Wind Energy News

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

USDA Energy Matrix
This USDA web site offers comprehensive information on energy-related programs, funding opportunities, and technical support across all USDA agencies and offices.

R&D Partnership Opportunities for Utility-Scale Wind Turbine
Application Deadline: November 26, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program is taking proposals from companies or organizations interested in a research, testing, or product development partnership. These cost-neutral Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) partnerships will leverage industry experience and needs with the technology research and development expertise available at the National Renewable Energy and Sandia National Laboratories to solve industry's key questions in utility-scale wind and, subject to FY08 Congressional Appropriations for an Ocean Energy Program, ocean energy technologies. The program has budgeted approximately $1 million for in kind laboratory-based technical support for these agreements and expects to budget additional funding next fiscal year for additional proposals calls.

R&D Partnerships for Utility-Scale Wind Turbine Testing
Application Deadline: November 26, 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program extended the deadline for proposals for partnerships to test utility-scale wind turbines through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).

Follow-Up Texas Renewables '06
The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA) hosted Meeting Texas' Energy Demands in a Carbon Constrained Future, a meeting of industry, federal, state, and local government entities, renewable energy advocates, and the interested public. TREIA represents over 200 member companies, organizations, agencies and individuals providing products, services and information about renewable energy. The meeting covered many topics that are now available to share, so we have included here a copy of the agenda and as many presentations that we could find in order to preserve the knowledge that was shared at this conference. We are looking forward to the many great things that are happening in the renewable energy world and want you to be able to view this information.

2006 Solar Energy International Renewable Energy Education Program
2006 Renewable Energy Education Program SEI's Renewable Energy Education Program teaches the practical use of solar, wind, and water power. SEI workshops give individuals the knowledge and skills to design, install, and maintain renewable energy systems, and to build state-of-the- art solar homes that are efficient, practical, and earth-friendly. Download SEI's 2007 Workshop Catalog.

Wind Power Trail
Ongoing, Self-paced Tours
This SECO-sponsored Wind Power Trail is an interpretive driving loop that continues to grow. The trail takes you to commercial wind farms, vintage windmill collections, and interesting waypoints along the highways and back roads of Texas and Oklahoma with the aid of an interpretive driving map and an audio CD. See the sites on this tour map.

Wind Site Assessor Training
Custer, Wisconsin
October 29 - November 1, 2007
This Midwest Renewable Energy Association workshop will help participants learn how to evaluate a site's wind energy potential, determine wind speeds at proposed heights, make a load profile for a client's energy needs, determine appropriate tower heights and estimate kWh output for a system based upon wind resources. The Wind Site Assessor Training workshop will lead participants through the background information required to perform wind site assessments for the Focus on Energy program, other state incentive programs, and for the home or business owner to assess their site. This class will prepare students for the Wind Site Assessor Certification Test. Recommended for PV dealers interested in getting into the wind business, beginner wind dealers, educators, and homeowners.

AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium 2007
Carlsbad, California
November 1-2, 2007
The AWEA Fall Symposium will provide a unique educational program designed for wind energy professionals involved in, or looking to learn more about, the business, policy and technical issues of the wind industry. The Symposium will also provide outstanding business interaction and networking opportunities, all at a luxury resort located just north of San Diego, California.

Commercial Wind Turbine Planning
Custer, Wisconsin
November 2-3, 2007
This course is designed for wind turbine installers and site assessors who want to learn how to evaluate commercial sites (farms, schools, or businesses) for mid-size or larger single turbines.

Texas Renewable '07
Abilene, Texas
November 13-14, 2007
The only conference and exhibit in Texas focused solely on policy developments and business activity in the renewable energy field (wind, solar electric and thermal, biomass electric, ethanol, biodiesel, geothermal heat pumps and geothermal electric.

Wind Energy: Permitting and the Renewable Energy Process
Omni Hotel Downtown
Austin, Texas
January 28 - 29, 2008
Join our distinguished faculty to learn about environmental issues concerning wind energy, including impacts to avian species, cultural resources and visual impacts. The keynote presentation will be given by Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office.

WIREC Trade Show
Washington, DC
March 4-6, 2008
The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) and leading U.S. renewable energy trade associations will be presenting "The Trade Show at WIREC 2008" to be co-located with the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) in the Washington Convention Center. The Trade Show at WIREC will be the largest business conference and exposition ever held on renewable energy and related fields in the U.S. It will be global in scope, inviting exhibitors, speakers and delegates from around the world. The Trade Show at WIREC will be organized under a joint venture of ACORE and renewable energy trade associations, including:

Windpower 2008 Conference & Exhibition
Houston, Texas
June 1 - 4, 2008
Organized by leaders in the wind energy industry, WINDPOWER 2008 Conference & Exhibition benefits all wind professionals. Whether you are an established industry veteran or a newcomer to this exciting and explosive industry, WINDPOWER 2008 has much to offer including 3 days of conference sessions, an interactive tradeshow of wind energy products and services, and numerous networking opportunities. We hope you can join us in Houston, the energy capital of the world!

