Wind Power News

February 14, 2012
Recent Developments in the Levelized Cost of Energy from U.S. Wind Power Projects

Date: 2/1/2012

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published Recent Developments in the Levelized Cost of Energy from U.S. Wind Power Projects, a briefing presentation that summarizes recent work on wind energy costs. Portions of this work were also presented in a multi-part webinar in December 2011. The LBNL-NREL work analyzes wind energy costs in three time periods: projects installed in 2002-2003, projects installed in 2009-2010, and projects based on current wind turbine pricing to be installed in ~2012-2013. The research shows that wind energy technology was far from static during this period, and the levelized cost of wind energy is now trending toward an all-time low within fixed wind resource areas. If you have questions, contact Ryan Wiser at LBNL or Eric Lantz at NREL. The U.S. Department of Energy's Wind and Water Power Program supported this work.

February 14, 2012
USDA Launches Energy Website

Date: 2/14/2012

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched an energy website that provides access to USDA energy efficiency and renewable energy data, including an interactive Renewable Energy Investment Map, a Renewable Energy Tool, and Energy Matrix. The Energy Matrix directs visitors to USDA's energy-related programs, including information on funding for projects, available programs, and research and development. The site also includes links to all USDA state and local offices and energy resource coordinators.

February 14, 2012
Wind for Schools Project Host School Seeks Sustainability Session Proposals

Date: 2/14/2012

Students from the PeaceJam Club at Ponderosa High School and Douglas County School District in Denver, Colorado, are issuing a call for presenters for the first Colorado SAVES Student Sustainability Summit on May 4 - 5, 2012. The Colorado SAVES (Students as Voices for Environmental Sustainability) Summit aims to bring high school students from across the state together to educate, share, and inspire environmental stewardship. The group is seeking session proposals from student groups, school districts, organizations, and other community partners. Priority will be given to sessions that specifically address sustainability in schools and school districts in Colorado. Interactive, non-traditional, and outdoor workshops are encouraged. Presenters will be asked to repeat their session during three 60-minute time slots on May 5. Presenters can anticipate 20 to 30 high school students per workshop. Please submit the application to ColoradoSAVES@gmail.com by March 9, 2012. Ponderosa High School is a Wind for Schools project host school, so wind-related sessions would be especially welcome.

February 13, 2012
Renewable Energy for America Program Important, Beneficial Aspect of Farm Bill for Nation

Date: 2/13/2012

Source: Seanica Reineke, National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.

Audio with with Andy Olsen, Environmental Law and Policy Center senior policy advocate and Sue Jones, Community Energy Partners president (MP3 4.5 MB) Download Windows Media Player. Time: 00:04:48

The Renewable Energy for America Program [REAP] provides grants and loan guarantees for a broad range of clean energy technologies including biomass, wind and solar, which helps farmers and rural small businesses cut their energy bills with new modern technology. Environmental Law and Policy Center senior policy advocate Andy Olsen says farm energy development has made great progress since 2003. Olsen says that progress has allowed every ag sector to benefit according to their own circumstances and energy needs.

"For example, the dairy industry is using REAP to really move forward with manure digesters in a great way, as well as for energy efficiency for their operations. And then we've seen a lot of community energy development with community wind and community digesters have taken place with the energy title programs, and there's just so much more potential that we have. It would be a real shame if Congress was to halt this progress now by retreating in the 2012 Farm Bill."

Community Energy Partners president Sue Jones conducts REAP outreach in Maine and has written grants that have brought more than $1.2 million in funding and around $500,000 in guaranteed loans for renewable energy projects. Jones says as a result farmers and small businesses not only save money but also help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Jones says there have been two prominent changes to REAP recently.

"In general, the program has remained intact as it has for the past few years. But the two prominent changes are drastically reduced funding levels since last year to about $24 million available this next round. And the second one, which is very important, is that the timeline has changed. In the past, most of the time the deadlines were in late spring, April, May or June, and this year they're in February and March. So it's very important for folks to know when the deadlines are so they can get their applications in in time."

About a year ago, Jones learned that four schools in Ohio received funding from REAP by incorporating renewable technologies. Even though schools technically aren't eligible applicants, they qualified under REAP as a small business by incorporating those new technologies. Jones says her outreach now extends to schools and municipalities. There are various stages at which schools and municipalities can apply, according to Jones, but most importantly, they can apply for a feasibility grant. That grant can offset some of the costs and risks of doing an upfront community wind feasibility assessment.

"If they're awarded that, or if they go forward with that, and they find that they do have a feasible site, they can actually come in for a second round of funding the following year and apply for a REAP equipment grant that can help them offset the costs of a wind turbine or other pieces of wind equipment. So it's a nice program in that it can help you in consecutive years to help get your project in place."

