Oregon New Home to Large Wind Farm

Joanna Schroeder

The Shepherds Flat Wind Farm, owned by Caithness Energy, is operating near Arlington, Oregon, and has the ability to generate 845 Megawatts of clean energy per year. A kick-off event marked the official commissioning of the wind farm. “This is a great day for Gilliam and Morrow counties, for Oregon, and for the rest of the United States,” said Senator …

Electricity, Energy, Wind

Energy Mix Must Reflect Future

Joanna Schroeder

A new report released by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) argues that European Union (EU) electricity market rules must reflect the energy production mix of the future. This will help ensure a flexible power system with a large-scale uptake of wind power and other renewable energy sources. The report comes as the Single European Act – creating a single …

Electricity, Energy, International, Wind

PTC Stalls, Wind Energy Workers Laid Off

Joanna Schroeder

As the Production Tax Credit (PTC) remains stalled in Congress, worker layoffs in the wind energy industry are rising. The Iowa Wind Energy Association has been forewarning legislators that if the PTC is not extended, thousands of Americans could lose their jobs.  Proof: Siemen’s has laid off more than 400 workers in its Fort Madison wind turbine blade plant. Other companies that …

Energy, Legislation, Wind

Wind Tax Credit Extension Critical

Joanna Schroeder

The Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy, an information network for local chambers of commerce, is calling for Congress to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for the wind industry. There are 240 chamber of commerce members from 47 states supporting PTC and in a letter explained that the expiration of the PTC would hurt local economies, send jobs elsewhere …

Electricity, Energy, Legislation, Wind

Eisenhower Corporate Campus Goes Solar

Joanna Schroeder

The Eastman Companies’ Eisenhower Corporate Campus in Livingston, NJ has flipped the switch on a 500 kW solar PV system. New Jersey is one of the leading states for solar installations. A portion of the solar system, 68kW, was installed on a hillside near the campus allowing those passing by to see the solar array. The solar system is just …

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Offshore Wind Part of Europe’s Blue Growth

Joanna Schroeder

The European Commission is looking at the marine and maritime industry to help Europe’s economic recovery. The European Commission has released its ‘Blue Growth‘ strategy and included in areas of growth is the offshore wind energy industry. The European Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is predicting the offshore wind energy industry will have a five-fold increase in offshore wind jobs within …

Electricity, Energy, Wind

AWEA Wants New 2030 Renewable Energy Target

Joanna Schroeder

Several Ministers met earlier this week at an informal Energy Council meeting in Nicosia. In response, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) warned that their credibility was at risk if they debated future renewable energy policy without considering a new 2030 European Union (EU) Renewable Energy target. The discussion was not on the group’s agenda. “There is no point debating …

Energy, International, Wind

Ag Energy Coalition Urges Passage of Farm Bill

Joanna Schroeder

The 2012 Farm Bill has been big news this week as the agricultural industry, along with dozens of other groups, call for Congress to pass the bill before it sunsets on September 30, 2012.  Earlier this week the Farm Bill Now coalition held a rally in Washington, D.C. that included participation of all Iowa legislators.  The Agriculture Energy Coalition (AgEC) …

Agribusiness, biofuels, Energy, farm bill

Iowa Groups Call for Renewal of PTC

Joanna Schroeder

Nearly 65 entities in Iowa have come together from all walks including agriculture, education, labor, business, public health, and the environment, in a call to Iowa’s congressional delegation to extend the wind production tax credit (PTC) for wind. A letter was sent to the legislators highlighting the wide reach of the wind industry from manufacturing jobs to income for farmers …

Energy, Legislation, Wind

Indiana Tech Installs Wind Turbine on Campus

Joanna Schroeder

Universities across the country have been integrating renewable energy classes but Indiana Tech has gone one step further than most. They have installed a wind turbine on its Fort Wayne campus to help engineering students learn about alternative energy. The turbine is located next to the Zollner Engineering Center and a gift from the Steel Dynamics Foundation covered the cost …

Education, Electricity, Energy, Wind