South Texas Wind Farms Win $60M Transmission Line December 2007
Developers of two South Texas wind farms have won approval to build a 21-mile transmission line to transport the energy they produce to millions of Texas electricity customers. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved the construction of the $60 million line on the expansive Kenedy Ranch, where private developers plan to invest $1 billion building two wind farms with 600 wind turbines on 60,000 acres near the Laguna Madre. Construction on the transmission line is expected to begin soon and be completed by September. The King Ranch and a coalition of environmental groups have filed a federal lawsuit against the Texas Land Commissioner, claiming that the wind turbines that generate electricity could kill migratory birds and damage the Laguna Madre, and seek an extensive environmental review of the planned wind farms. The lawsuit could delay or stop the projects.

DOE Provides $5.2 Million for Concentrating Solar Power November 2007
DOE announced last week that $5.2 million will be divided between 12 projects to fund the development of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. The 12 CSP projects are focused on lowering the cost of components and developing energy storage technologies. CSP systems capture the sun's heat and convert it into electricity, using rows of trough-shaped mirrors, rows of flat mirrors arranged to mimic a trough (called "linear Fresnel reflective technologies"), dish-shaped mirrors, or large fields of flat mirrors that concentrate the sun's heat on a tall "power tower."

Texas Shatters National Record for Wind Power Installations November 2007

AWS Truewind Takes DOE Award November 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy presented AWS Truewind with the 2007 Wind Energy Program Outstanding Technology Acceptance Award for the contribution of AWS's wind mapping technology to accelerating market penetration of wind into the U.S. generation portfolio. Over the course of seven years, AWS, DOE's wind energy program, and Wind Powering America state partners collaborated on developing wind resource maps in over 30 states. The creation of the resource maps, according to DOE Program Manager Steve Lindenburg, was "a critical first step to engage critical decision makers and stakeholders in promoting wind energy. By understanding the potential wind resource and determining the potential economic benefits from wind energy, these maps helped stimulate the development of thousands of megawatts of wind projects across the country." (Wind Energy Weekly)

Texas Decision Could Double Wind Power Capacity in the U.S. October 2007The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) has issued an Interim Final Order that could enable construction of up to 22,806 Megawatts (MW) of new wind power in Texas. The order designates five Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZs) in West Texas and the Texas Panhandle and authorizes development of transmission lines needed to deliver electricity produced in those windy CREZ areas to customers throughout Texas. A final order, transmission plan, and budget are still pending before the Commission but are expected to be finalized in early 2008.

Texas Awards First Competitive Wind Leases in the United States October 2007
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has become the first U.S. entity to award "competitive" leases for offshore wind power plants. Last week, the GLO offered four offshore tracts of land for lease for future wind development. While the leases were open to competitive bids, only one company actually bid on them: Wind Energy Systems Technology, LLC. The company already held a lease for an offshore wind site near Galveston. The four tracts are geographically dispersed along the length of the Texas coast. The leases allow the company to install meteorological testing towers at the four sites, and the company has four years to research the area before pursuing a commercial installation.

Eight A&M System Schools to Buy Renewable Entergy October 2007
Eight schools in the Texas A&M University System, including Tarleton State University, are part of a four-year deal that should prevent more than 35 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, according to Joe Standridge (pictured), Tarleton's associate vice president of physical facilities. The university system will purchase a record amount of renewable energy from TXU Energy. Fifteen percent of the energy generated, according to the contract with TXU, must come from "wind energy," as opposed to more environmentally challenging coal and other plants. It's the largest higher education renewable contract in Texas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership Program. The cost of switching to renewable energy is about $26,000 higher per year for Tarleton, but planned energy conservation measures should offset the cost, allowing the school to stay within budget, Standridge said. (a Texas Government Insider article).

USDA Funds Sec. 9006 Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Projects September 2007
On September 20, 2007, Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr announced that 345 proposals had been selected to receive a total of $18.2 million in loan guarantees and grants from the US Agriculture Department's (USDA) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency program (Sec. 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill (P.L. 107-171). These awards are the last installment of the Sec. 9006 awards for FY07. Of the total $18.2 million, $4.8 million has been awarded for guaranteed loans and $13.4 million for grants. The successful grants cover a wide array of projects and technologies, including wind turbines, biodiesel plants, wood-pellet production, photovoltaic arrays, and anaerobic digesters, as well as energy-efficient improvements to existing equipment, processes and infrastructure at a number of facilities across the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors.

DeWind & Texas Tech Announce Wind Turbine Demo Site September 2007
Composite Technology Corp. subsidiary DeWind Inc., in association with Texas State Technical College (TSTC), signed a memorandum of intent with the city of Sweetwater to establish a wind turbine demonstration site that will include a 2-MW DeWind D8.2 prototype turbine, CTC announced September 4. DeWind will install the turbine on city-owned land this fall, and further development and prototype turbines will be installed at the site over the next five years.