ELPC's Olsen says the REAP grant application process is competitive because of the limited funds. Olsen suggests people work with their state rural development energy coordinator on the applications from the beginning so the coordinator knows they are working on the project and they get good advice.

"There are different applications for small projects as compared to the bigger projects. The important thing is to plan ahead so you have your energy audit done for your facility early and then to put together a good application with an eye toward the number of points that you're scoring. The competitive process uses points, and therefore the more points you have, the more likely you are to win. So, people should definitely pay close attention to that."

Over the past two years, Olsen says there have been drastic and disproportionate cuts to REAP and the other farm bill clean energy programs. Olsen says Congress cut REAP funding for 2012 by 66% from the year before. With Congress currently working on reauthorization of the Farm Bill, Olsen says it's uncertain as to whether REAP and other energy title programs will be included in the next Farm Bill.

"Clean energy and conservation are two of the most popular parts of the Farm Bill with the general public, but they're also two that are facing the deepest cuts right now. So, the question to what the future holds really depends on how much people speak up to their members of Congress and let them know that this is a priority for America, to keep moving forward on the progress that we've seen in REAP over the years of the program."

To apply for a REAP grant, visit www.farmenergy.org and search for your state rural energy coordinator under application tools. Also, work with your hardware vendor to make sure you have the proper information necessary for the equipment you want to install.

The deadline for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications is February 21st.

February 13, 2012
North Carolina Installs Nine Wind for Schools Projects in 2011: A Wind Powering America Success Story

Date: 2/14/2012

North Carolina's Wind for Schools project team installed nine projects in the Tar Heel State in 2011 and hopes to facilitate more installations in 2012.

According to Dave French, associate director of the Appalachian State University Wind Application Center, the achievement can be attributed to the group's preliminary work preparing for the multiple installations which was rewarded when funding was received late in the year. While waiting for the funding, the team members concentrated on siting, identifying host schools, and talking to teachers.

"It was really nice to finally be able to call those teachers and tell them that we were able to deliver once we got our funding. Then things kind of turned into a sprint," French said. With a deadline of six months in which to spend the money, the group had limited time for the planning, zoning, and construction process for the nine schools. To complete all installations prior to the end of the year, the group contracted them to Sundance Energy Systems, a local company with renewable energy project experience.

Seven of the nine schools installed the 2.4-kilowatt Skystream 3.7 turbine. Installations were divided into two categories: coastal and mountain. The coastal schools are First Flight Middle School, JP Knapp High School, and Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies. The mountain schools are Avery County High School, Alleghany County High School, Watauga County High School, and North Wilkes Middle School. The team also installed turbines at the College of Albemarle's Dare and Edenton campuses.

Two sources provided funding for the projects. A rural development grant that was part of a state program focused on workforce development provided funding for the coastal installations. The Wind for Schools project team partnered with Albemarle Resource Conservation & Development to apply for this funding. The North Carolina Green Business Fund provided funding for the mountain installations.

Jessica Hocz, program manager at the Mountain Valleys Resource Conservation & Development, Inc. and North Carolina Wind for Schools project state facilitator, believes that these projects are important examples of wind energy in a state with few installations.

"Utility-scale wind really hasn't taken hold in North Carolina," Hocz said. "It's a state that has a great wind resource on the coast and in the mountains, but we have a lot of challenges right now, so it's more important than ever to promote wind energy, even if it's on a small scale."

"We were very encouraged by the progress of the North Carolina Wind for Schools team over the past year," said Ian Baring-Gould, Wind Powering America technical director. "The five new states that joined the Wind for Schools project last year hit the road sprinting, and we are very encouraged by their progress. By the end of 2012, we expect to have more than 100 wind turbines installed at schools across the nation that directly relate to the Wind for Schools project. Although this may not be many in general terms, the tens of thousands of students who walk by these turbines every morning will help determine the future of our great nation."

Funding for additional school projects in 2012 is still undetermined, but the team members continue to identify likely host school sites in the interim.

"We have some really good candidate schools picked out," French said. "We're at kind of the same place we were last year, where we picked out some sites with a combination of a good resource and a teacher who's really interested in the project. They've been spreading the word around their schools, and we've been trying to come through on our end. Once Jess Hocz secures funding, we'll be able to move forward with this next round."

The U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America initiative also provides funding for the Wind for Schools project, which works to raise awareness in rural America about the benefits of wind energy while increasing the wind knowledge base of future leaders of our communities, states, and nation. The project is currently supported in 11 states (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Virginia).

