for Difference system. The projects will add 1.1 gigawatts of renewable energy generation capacity in the U.K. and include two offshore wind farms and 15 land-based wind farms, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Reuters (2/26), Bloomberg (2/26) | Help us promote wind power with #iheartwind In light of Valentine's Day, we launched a social media campaign #iheartwind that will be running all month. The campaign is to promote the variety of reasons that people love this clean, affordable, homegrown energy source. Learn more and participate. AWEA Wind Project Siting Seminar coming up AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan will provide the siting seminar keynote address at the AWEA Project Siting Seminar, taking place March 10 and 11 in Austin, Texas. The diverse sessions will provide key updates and information for all segments of the wind energy industry. Register today. |  | You're going to fall down, but the world doesn't care how many times you fall down, as long as it's one fewer than the number of times you get back up." -- Aaron Sorkin, screenwriter and producer | | | | 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. | Please contact one of our specialists for advertising opportunities, editorial inquiries, job placements, or any other questions.
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