Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Hearst Washington Bureau
Friday, April 9, 2010
(04-09) 04:00 PDT Washington - --
Texas has bragging rights as the "Saudi Arabia of wind power," but a report released Thursday shows that Midwestern states are giving the Lone Star state some competition.
The wind-energy industry last year installed about 5,700 turbines with more than 10,000 megawatts of generating capacity - enough to serve more than 2.4 million homes - according to the American Wind Energy Association.
Texas leads the nation with more than 9,000 megawatts of total wind generation capacity, including 2,292 megawatts added last year.
But Iowa is the U.S. leader in relying on wind-generated electricity. Last year, 14.2 percent of the state's electrical power came from wind - compared with 1.8 percent nationwide.
Indiana added 905 megawatts of capacity in 2009, second only to Texas in the amount of wind generation capacity added last year.
Measured by total installed capacity, the top five states are Texas, Iowa, California, Washington and Oregon. The new data reveal another year of continued growth for wind power. Renewable electricity standards mandate the use of wind, solar and other easily replenished power sources in 39 countries and 29 states, including Texas and California. There is no similar nationwide mandate, though proposals for a federal requirement are pending in Congress.
The House has passed legislation requiring that renewable power make up 15 percent of utilities' supplies by 2020, and a Senate committee approved an energy bill last year that would mandate 15 percent renewable power by 2021.
A national renewable electricity requirement could steer utilities away from some lower-cost energy sources and encourage investment in wind and solar power.
"We're the only major developed country that does not have a renewable energy standard or the functional equivalent," said Don Furman, a senior vice president for Iberdrola Renewables in Portland, Ore. "Without a policy that gives clear guidelines to utilities to add renewables to the mix, we don't necessarily see the public (enthusiasm) for renewables translating to actual demand" by utilities.
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/08/MNT01CRQID.DTL
Friday, April 9, 2010
(04-09) 04:00 PDT Washington - --
Texas has bragging rights as the "Saudi Arabia of wind power," but a report released Thursday shows that Midwestern states are giving the Lone Star state some competition.
The wind-energy industry last year installed about 5,700 turbines with more than 10,000 megawatts of generating capacity - enough to serve more than 2.4 million homes - according to the American Wind Energy Association.
Texas leads the nation with more than 9,000 megawatts of total wind generation capacity, including 2,292 megawatts added last year.
But Iowa is the U.S. leader in relying on wind-generated electricity. Last year, 14.2 percent of the state's electrical power came from wind - compared with 1.8 percent nationwide.
Indiana added 905 megawatts of capacity in 2009, second only to Texas in the amount of wind generation capacity added last year.
Measured by total installed capacity, the top five states are Texas, Iowa, California, Washington and Oregon. The new data reveal another year of continued growth for wind power. Renewable electricity standards mandate the use of wind, solar and other easily replenished power sources in 39 countries and 29 states, including Texas and California. There is no similar nationwide mandate, though proposals for a federal requirement are pending in Congress.
The House has passed legislation requiring that renewable power make up 15 percent of utilities' supplies by 2020, and a Senate committee approved an energy bill last year that would mandate 15 percent renewable power by 2021.
A national renewable electricity requirement could steer utilities away from some lower-cost energy sources and encourage investment in wind and solar power.
"We're the only major developed country that does not have a renewable energy standard or the functional equivalent," said Don Furman, a senior vice president for Iberdrola Renewables in Portland, Ore. "Without a policy that gives clear guidelines to utilities to add renewables to the mix, we don't necessarily see the public (enthusiasm) for renewables translating to actual demand" by utilities.
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/08/MNT01CRQID.DTL
The power level of over 9000 megawatts with the help of wind energy: that was sure a feat to be proud of for Texas electric companies. We reap the ecological-friendly Texas electricity made by the wind and processed by the turbines.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sight to behold for Texas.