The U.S. wind power industry closed 2017 strong, delivering 7,017 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity representing $11 billion in new private investment, according to the U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2017 Market Report, released today. Twenty-nine new wind farms totaling 4,125 MW came online across 16 states in the fourth quarter. The wind … Continue reading U.S. wind power industry closed 2017 strong, delivering 7,017 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity
Continue readingCategory Archives: OpEd
92 percent of wind energy project neighbors positive or neutral toward turbines
Over 1.3 million U.S. homes are located within five miles of a large wind turbine. But there hadn’t been a nationwide survey to learn how those people felt about their local wind project – until now. A study led by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that more than … Continue reading 92 percent of wind energy project neighbors positive or neutral toward turbines
Continue reading
Wind energy can help drive industrial transformation in Europe
On 24 January WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson joined representatives of the Industry4Europe group to meet El?bieta Bie?kowska, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Ms Bie?kowska convened the meeting to discuss the Commission’s Industrial Policy Strategy with the Industry4Europe group (representing 126 manufacturing sectors). The latter presented a series of recommendations to the Commission on … Continue reading Wind energy can help drive industrial transformation in Europe
Continue reading
WindEurope discuss EU technology dependence at the European Commission
On 23 January WindEurope participated in the Energy Technology Dependence Workshop at the European Commission. The event was organized in the context of a project carried out for DG RTD by Trinomics, Ricardo, DNV-GL and TNO. The project aims to both develop a better understanding of EU technology dependence in the field of renewable energy … Continue reading WindEurope discuss EU technology dependence at the European Commission
Continue reading
People are really excited about the responses to Xcel Energy’s Colorado RFP
At first blush, responses to a utility RFP for new capacity might not be the sort of news that sets the world on fire. But energy wonks are downright ecstatic over the results to Xcel Energy’s recent Colorado solicitation. Xcel received over 400 bids in response to its all-energy-source RFP, and wind power led the … Continue reading People are really excited about the responses to Xcel Energy’s Colorado RFP
Continue reading
European Parliament set for crucial vote on future of European renewables
EU Energy Ministers opted to endorse the Commission’s original proposal of just 27% at December’s Energy Council. Now it’s the European Parliament’s turn to vote on the Renewable Energy Directive and Governance Regulation. These two pieces of legislation will determine Europe’s ambition on renewable energy post-2020 and the trajectory on how to get there. Giles … Continue reading European Parliament set for crucial vote on future of European renewables
Continue reading
Onshore Wind Power Now as Affordable as Any Other Source, Solar to Halve by 2020
The cost of generating power from onshore wind has fallen by around a quarter since 2010, with solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity costs falling by 73 per cent in that time, according to new cost analysis from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report also highlights that solar PV costs are expected to halve by … Continue reading Onshore Wind Power Now as Affordable as Any Other Source, Solar to Halve by 2020
Continue reading
Wind industry Executives advocate market scale and ramping up R&I funding for renewables
On 9 January, EU Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete hosted the first meeting of the Clean Energy Industrial Forum dedicated to renewables. A group of 25 industry Executives representing a broad range of renewable energy technologies was convened by the Commission to outline priorities for enhancing Europe’s competitiveness in renewables, with an emphasis … Continue reading Wind industry Executives advocate market scale and ramping up R&I funding for renewables
Continue reading
Wind energy industry encouraged by FERC’s direction on grid resilience
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today praised the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for its unanimous decision to terminate the proceeding it had opened to address the Department of Energy’s Proposed Rule on Grid Reliability and Resilience Pricing, and instead initiate a new proceeding to evaluate the resilience of America’s bulk electric power system. “Every … Continue reading Wind energy industry encouraged by FERC’s direction on grid resilience
Continue reading
Help us tell wind power’s job creation story
There’s an important opportunity to tell the story of wind power’s 50-state job creation, and we need your help to tell it. The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is currently seeking critical data on jobs from the wind industry and other energy sectors via an online survey, available here. Take a moment to … Continue reading Help us tell wind power’s job creation story
