Usually, when you see the big wheel at the fairgrounds, it’s carrying people to dizzying heights with bright colored lights. But this year, the Iowa State Fair has another big wheel… this time, powering all those rides. MidAmerican Energy has put up a 133-foot wind turbine at the fair’s Wind Energy Education Center. This article in Wallace’s Farmer says it …
Wind Farms Bigger in Texas
A wind farm four times bigger than what’s currently in operation is slated for construction in Texas. According to this article on TechnologyNewsDaily.com, Shell WindEnergy and Luminant have announced they will build a 3,000 megawatt facility in the Texas Panhandle: The proposed wind facility would be located in Briscoe County to take advantage of excellent wind resources and a relatively …
Wind Association to Call for Renewable Electricity Standard
The American Wind Energy Association is calling on Congress to enact a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). Leaders from the AWEA will join with Congressmen Tom Udall (D-NM) and Mark Udall (D-CO) on Tuesday, July 31st at 10 a.m. at the U.S. Capitol to call for wider support of the amendment that would require power companies to use 20 percent renewable …
Wind Association: Level Field with Solar Incentives
The American Wind Energy Association says wind power is not getting the government incentives that solar power enjoys… and that’s keeping wind energy from enjoying the same level of private home and business growth that photovoltaic systems now have. In a report by the AWAE titled “Small Wind Turbine Global Market Study” featured in this story from NewRules.org, the association …
North Dakota Opens First Wind-to-Hydrogen Project
North Dakota State University has opened a first-of-its-kind wind-to-hydrogen project at the North Central Research Extension Center just south of Minot, ND. In an article in the Minot Daily News, Sen. Byron Dorgan said this country desperately needs an energy source besides oil: “In the longer term, in my judgment, the fuel of the future is going to be hydrogen,” …
Idaho Moves Forward on Wind Power
Idaho is one of the windiest states in America, but it’s wind power generating capabilities have been all but nil… but that could soon change. This story in the Idaho Statesman says a couple of regulatory cases at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission are finally being settled, ending a two-year moratorium on most new wind energy development in the state. …
Stocks Powered by the Wind
Stock in wind-power generating companies could have portfolios breezing right along. This post on the Seeking Alpha web site, a stock market opinion and analysis blog, points out that wind power generation rose 300% between 2000 and 2006. And it highlights 12 stocks you might want to consider if you want to add some of that rising sector to your …
Illinois State to Offer Renewable Energy Degree
The flux in high-tech jobs in the renewable energy field has prompted Illinois State University to look at offering a bachelor’s degree in the field. This article in the Matoon and Charleston, Illinois Journal Gazette Times-Courier says the degree would offer studies in biofuels, wind, and solar power: If approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, ISU will launch …
Familiar Face to Lead Renewable Energy Market
For a long time, Texas was known to be a leader in the non-renewable energy fields… in particular, the petroleum market. But it looks like the Lone Star State is now poised to dominate the green fuel picture as well. This story in the Houston Chronicle says Texas will lead the nation in renewable energy production by 2025, and could …
$4 Mill for TX, Mass. Wind Projects
Wind energy projects in Texas and Massachusetts have been chosen for two, $2-million grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. According to this press release from the agency, DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman has announced the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Partnership in Massachusetts, and the Lone Star Wind Alliance in Texas will receive up to $2 million each in test equipment to …