More information about the Wind for Schools project is available.

January 31, 2012
USDA Issues Rural Energy for America Program Solicitation of Applications

Date: 1/31/2012

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a Fiscal Year 2012 Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The deadlines to apply for REAP grants and loan guarantees under the most recent solicitation are as follows:

  • March 30, 2012: Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grant applications; combination grant and guaranteed loan applications; and renewable energy system feasibility study applications
  • February 21, 2012: Energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications
  • June 29, 2012: Renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement guaranteed loan applications.

For more information, see the Notice of Funding Availability in the Federal Register.

January 31, 2012
Independent Expert Science Panel Releases Report on Potential Health Effects of Wind Turbines: Public Meetings and Comment Period

Date: 1/31/2012

An independent panel of experts studying potential health impacts of wind turbines issued its report, Wind Turbine Health Impact Study: Report of the Independent Expert Panel. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health convened the panel, which included physicians and scientists with broad expertise in areas including acoustical noise/infrasound, public health, sleep disturbance, mechanical engineering, epidemiology, and neuroscience.

Three public meetings on the report will be held in February as part of a 60-day comment period, open until Monday, March 19 at 5 p.m. You can submit comments electronically or mail them to:

MassDEP Wind Turbine Docket
One Winter Street, Fourth Floor
Boston, MA 02108

More information is available on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection website.

January 31, 2012
KidWind Project Announces 2012 Wind Senators Program

Date: 1/31/2012

The KidWind Project, one of Wind Powering America's Wind for Schools project partners, announced that applications are now available online for the 2012 Wind Senators training program in Bar Harbor, Maine, on July 24 - August 4. KidWind is looking for 25 educators who are interested in working with teachers to improve wind energy education in their regions. This training combines learning about wind energy science and teaching about wind in K-12 classrooms using a wide array of curricula and educational materials.

May 14, 2010
Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values: A NEWEEP Webinar

Date: 5/5/2010

Location: MA

The New England Wind Energy Education Project (NEWEEP) hosted the first in a series of free webinars. The main topic of NEWEEP's inaugural event was, "The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values" presented by Ben Hoen, consultant to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories. The session opened with a brief introduction of the New England Wind Energy Education Project, followed by an introductory discussion of, "Wind Power's role in Achieving Regional Policy Objectives" presented by Heather Hunt, executive director of New England States Committee on Electricity. The webinar included a question and answer session. This was a free webinar funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Powering America Initiative. The webinar was designed for attendance by the general public, local officials, facility siting decision makers, policy makers, and others interested in a review of objective information on the impacts of wind energy.

Receive Notices for Future Webinars in the Series

If you would like to be on the NEWEEP mailing list to be notified of future NEWEEP webinars via email, please provide us with your contact information. Subscribers will also receive periodic email announcements about newly posted information on the New England Wind Forum website and new editions of the New England Wind Forum newsletter. The addresses and information of those signing up will not be distributed to anyone else for any other purpose. Past NEWEEP webinar audio visual files and transcripts are available.

November 10, 2010
Estimating Small Wind Turbine Energy Output and Economic Performance: An ASES Small Wind Division Webinar

Date: 11/4/2010

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) Small Wind Division bi-monthly Webinar series continued with a presentation titled, "Managing Expectations: Estimating Small Wind Turbine Energy Output and Economic Performance." The Webinar was presented by Tony Jimenez from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This presentation taught methods for estimating wind turbine energy production and economic performance. The presentation started with an overview of wind characteristics and energy potential before describing the techniques used to evaluate wind turbine energy production and economic performance. Publically available sources of wind data were also discussed.

Audio and text versions of the Webinar are available (WMV 12.9 MB) Download Windows Media Player. Time: 01:03:47. Text Version.

January 9, 2012
Offshore Wind Power
Please see the Web site for more information.
January 3, 2012
UWIG Distributed Wind/Solar Interconnection Workshop

Date: 2/22/2012 to 2/24/2012

Location: Golden, CO

Source: Utility Wind Integration Group

This 2-day workshop, with an optional virtual tour of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Energy Systems Integration Facility, will answer your questions about interconnecting wind and solar plants and other distributed generation applications to electric distribution systems and integrating large-scale renewable generation into the transmission system. This event is sponsored by the Utility Wind Integration Group, American Public Power Association, Western Area Power Administration, U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Water Program, and the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Program.

June 7, 2011
Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference

Date: 2/23/2012 to 2/24/2012

Location: Atlanta, GA

The conference is the nation's leading forum sharing ideas and strategies to build a green economy that creates good jobs and preserves America's economic and environmental security.