USDA Awards $18.2 Million for Efficiency and Renewable Energy September 2007
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that 345 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in 45 states have been selected to receive a total of $18.2 million in grants and loans. Rewarded through the USDA's Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Improvements program, the funds consist of $13.4 million in grants and $4.8 million in guaranteed loans. The funds provide financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable energy generation systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. The renewable energy systems typically involve wind turbines, biofuel facilities, and biomass-to-energy systems such as anaerobic digesters or biomass combustion systems.

Winds of Change Bring Investment Opportunities September 2007
Energy companies are paying top dollar to landowners willing to lease or sell space for wind turbines, and investors may want to follow the breeze.

Texas Tech Launches Wind Doctoral Program August 2007
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved Texas Tech University's wind doctoral program. The degree will incorporate research and teaching through Texas Tech's colleges of Engineering, Architecture and Arts and Sciences and will be administered by the Graduate School.

Turbines Shortage Boosts Wind-Power Costs August 2007
A prolonged shortage of wind turbines is pushing up prices for wind energy projects and forcing developers to scramble for deals long before construction begins.

Shell and Luminant to Build the World's Largest Wind Farm in Texas August 2007
Shell WindEnergy Inc. and Luminant announced last week that they plan to build a 3,000-megawatt wind power plant in the Texas Panhandle. That's more than four times the size of the largest wind farm currently in operation. The proposed wind facility would be located in Briscoe County to take advantage of excellent wind resources and a relatively low cost of transmitting the wind power to wholesale markets. The two companies will also explore using compressed air energy storage, which uses electric fans to force air into underground caverns, compressing it, and usually involves employing the compressed air as an oxygen source for a gas turbine. The companies did not announce a timeline for either project. Luminant was formerly called TXU Power and is a subsidiary of TXU Corporation.

Wind Power Growth Threatened by Supply Constraints, Says AWEA August 2007
The U.S. wind power industry is on track for installing well over 3,000 megawatts (MW) of wind turbines this year, but future growth may be hampered by a limited supply of turbines, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). AWEA's second-quarter market report notes that wind turbines with the capacity to produce 1,059 MW of power were installed in the first half of 2007, including 603 MW in Texas alone. Despite the opening of a new wind blade manufacturing plant in Arkansas, and plans to open manufacturing plants for towers, blades, and turbines in five other states, AWEA warns that the demand is exceeding the supply.

PUC Approves Sites for Construction of Wind Power Lines July 2007
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has designated eight sites for the construction of new power lines to carry wind-generated electricity to consumers. The decision directs the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state's electric grid, to plan for power lines that could deliver at least 10,000 more megawatts of renewable power by 2012, which is enough to power nearly 3 million homes. The lines could end up delivering as much as 25,000 megawatts of wind energy, depending on how many wind farms are built. Also see this Reuters article.

Wind Behind Houston's New Power Plan July 2007
A contract negotiated by Houston officials would ensure that a third of the city's power would be generated by wind turbines. The City of Houston paid approximately $150 million last year on electricity at $91 per 1,000 kilowatt hours. Wind is cheaper and cleaner.

Harvesting the Panhandle's Wind Energy July 2007
TXU's generating subsidiary and Shell WindEnergy plan a huge Panhandle wind farm that could include the use of compressed air to generate electricity when there's not enough wind to spin the big turbines. The 3,000-megawatt facility is slated for windy Briscoe County, southeast of Amarillo, Luminant Energy and Shell said Friday. That would rank as the world's largest single installation and roughly matches the wind farm recently announced by Texas investor Boone Pickens, whose Mesa Power is seeking to install 2,000 to 4,000 megawatts of wind power in four Panhandle counties.

Alternative Energy IPOs Have Appeal July 2007
Investors' appetites for new alternative energy companies remain robust - particularly for solar and wind companies, but ethanol initial public offerings (IPOs) have slowed.

Texas Wins National Wind Energy Project June 2007
Texas will be home to one of two large-scale wind turbine research and testing facilities in a move that will make the state a key partner in the development of next generation wind-turbine technology. The Texas wind-turbine and blade-testing facility will be located just north of Corpus Christi at Ingleside on the Bay. Also see the press releases by Senator Hutchinson and the General Land Office.

South Texas Offshore Wind Farm Nixed June 2007
A potential developer cites cost in nixing offshore wind farm in South Texas. Plans to build what would have been the nation's largest offshore wind farm in South Texas have been called off because the multibillion-dollar project didn't't make economic sense, the developer said Monday.

High Schoolers, Texas A&M Engineers Set Up Turbines June 2007
Through a grant from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), volunteer engineers from Texas A&M University joined forces with nearly four dozen engineering students at United ISD and Laredo ISD magnet schools to set up the state's first student-made wind turbine in Texas. Students and their mentors took two months to construct the one-kilowatt turbine. It was designed to light the marquee sign at the entrance to the Cigarroa High School in Laredo. The wind energy created will be converted into electric energy and stored in batteries. The students are currently working on an instructional video that teaches the simple tasks necessary to build a wind turbine. The grant will fund four turbines over two years.

U.S., Danish Labs to Cooperate on Wind Energy Research June 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Denmark's Risø National Laboratory, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), signed an agreement today to cooperate closely on improving wind energy technologies.

