According to a new paper, “Challenges for Wind Energy’s Future,” although a negligible player in electricity generation, wind energy comes at an exorbitant taxpayer expense. In addition, the report finds that the wind industry faces several likely “insurmountable” challenges to becoming a dependable part of America’s energy portfolio. Author Merrill Matthews, Ph.D., discusses in the paper that while wind itself …
Globeleq Inaugurates Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm
Globeleq has inaugurated its latest wind energy project in South Africa. The 138 MW Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm is located between the towns of Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp in Eastern Cape and has an estimated annual production of 460 GWh and will provide renewable electricity for nearly 100,000 average South African households. Back in April, Globeleq marked the start of …
Maine Utilities Partner to Improve Grid
Emera Maine and Central Maine Power (CMP) have agreed to jointly develop electric transmission projects in Maine. The goal of all projects is to improve links between southern New England and northern Maine, where more than 2,100 megawatts of wind power development have been proposed. The agreement between the utilities comes in response to a call by the six New …
RES America’s Border Winds Project Blows Ahead
The Border Winds Project is blowing ahead in Roulette County, North Dakota. Renewable Energy Systems Americas has received notice to proceed on construction. The company is the developer and engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project. RES purchased the partially completed project from Sequoia Energy in August 2013. However, when completed, ownership and operation will be transferred to Xcel …
Biofuels and Wind Waiting on Action
Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy said earlier this year that they planned to issue a final rule on the proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in “late spring or early summer” but spring is gone and summer is here and there’s been no word yet. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said last week that he thought the …
Two Dot Wind Project Completed
The Two Dot Wind Project has been completed. The project is located in Two Dot, Montana, and the wind farm is owned by NJR Clean Energy Ventures, an unregulated clean energy subsidiary of New Jersey Resources). The 9.73 megawatt project is the company’s first onshore wind project, which was energized earlier this month. The energy produced will be sold to …
Renewables Make Up Nearly 90% of New Power in May
A new report shows that renewable energy sources made up nearly 90 percent of all new electrical generating capacity in the U.S. in May and more than half the new capacity this year so far. A news release from the SUN DAY Campaign, a non-profit research and educational organization that promotes sustainable energy technologies as cost-effective alternatives to nuclear power …
New England Coast Offshore Wind Leases Available
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Acting Director Walter Cruickshank joined Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to announce more than 742,000 acres offshore Massachusetts will be available for commercial wind energy leasing. The proposed area is the largest in federal waters and will nearly double the federal offshore acreage available for commercial-scale wind energy …
Nebraska Wind Farm Dedicated
A new wind farm has been dedicated in Nebraska. This story from the Lincoln Journal Star says Gov. Dave Heineman, along with about 100 local residents and officials, attended the dedication of the Steele Flats wind farm. The wind farm sits on about 10,500 acres of privately owned agricultural and ranch land. Its 44 General Electric turbines can generate as …
Global Wind Power Capacity to Double by 2020
Despite a slowing down of global wind energy power installations in 2013, a new report has found that global cumulative wind power capacity will more than double from 319.6 gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2013 to 678.5 GW bu 2020. The report, “Wind Power, Update 2014 – Global Market Size, Average Price, Competitive Landscape, and Key Country Analysis to …