Category Archives: OpEd

New record: plain states exceed 50 percent wind power

A region stretching from Montana to Texas set a new record this week, hitting a mark many considered impossible just a few years ago: wind supplied the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) with 52 percent of its electricity on Sunday. The SPP is a grid operator for parts of 14 states and manages over 60,000 miles … Continue reading New record: plain states exceed 50 percent wind power

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#iheartwind 2017: Let’s see what people are saying

Valentine’s Day 2017 marks the halfway point of this year’s #iheartwind campaign, so let’s take a look at why people are loving homegrown wind power. You still have 10 days to let the world know why wind energy matters to you! Fill out our sign and let us know on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using … Continue reading #iheartwind 2017: Let’s see what people are saying

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Wind in power: 2016 European statistics

Wind accounted for 51% of all new power installations in 2016, connecting a total of 12.5 GW to the grid across the 28 EU Member States – 10.923 MW in onshore and 1,567 MW offshore. Europe installed 12.5 GW of gross additional wind capacity in 2016. This was 3% less than the new installations in … Continue reading Wind in power: 2016 European statistics

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Why do you love wind power?

It’s time to kick off #iheartwind 2017! All month long, we want to hear from wind power’s biggest supporters about why they love wind energy. Do you support wind because it creates good, homegrown jobs? Because it increases energy independence? Or maybe because it helps clean our air? To let us know why you think … Continue reading Why do you love wind power?

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NPR: What does it take to land America’s fastest growing job?

NPR recently took a look at what it’s like to be a wind turbine technician, America’s fastest growing occupation. How do you get the job? What’s the day-to-day like? For answers, NPR interviewed Daniel Lutat, Director of Sustainable Resources and Technologies at Iowa Lakes Community College, home to one of the nation’s leading wind tech … Continue reading NPR: What does it take to land America’s fastest growing job?

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Maryland economy wins big with Clean Energy Jobs Act

The Maryland General Assembly voted today to override Gov. Hogan’s veto and restore the Clean Energy Jobs Act. American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) CEO Tom Kiernan hailed the override: “Making the Clean Energy Jobs Act law is the right decision for Maryland. Renewable energy legislation is pro-growth, pro-business, and means access to more jobs in … Continue reading Maryland economy wins big with Clean Energy Jobs Act

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WindEurope welcomes European Commission’s State of the Energy Union address

WindEurope welcomes today’s State of the Energy Union address from Maroš Šef?ovi?, Vice President for the European Commission in charge of Energy Union. Giles Dickson, Chief Executive Officer of WindEurope, said: “The Commission has reinforced its clear commitment to the energy transition in Europe with renewables at its heart. The Clean Energy Package is the … Continue reading WindEurope welcomes European Commission’s State of the Energy Union address

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Military says wind farms strengthen, not hinder, national security

Recently, several media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and Forbes.com, have erroneously reported on wind farms impacting military bases.  The reality couldn’t be further from the truth—wind bolsters our national security be creating more of our energy right here at home. Here are the facts. The Department of Defense has a review process that … Continue reading Military says wind farms strengthen, not hinder, national security

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Washington agrees: let’s fix our infrastructure

Every so often, amidst partisan rancor, a glimmer of hope emerges where both sides want the same thing.  In these rare instances, it’s an opportunity for all of those legislators who came to Washington to get things done to really get to work. This just happened with infrastructure, and electricity transmission in particular. The positions … Continue reading Washington agrees: let’s fix our infrastructure

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Why Donald Trump won’t hold back solar power and wind energy

President Donald Trump‘s full-throated support for fossil fuel production and his climate change denial have raised concerns about the future of renewable energy projects in America, but some investors believe the president cannot hold back solar and wind energy deployment — or alternative energy stocks. Those investors say goals adopted by more than half of … Continue reading Why Donald Trump won’t hold back solar power and wind energy

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Mnuchin agrees with Grassley, PTC phaseout a done deal

In case you missed it, an important exchange took place last week during Treasury Secretary Nominee Steven Mnuchin’s confirmation hearing. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) looked to confirm a response Mnuchin gave in a meeting before the hearing, in which he agreed the phaseout of the wind energy Production Tax Credit should remain in place. Grassley … Continue reading Mnuchin agrees with Grassley, PTC phaseout a done deal

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Top 4 things said about wind during Rick Perry’s Energy Secretary nomination hearing

Energy Secretary nominee and former Texas governor Rick Perry highlighted wind energy throughout his Senate confirmation hearing today. Nearly every mention of wind was positive as both Senate Republicans and Democrats on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee looked to find out more about Perry’s stance on a series of energy topics. Perry’s … Continue reading Top 4 things said about wind during Rick Perry’s Energy Secretary nomination hearing

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Which states make buying wind power easy for big brands?

We know that big brands are setting ambitious targets for renewable energy procurement. More than a dozen Fortune 500 companies, including WalMart, Google and General Motors, have committed to 100 percent renewable energy targets. We also know wind energy is the top choice to power their brands. The latest report from the Retail Industry Leaders Association … Continue reading Which states make buying wind power easy for big brands?

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U.S. needs to stay in renewables energy race

Renewable energy is leading to more sustainable, but not less comfortable or more expensive ways of living. How do I know? Because it’s near zero and I’m being warmed by an electric, air-based heat pump installed four years ago offset by solar panels. As more and more renewable energy comes on line, prices are falling … Continue reading U.S. needs to stay in renewables energy race

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U.S. wind power jobs continue booming, top 100,000

The Department of Energy released a new report today highlighting the booming nature of renewable energy jobs—wind power positions now top 100,000. More Americans now work in wind than in nuclear, coal, natural gas or hydroelectric power plants. These jobs span all 50 states, and tens of thousands are at the more than 500 U.S. … Continue reading U.S. wind power jobs continue booming, top 100,000

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Fostering Wind Power Deployment in Pakistan

End of December, the World Wind Energy Association, in partnership with Heinrich Böll Stiftung Pakistan, launched the policy paper “Accelerating Wind Power Deployment in Pakistan: Capacity Building and Policy Options” on the occasion of a wind energy seminar held in Islamabad. Third in a series, the policy paper not only discusses barriers to wind market … Continue reading Fostering Wind Power Deployment in Pakistan

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Renewable Energy Is Now Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels

In addition to being a cleaner alternative, wind and solar power is now becoming a viable investment for individuals and companies. Sources of renewable and clean energy such as solar and wind power are now cheaper than heavily polluting fossil fuels in dozens of countries, according to a recent report by the World Economic Forum. … Continue reading Renewable Energy Is Now Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels

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Enhanced national security, billions a year for consumers, possible with improved transmission infrastructure

A new study from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) finds upgrades and additions to America’s transmission infrastructure create a more resilient grid, while delivering low-cost wind energy from Mountain states. This would provide $2.3 to $3.4 billion a year in consumer savings, paying for the cost of the transmission lines in under five years. … Continue reading Enhanced national security, billions a year for consumers, possible with improved transmission infrastructure

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Wind power and wildlife thrive together

National Bird Day is today and it offers a good chance to share the positive story about wind energy and birds. Cleaner air, healthier habitats What do some of America’s most respected conservation groups think about wind power? “Audubon strongly supports properly sited wind power as a renewable energy source that helps reduce the threats … Continue reading Wind power and wildlife thrive together

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