Texas Oil Man Tycoon Plans Giant Wind Farm June 2007
Texas tycoon T. Boone Pickens is planning construction of a 2,000-4,000-MW wind farm, which would begin in 2010 in the Texas Panhandle. Pickens met this month with about 250 area landowners. The project would be the largest in the world. New transmission lines would be needed to connect such a project to load centers in the state, but the Texas Public Utility Commission has begun hearings involving parties interested in developing wind farms and in installing transmission systems.

DOE Releases First Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Market May 2007
DOE released its first annual report on developments and trends in the U.S. wind power market last week. The publication, "Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006," analyzes trends in the marketplace, including project costs, turbine sizes, and developer consolidation. The report concludes that wind power is competitive and has been consistently priced at or below the price of electricity produced at fossil-fueled or nuclear power plants. Wind project performance has also been increasing due to improved project siting and technological advances in wind turbines. See the complete report, and a summary presentation about the report.

Texas to Provide Two-Thirds of U.S. Wind Growth this Year May 2007
The installed wind power capacity in the United States is on track to increase by more than 3,000 megawatts (MW) this year, with two-thirds of that growth occurring in Texas, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The trade group's first-quarter market report, released last week, notes that new wind projects in Hawaii, Maine, Oklahoma, and Texas have already added more than 100 MW of new wind power thus far this year.

Senator Hutchison Supports Wind Turbine Blade Test Facility in Texas April 2007
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman in support of the Lone Star Wind Alliance's application to develop an advanced wind turbine blade test facility, to be located in Texas. Senator Hutchison is the author of the Creating Renewable Energy through Science and Technology (CREST) Act of 2007, which encourages the development of new and emerging energy technologies such as wind power.

Texas Firms its Lead Over California in Wind Power Capacity April 2007
The wind power rankings, released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) last week, place Texas wind power capacity a full 17 percent greater than the wind power capacity in California.

New 125-Megawatt Wind Farm Completed in Texas April 2007
TXU Wholesale and Airtricity has announced that Airtricity has completed construction of a 125-megawatt (MW) wind farm, located about 300 miles southwest of Dallas. The Forest Creek wind farm, which is owned and operated by Airtricity, generates electricity from 54 2.3-MW Siemens wind turbines. The facility is expected to provide power for more than 24,000 homes - enough to meet the annual energy needs of about 56,000 Texans. TXU Wholesale is a subsidiary of TXU Corp. in Dallas, which is the largest electricity producer in Texas.

Putting Wind on the Wires: A Texas Tale March 2007
This Utility Wind Integration Group explains how Texas is tackling the problem of integrating more wind energy in to the grid.

DOE Releases Best Practices for Distributed Energy Interconnection March 2007
The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) have jointly developed voluntary "best practices" for use by States in implementing interconnection requirements that allow for simple connection of distributed energy technologies to the electric grid. Recognizing that Section 1254 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires each State to consider interconnection procedures and complete its determination by August 8, 2007, EERE and OE offer these "best practices" to assist States in those determinations.

Texas Claims the World's Largest Wind Farm March 2007
When the last phase of the project is complete this month, the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center will be the largest wind farm in the world, with a total capacity of 735 megawatts.

U.S. Wind Industry Yields Two New Wind Blade Factories March 2007
The rapid growth of wind power in the United States has resulted in two new factories to manufacture wind turbine blades. Knight & Carver opened its wind blade manufacturing and repair facility in Howard, South Dakota, on March 6th. The 26,000-square-foot facility will employ as many as 25 full-time employees in 2007, with plans to expand to a 25-person workforce within two years. Meanwhile, Vestas has decided to build a wind blade factory in Windsor, Colorado. The new $60 million facility, located between Fort Collins and Greeley, will have a production capacity of 1,200 blades per year and will employ about 400 people. See the Knight & Carver press release and the Vestas press release.

TSTC Offers First AAS Degree for Wind Energy in Texas February 2007
Texas State Technical College (TSTC) West Texas Sweetwater campus has added to its curriculum a Wind Energy and Turbine Technology two year degree program developed by TSTC faculty in collaboration with program advisory group members of the wind industry, including Florida Power and Light (FPL), General Electric, and Texas Tech University. In February, 2007, Texas Tech and FLP Energy formed a partnership to assist TSTC West Texas with its curriculum by offering subject matter experts and faculty adjuncts; allow opportunities for participants to interact with FPL Energy wind experts on and off campus; provide paid internships within FPL Energy wind operations; and work with the college to secure the equipment and other resources necessary for laboratory facilities. See this PFL Energy article.

800-Mile Transmission Loop Planned for the Texas Panhandle February 2007
Sharyland Utilities, L.P. is proposing to build an 800-mile transmission loop in the Texas panhandle that will provide access to 4,200 megawatts of wind power resources. The Panhandle Loop Project will be open access, meaning any generator is welcome to access ERCOT power market, provided they are approved under ERCOT's interconnection procedures. Also see this Renewable Energy Access article.

New Federal Rule Encourages Transmission Access for Renewable Energy February 2007
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has adopted a new regulation that aims to allow greater access to transmission lines for power generators of all types, including renewable energy projects.

