We’re halfway through this year’s #iheartwind campaign, and so far we’ve seen nearly 650 posts on Twitter and Instagram from people telling us why they love wind power. The reasons vary– some support wind for it’s job creation, some for its investment in rural America, and others because it’s a source of low-cost clean energy. … Continue reading Checking in on #iheartwind this Valentine’s Day
Continue readingCategory Archives: OpEd
Did you know the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics are powered by wind energy?
Last night my husband and I sat down to watch the women’s snowboarding halfpipe final in the Winter Olympics. In case you missed it, Californian Chloe Kim lived up to expectations and clinched the gold medal for the U.S. Of course, working in the wind industry, I was nearly as excited by her win as … Continue reading Did you know the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics are powered by wind energy?
Continue reading
How Renewables Will Change the Geopolitical Map of the World
The rapid growth of renewable energy will have a profound effect on geopolitics worldwide, writes energy expert Walt Patterson, a fellow at Chatham House in London. In this article, he explores the many ways in which “fire-free electricity” will transform political and economic relations. Geopolitics, as the name suggests, is the interaction between geography and … Continue reading How Renewables Will Change the Geopolitical Map of the World
Continue readingAvoiding blackouts with 100% renewable energy
Renewable energy solutions are often hindered by the inconsistencies of power produced by wind, water and sunlight and the continuously fluctuating demand for energy. New research by Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, and colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, and Aalborg University in Denmark finds several … Continue reading Avoiding blackouts with 100% renewable energy
Continue reading
Offshore wind energy in Europe grew 25% in 2017
2017 was a record year for offshore wind in Europe according to statistics released today by WindEurope. Europe installed 3.1 GW of new offshore wind, taking total capacity to 15.8 GW, an increase of 25% in just one year. 13 new offshore wind farms were completed, including the world’s first floating offshore wind farm, … Continue reading Offshore wind energy in Europe grew 25% in 2017
Continue readingA new type of wind power customer should factor into transmission planning
Transmission expansion is a constant topic of conversation throughout the U.S. wind industry. But the latest report from the Wind Energy Foundation (WEF) adds a new dimension to the discussion, and highlights an important oversight by transmission planners: demand for wind energy from corporate buyers like Google, GM and Nike. Upgrading our nation’s transmission infrastructure … Continue reading A new type of wind power customer should factor into transmission planning
Continue reading
Changes before Ohio siting board would be death sentence for wind power
The American Wind Energy Association and the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition submitted comments today to the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) opposing changes to the wind farm setback waiver process proposed by long-time wind opponent State Representative Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati). AWEA released this statement: “State Rep. Seitz’s proposal to the Ohio Power Siting Board would twist … Continue reading Changes before Ohio siting board would be death sentence for wind power
Continue reading
U.S. wind power industry closed 2017 strong, delivering 7,017 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity
The U.S. wind power industry closed 2017 strong, delivering 7,017 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity representing $11 billion in new private investment, according to the U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2017 Market Report, released today. Twenty-nine new wind farms totaling 4,125 MW came online across 16 states in the fourth quarter. The wind … Continue reading U.S. wind power industry closed 2017 strong, delivering 7,017 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity
Continue reading
92 percent of wind energy project neighbors positive or neutral toward turbines
Over 1.3 million U.S. homes are located within five miles of a large wind turbine. But there hadn’t been a nationwide survey to learn how those people felt about their local wind project – until now. A study led by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that more than … Continue reading 92 percent of wind energy project neighbors positive or neutral toward turbines
Continue reading
Wind energy can help drive industrial transformation in Europe
On 24 January WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson joined representatives of the Industry4Europe group to meet El?bieta Bie?kowska, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Ms Bie?kowska convened the meeting to discuss the Commission’s Industrial Policy Strategy with the Industry4Europe group (representing 126 manufacturing sectors). The latter presented a series of recommendations to the Commission on … Continue reading Wind energy can help drive industrial transformation in Europe
Continue reading