Continue reading
Another West Texas wind power success story
You may have missed it over the holidays, but Inside Climate News recently did a deep dive into West Texas’s wind power success story. From new jobs to added local funds and income for farmers and ranchers, it reads like a greatest hits of wind’s many community benefits. Here are a few highlights: Jobs for … Continue reading Another West Texas wind power success story
Continue readingChampions in Congress stand up for American wind energy workers
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act near passage in Congress will allow the continued growth of American wind energy, and the investment, jobs, and other economic benefits it brings to rural communities. The bill to be voted on later this week preserves the orderly phase-out through 2019 of wind energy tax credits, ensuring stability for … Continue reading Champions in Congress stand up for American wind energy workers
Continue reading
Renewable energy can meet global electricity demand by 2050 while reducing total cost
Transitioning the world to 100 percent renewable electricity isn’t just some environmentalist pipe dream—it’s “feasible at every hour throughout the year” and is more cost-effective than the current system, which largely relies on fossil fuels and nuclear energy, a new study claims. The research, compiled by Finland’s Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and the Berlin-based nonprofit Energy Watch Group (EWG), was presented Wednesday … Continue reading Renewable energy can meet global electricity demand by 2050 while reducing total cost
Continue reading
Renewables can help Puerto Rico keep its lights on
Myths about renewables shouldn’t stop Puerto Rico from using them to make its grid more resilient in future weather disasters, because the world has changed– they’re reliable and save money now. That’s the gist of a recent “design charette,” a group planning event convened over the past two months by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) … Continue reading Renewables can help Puerto Rico keep its lights on
Continue reading
As Clean Energy Package reaches end-game, a mixture of positive signals and worrying shortfalls for the wind industry
Yesterday’s Energy Council agreed general approaches on four key files of the EU Clean Energy Package. These will serve as the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament in 2018. As far as the wind industry is concerned, there was progress on some key issues but Ministers fell short on others. There is some good … Continue reading As Clean Energy Package reaches end-game, a mixture of positive signals and worrying shortfalls for the wind industry
Continue reading
Tax reform to allow continued wind power investment and job growth
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act near passage in Congress will allow the continued growth of American wind energy, and the investment, jobs, and other economic benefits it brings to rural communities. The bill to be voted on later this week preserves the orderly phase-out through 2019 of wind energy tax credits, ensuring stability for … Continue reading Tax reform to allow continued wind power investment and job growth
Continue reading
Corporate Renewable PPAs on the agenda in Rome and Warsaw
The Polish workshop was held in Warsaw and organised by the Polish Wind Energy Association. Even though corporate PPA talks are very much in the early stages of discussions, the industry in Poland is looking at the corporate PPA market as a way to support the development of wind energy in the country, particular following … Continue reading Corporate Renewable PPAs on the agenda in Rome and Warsaw
Continue reading
Wind energy’s contribution to Europe’s economy
Six MEPs were in attendance: Claude Turmes and Jakop Dalunde of the European Green Party; Jo Leinen, Arne Lietz and Jeppe Kofod of the Party of European Socialists; and Sean Kelly, of the European People’s Party. There was a great deal of interest in the report among the MEPs. The flagship report sets out the … Continue reading Wind energy’s contribution to Europe’s economy
Continue reading
What GateHouse Media missed in its report on life near wind farms
If all you knew about the beach was what you saw in the movie “Jaws,” you’d never go. Yet 58 million Americans a year go to the shore. Context matters. And that’s exactly what is lacking in a recent report by GateHouse Media that amplifies the complaints of a small number of the millions of … Continue reading What GateHouse Media missed in its report on life near wind farms
Continue reading
Words can fuel perceived health impacts of wind turbines
Do you have sores on your feet? Is your hair turning grey? You may live near a wind turbine. Or at least that’s what certain stories you can find on the Internet would have you believe – that wind turbines cause health problems. In reality, tens of millions of people comfortably live near wind projects … Continue reading Words can fuel perceived health impacts of wind turbines
Continue reading