UT-Permian Basin to Promote New Energy Technology February 2007
The University of Texas-Permian Basin has received a $12,500 grant from the West Texas Coalition for Innovation and Commercialization. The funds will be used to promote alternative energy commercialization in the Permian Basin. The university has formed the Alliance for Innovative Energy Technology Commercialization to manage the project. The alliance will work to promote the commercialization of a variety of alternative energy sources, including geothermal, solar and biofuel. Its ultimate goal is the formation of an economic cluster of alternative energy sources in the region.

Global Wind Energy Market Grew 32% in 2006 February 2007
According to the Global Wind Energy Council, wind power grew 32% worldwide in 2006, with a total value of new generating equipment installed reaching $23 billion. In terms of new installed capacity in 2006, the US continued to lead with 2,454 MW, followed by Germany (2,233 MW), India (1,840 MW), Spain (1,587 MW), China (1,347 MW) and France (810 MW). Europe is still leading the market with 48,545 MW of installed capacity at the end of 2006, representing 65% of the global total.

Port of Houston Authority Purchases Wind Power February 2007
The Port of Houston Authority has entered into a three-year agreement with Direct Energy for retail electric service that includes 5% wind energy, totaling about 6.5 million kWh. The port is the first announced commercial renewable energy customer for Direct Energy, which has signed long-term agreements to purchase power from three west Texas wind farms: Buffalo Gap, Buffalo Gap 2 and the Sand Bluff Wind Farm. Also see this Houston Business Journal article.

U.S. Wind Power Capacity Grew 27% in 2006 January 2007
The U.S. wind industry installed 2,454 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity in 2006, boosting the nation's total wind power capacity to 11,603 MW, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). AWEA announced last week that it expects the 27 percent growth in wind power capacity recorded last year to be nearly repeated this year, with a 26 percent growth. That means an increase of about 3,000 MW, bringing the nation's total wind capacity to more than 14,600 MW.

EPA Announces Top 25 for Green Power January 2007
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the top 25 green power organizations for the past quarter. Organizations that purchase electricity generated from clean, renewable resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro make up the Top 25 list. EPA's Top 25 green power purchasers are buying more than 4 billion kWh of green power on an annual basis. That's equivalent to the energy needed to power more than 350,000 average American homes each year.

BP Plans to Install 550 MW of Wind Power Includes Texas January 2007
BP announced last week that it expects to begin construction on five wind power projects in the United States this year. BP Alternative Energy North America Inc., a BP subsidiary, will erect a total of 550 megawatts (MW) of wind power in five projects located in four states: California, Colorado, North Dakota, and Texas. The projects include a west Texas project "in excess of 100 MW," a 60-MW facility in central Texas.

Texas Survey Shows Great Support for Wind Energy January 2007
A survey conducted by Houston-based Promark Research and commissioned by FPL Energy, found that 93% support further development of wind energy in the state. Similarly, 90% believe that wind energy should be a part of the state's power generation portfolio. The survey of 809 voters in the state, which was conducted in mid-January, Texans view wind energy as the most environmentally friendly form of electricity and the best way to meet the state's power needs.

TSTC West Texas Offers First AAS Degree for Wind Energy in Texas December 2006
In December, 2006, Texas State Technical College West Texas Sweetwater campus announced a TSTC West Texas Wind Energy and Turbine Technology two year degree program developed by TSTC faculty in collaboration with program advisory group members of the wind industry, including Florida Power and Light (FPL), General Electric, and Texas Tech University.

Wind Energy Production Tax Credit Extended December 2006
As expected, President Bush on December 20 signed the bill passed earlier this month that includes a one-year extension-that is, through the end of 2008-of the energy production tax credit (PTC). The PTC was previously scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007.

FPL Energy to Partner with KidWind Project for Texas Classrooms December 2006
FPL Energy, LLC, announced a partnership with the KidWind Project to bring the science of wind energy into classrooms throughout Texas. The goal of the project is to introduce teachers to the benefits and wonders of wind power through hands-on science activities so that they will be able to take what they learn from the workshops into their classrooms to expose hundreds, if not thousands, of students to wind energy, the company said. The initial workshops will be held for teachers in the Abilene, Jim Ned, and Wylie School Districts in early December.

DOE Research Project Yields New Low-Speed Wind Turbine Blade November 2006
Knight & Carver has produced the first in a series of wind turbine blades that, according to the company, "ranks among the industry's most innovative advances in wind energy production." Called the "STAR," for "Sweep Twist Adaptive Rotor," the 90-foot blade is curved to relieve pressure on both the blade and the turbine and features a gently curving tip to capture low-speed winds.

Texas to Invest $10 Billion for Wind Energy October 2006
Texas Governor Rick Perry announced he has collected commitments from private companies to invest $10 billion in wind energy, enough to increase generating capacity in the state by 7,000 megawatts (MW) and to to build the transmission facilities needed to support the state's burgeoning wind power industry. The state's Public Utility Commission will direct the construction of the new transmission lines. The investment is contingent on the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) approving construction of additional transmission capacity to windy areas of the state.