WindEurope discuss EU technology dependence at the European Commission
On 23 January WindEurope participated in the Energy Technology Dependence Workshop at the European Commission. The event was organized in the context of a project carried out for DG RTD by Trinomics, Ricardo, DNV-GL and TNO. The project aims to both develop a better understanding of EU technology dependence in the field of renewable energy … Continue reading WindEurope discuss EU technology dependence at the European Commission
Continue reading
People are really excited about the responses to Xcel Energy’s Colorado RFP
At first blush, responses to a utility RFP for new capacity might not be the sort of news that sets the world on fire. But energy wonks are downright ecstatic over the results to Xcel Energy’s recent Colorado solicitation. Xcel received over 400 bids in response to its all-energy-source RFP, and wind power led the … Continue reading People are really excited about the responses to Xcel Energy’s Colorado RFP
Continue reading
European Parliament set for crucial vote on future of European renewables
EU Energy Ministers opted to endorse the Commission’s original proposal of just 27% at December’s Energy Council. Now it’s the European Parliament’s turn to vote on the Renewable Energy Directive and Governance Regulation. These two pieces of legislation will determine Europe’s ambition on renewable energy post-2020 and the trajectory on how to get there. Giles … Continue reading European Parliament set for crucial vote on future of European renewables
Continue reading
Onshore Wind Power Now as Affordable as Any Other Source, Solar to Halve by 2020
The cost of generating power from onshore wind has fallen by around a quarter since 2010, with solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity costs falling by 73 per cent in that time, according to new cost analysis from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report also highlights that solar PV costs are expected to halve by … Continue reading Onshore Wind Power Now as Affordable as Any Other Source, Solar to Halve by 2020
Continue reading
Wind industry Executives advocate market scale and ramping up R&I funding for renewables
On 9 January, EU Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete hosted the first meeting of the Clean Energy Industrial Forum dedicated to renewables. A group of 25 industry Executives representing a broad range of renewable energy technologies was convened by the Commission to outline priorities for enhancing Europe’s competitiveness in renewables, with an emphasis … Continue reading Wind industry Executives advocate market scale and ramping up R&I funding for renewables
Continue readingWind energy industry encouraged by FERC’s direction on grid resilience
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today praised the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for its unanimous decision to terminate the proceeding it had opened to address the Department of Energy’s Proposed Rule on Grid Reliability and Resilience Pricing, and instead initiate a new proceeding to evaluate the resilience of America’s bulk electric power system. “Every … Continue reading Wind energy industry encouraged by FERC’s direction on grid resilience
Continue reading
Help us tell wind power’s job creation story
There’s an important opportunity to tell the story of wind power’s 50-state job creation, and we need your help to tell it. The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is currently seeking critical data on jobs from the wind industry and other energy sectors via an online survey, available here. Take a moment to … Continue reading Help us tell wind power’s job creation story
Continue reading
Another West Texas wind power success story
You may have missed it over the holidays, but Inside Climate News recently did a deep dive into West Texas’s wind power success story. From new jobs to added local funds and income for farmers and ranchers, it reads like a greatest hits of wind’s many community benefits. Here are a few highlights: Jobs for … Continue reading Another West Texas wind power success story
Continue readingChampions in Congress stand up for American wind energy workers
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act near passage in Congress will allow the continued growth of American wind energy, and the investment, jobs, and other economic benefits it brings to rural communities. The bill to be voted on later this week preserves the orderly phase-out through 2019 of wind energy tax credits, ensuring stability for … Continue reading Champions in Congress stand up for American wind energy workers
Continue reading
Renewable energy can meet global electricity demand by 2050 while reducing total cost
Transitioning the world to 100 percent renewable electricity isn’t just some environmentalist pipe dream—it’s “feasible at every hour throughout the year” and is more cost-effective than the current system, which largely relies on fossil fuels and nuclear energy, a new study claims. The research, compiled by Finland’s Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and the Berlin-based nonprofit Energy Watch Group (EWG), was presented Wednesday … Continue reading Renewable energy can meet global electricity demand by 2050 while reducing total cost
Continue reading