Texas to Claim World's Largest Wind Power Plant October 2006
The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, located near Abilene, Texas was the largest wind project built in 2005, at 210 megawatts MW. In July 2006 the plant grew to about 500 MW, helping Texas overtake California in total installed wind power capacity. Last week, FPL Energy held a dedication ceremony for the final expansion of the project, which has boosted its total generating capacity to 735 MW, making it the largest wind power facility in the world. The wind plant now consists of 291 1.5-MW wind turbines from General Electric and 130 2.3-MW wind turbines from Siemens and is spread across about 47,000 acres in Taylor and Nolan counties. FPL Energy is currently the largest owner and operator of wind turbines in the world, operating more than 1,600 megawatts of wind power in Texas alone.

USDA Awards $5.8 Million for Wind, Biofuels and Biomass Power September 2006
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on September 13th its selection of 46 projects in 21 states, including Texas, that will receive nearly $5.8 million in grants for the production and marketing of ethanol, ethanol by-products, and biodiesel and for feasibility studies of energy production from biomass and wind power.

Horse Hollow Wind Farm Hits 735 MW Wind Capacity September 2006
AWEA announced that when the last phase of the FPL Hollow Wind Energy Center project in Texas is completed later this month, it will have a total capacity of 735 MW, making it the largest wind farm in the U.S. and what FPL called the largest in the world as well.

Wind Industry Celebrates Growth - 10,000 Megawatts Capacity August 2006
The American Wind Energy Association announced wind energy installations in the United States now exceed 10,000 megawatts in generating capacity and produce enough daily electricity to power the equivalent of more than 2.5 million homes. According to the Energy Information Administration wind was the second-largest source of new power generation in the country last year after natural gas and is likely to be so again in 2006.

DOE Small Business Awards Reveal Cutting Edge Research Topics August 2006
DOE awarded $116 million on July 31st to small businesses for innovative research, and the awardees paint a picture of the frontiers for energy research. In terms of renewable power sources, the emphasis is on wind turbines and solar cells. Several projects look toward materials and coatings to make wind turbine blades and gearboxes last longer, while companies are applying a variety of technologies for producing less-expensive solar cells.

Vail Resorts Buys 100 Percent Wind Power August 2006
Wind alone isn't usually powerful enough to carry you to the top of a mountain, but that's roughly what will be happening at five ski resorts this winter. Vail Resorts is buying enough wind power to drive all of its chair lifts, plus a whole lot more, placing the company high in the list of green power buyers. Vail Resorts' purchase places it in the number six spot overall for green power purchasers, just behind DOE and ahead of Starbucks. See the top 25 list and the top 10 corporate buyers list from the Green Power Partnership.

Texas is Top Wind Energy Producer! July 2006
Texas is now the top wind producer in the United States, with a capacity of 2,370 megawatts, enough to power 600,000 average-sized homes a year, according to a midyear report released Tuesday by the American Wind Energy Association. So far this year, Texas has added 375 megawatts, or 46 percent of the total 822 megawatts brought online nationwide.

Texas Benefits from Airtricity/GE Wind Turbines Deal July 2006
Airtricity, the international renewable energy company, has secured its largest deal for wind turbines to-date in an unprecedented deal with GE Energy. Airtricity will purchase more than 300 GE 1.5MW turbines, with capacity totaling 500MW in a deal worth more than $550million. The investment will support Airtricity's US build program for 2008 - turbines for 2006 and 2007 having been previously secured. The wind turbines will go to a a 135-MW project in Texas, a 38-MW project in northern California, a 90-MW project in New Mexico, and a 180-MW project in Colorado. Also see: Texas Wind Farm Receives Solid Backing.

China Makes Huge Breakthrough in Wind Power Technology July 2006
Chinese developers unveiled the world's first full-permanent magnetic levitation (Maglev) wind power generator at the Wind Power Asia Exhibition 2006 held June 28 in Beijing.

Texas Wind Power in the Gulf June 2006
By 2009, wind-generated electricity will flow into Texas from 50 turbines built off the coast near Galveston. Once the offshore turbines--the first of their kind in the nation--are up and pumping power to Texas, beach goers should hardly notice them, according to Jim Suydam of the Texas General Land Office (GLO). "The developers are looking at putting them about eight miles offshore," he said. "That makes them about as big as a thumbnail when viewed from the coast, so they're not real visible from shore." At full production, Texas can currently generate about 2,000 megawatts (MW) of installed electricity--or about 2 percent of its total energy use--from renewable energy sources such as wind. The 2005 Texas Legislature directed the state to increase that to 10,000 MW by 2025.

Austin Energy Receives 2006 Market Maker Award June 2006
Austin Energy received the award from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) at the Windpower 2006 Conference held in Pittsburgh on June 6, 2006 for significant advances in the development of the green power market through its GreenChoice program.

Wind Powering America Update May 2006
This presentation summarizes sizes and applications of wind turbines; illustrates the evolution of commercial U.S. wind technology, capacity and cost trends, and installed wind capacities from 1999 to 2005; lists the drivers for wind power; illustrates wind cost of energy, natural gas historic prices, and renewable portfolio standards; lists economic development impacts; highlights case studies and local ownership models; illustrates economic impacts of alternative generation; lists the environmental benefits, key issues for wind power, and wind energy economic security benefits.

Wind Blade Spins through Texas on Renewable Energy Tour May 2006
A 120-foot long, 14,000-pound wind blade from one of Texas' wind farm turbines is making its way across Texas in a renewable energy tour designed to educate children about the benefits of using renewable energy. The "Biggest Fan" is taller than the Statue of Liberty and taller than the length of the U.S. Capitol Building. Read more...

500-Megawatt Wind Plant off the Texas Coast May 2006
Texas GLO Signs Lease to Create Largest Offshore Wind Farm in U.S. History
The Padre Island project provides clean energy and helps fund public education. The multi-million dollar agreement - the second such lease in less than a year from the Texas General Land Office's "Texas wind rush" - grants Superior Renewable Energy rights to 39,900 acres of submerged lands in the Gulf of Mexico, just off the coast of Padre Island and south of Baffin Bay. The company plans to build a wind farm there that will generate up to 500 Mw of power - enough to satisfy a small city, or about 125,000 homes. The Texas General Land Office (GLO) previously signed a lease for a company to build a 150-megawatt wind facility off the coast of Galveston. Read more...

Texas Plans Nation's Largest Offshore Wind Farm: Padre Island May 2006
The $1 billion to $2 billion 40,000-acre span of turbines will be the largest wind farm in the nation, with about 170 turbines looming off Texas ranch land and spinning up to 500 megawatts of electricity. The Padre Island offshore farm is the second Patterson has announced in less than a year for the Texas coast, with 50 wind turbines planned off Galveston.

Austin City Council OKs More Renewable Energy Sources for Austin Energy April 2006
The Austin City Council approved two requests to purchase new power sources that will enable Austin Energy to double its renewable energy supply and to proceed with plans to retire the Holly Power Plant next year. One contract involves the purchase of the annual output of electricity for the next 20 years from 225 megawatts (MW) of new wind generators to be built in West Texas. The renewable energy purchase will give Austin Energy one of the largest green power supplies of any utility in Texas. Austin Energy has been ranked #1 in the country four years in a row for the most renewable energy sales by a utility-sponsored green power program-outperforming some 600 other programs nationwide.

Small Wind System for Homes & Business April 2006
Cheaper, user-friendly turbines could pave the way for more investment. Earlier this month, Southwest Windpower (SWWP) raised $8 million to launch a small generator that could bring wind power to individual homes and businesses. SWWP's technology targets a new market for wind-any building on at least half an acre in a wind-rich location. SWWP's new turbine is much easier to use. It includes all the inverters, controllers, and other parts needed to connect to the grid. They are all contained within the body of the generator, lowering the production and installation costs. The turbine will produce electricity even at modest wind speeds. Expected retail price is $5,500.

U.S. Wind Projects April 2006
An American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) map of U.S. wind capacity in each state with links to projects in each state.

Airtricity Building 125-MW Wind Farm April 2006
TXU Wholesale, a subsidiary of TXU Corp., has signed a contract to purchase the output from a 125-MW wind power project being developed by Airtricity, a project development company based in Dublin, Ireland. Airtricity is building the Forest Creek Wind Farm about 50 miles east of Midland using 2.3-MW Siemens wind turbines. The wind farm is Airtricity's first in the state of Texas. It will generate electricity from 54 2.3-MW Siemens wind turbines, the largest turbines to date built in the state. Airtricity will own and operate the facility following its construction. The new contract goes into effect January 1, 2007.

Cost of Wind Soaring, But Austin Energy Still Has a Deal April 2006
Shifting winds in the energy market will have Austin Energy paying significantly more for its next batch of bluster. The cost of wind power in a new agreement to be negotiated is projected to be 46 percent more than the price in a similar contract struck just last year, according to Austin Energy.

West Texas Dominates State's List for Wind Energy Development March 2006
State and regional leaders today called for support of efforts to allow more wind development in the West Texas region, bringing economic development and clean energy for Texas. The state of Texas is closely evaluating the best locations for wind power expansion in an approach to determine where to build new transmission lines. In late February, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) released a preliminary list of counties that its stakeholders have initially identified as most suitable for wind energy development. West Texas counties comprise the lion's share of the selection. Final areas targeted for major development are expected to be designated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas later this year.

DOE/GE Develop Multi-Megawatt Offshore Wind Turbine March 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, has signed a $27 million, multi-year contract with the General Electric Company (GE) to develop a new offshore wind power system over the next several years. The wind turbine is expected to produce electricity at a cost of 5 cents per kilowatt-hour - 52 percent less than the current 9.5 cents per hour. Approximately $8 million of the offshore wind project will be cost-shared by DOE. GE's partnership with DOE on this project will last 3-4 years. Read more...

Wind Power Lights the Statue of Liberty March 2006
The Statue of Liberty is now lit with wind power, a powerful, shining symbol of how wind energy works for our economy, environment, and energy security. [The U.S. National Parks Service has contracted with Pepco Energy Services to purchase 27 million kilowatt-hours of wind power to cover the electricity needs for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island museum over a period of three years.

DOE to Develop Multi-Megawatt Offshore Wind Turbine with General Electric March 2006
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, has signed a $27 million, multi-year contract with the General Electric Company (GE) to develop a new offshore wind power system over the next several years. Approximately $8 million of the offshore wind project will be cost-shared by DOE.

Austin Market for Wind Power Picks up Speed March 2006
Increased output, efficiency sparks big demand for turbines
"Austin, Texas - It's just half a percent of total energy consumption in the U.S., but wind power is the fastest growing renewable energy source out there -- in terms of usage and capacity. At the Whole Foods' flagship store here -- all 80,000 square feet -- the fish coolers, the wood-fired pizza ovens, the lights above the produce, and every store nationwide, is effectively powered by wind. How is Whole Foods getting in the wind game? With credits for about half a million megawatt-hours of wind-generated electricity, bought from a broker, who then buys an equal amount of wind power, which then gets pumped into the national grid. " More...

Wind Cheaper than Conventional March 2006
A newly published report says that wind power is now cheaper than conventional sources in at least two areas of the US: Austin, Texas and the state of Colorado, and that this is a trend that will be seen elsewhere.

Audubon Society Says Turbines Unlikely to Harm Birds March 2006

Record Year for Global Wind Energy February 2006
The global wind energy sector experienced another record year in 2005. According to the figures released by the Global Wind Energy Council for 2005, the installation of 11,769 megawatts (MW), which represents a 43.4% increase in annual additions to the global market, was up from 8,207 MW in the previous year.

Austenite Apply to Save with Wind Power February 2006
Wind power has become the cheapest electricity source in the capital of Texas, the largest U.S. gas-producing state, after costs for gas and other generator fuels soared. The Austin City Council voted to hold a drawing in March to determine which municipal utility customers will be allowed to switch to wind power. More customers are expected to request wind power than the utility has available because the pollution-free option, which used to cost extra, will save a typical resident about $16 a year. They will be promised the same rate for ten years. Read more...

12 Panhandle Counties On Candidate List for Wind Development February 2006
(The Wind Coalition) Potential for $1 Billion in New Wind Power Projects. The state of Texas is closely evaluating the best locations for wind power expansion in an approach to determine where to build new transmission lines. More...

Wind Power 2005 in Review, Outlook for 2006 and Beyond January 2006
After a record year for North American wind power, capacity is expected to quadruple by 2010.

Whole Foods Buys Large Amount of Wind Power January 2006
The world's largest natural and organic foods retailer has made the largest purchase ever of wind energy credits in the United States. Austin's Whole Foods Market has bought enough renewable energy credits from wind farms to offset 100 percent of the electricity used in all of its stores, warehouses, baking operations, distribution centers, regional offices and national headquarters in the United States and Canada. This represents the largest wind energy credit purchase in the history of the United States and Canada and makes Whole Foods the only Fortune 500 company purchasing wind energy credits to offset all its electricity use. Read more...

Small Wind System Makes the Extreme Makeover TV Show January 2006
"We are very excited to be part of Extreme Makeover for a second time." says Andy Kruse, Vice President of Southwest Windpower. "By providing a small wind system to people who may not be in a position to install one on their own, we will help this family with long term energy source at no cost to them. This grid system is a product that allows a person now on the electric grid to simply hook directly up to the house to reduce the user's monthly electrical bill as the wind blows" says Kruse. "There are no batteries to maintain and the systems are virtually maintenance free." Read more...

Senator Hutchinson Speaks on Wind Energy Development December 2005
At a press conference at the American Wind Power Center Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison announced a $1.5 million appropriation from Congress for the development of the Great Plains Wind Test Center for research and development related to wind power and wind power applications. "Funding for this new facility will support existing wind research initiatives at Texas Tech University," Senator Hutchison said. "Wind is a renewable power source and our state will benefit from the expanded resources developed through this research. Texas has the second highest potential for wind energy in the nation and this renewable source of energy will help address our future energy needs."

U.S. Wind Power Grows at Record Pace in 2005 November 2005
The U.S. wind power industry will set new growth records this year, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The trade group's latest projections, released on November 3rd, anticipate the installation of 2,500 megawatts of new wind power capacity this year, a record growth of more than 35 percent.

Austin Energy Wins 2005 Wind Power Pioneer Award October 2005
Austin Energy was won the 2005 Wind Power Pioneer Award from the U.S. Department of Energy. Austin Energy was cited for its leadership and innovation in its wind power program.

Texas Wind Turbine Powers Wal-Mart Store August 2005
50-kW Bergey wind turbine is among the environmental features at an experimental Wal-Mart Environmental Supercenter in McKinney, Texas. Opened in July, the store also includes several photovoltaic systems and many other features to improve the environmental sustainability of the store. This Wal-Mart Supercenter is the first installation of the new Bergey Windpower XL.50 turbine.