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PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, US, June 14, 2006
(Refocus Weekly)
An action plan will be developed to determine how
wind turbines can provide 20% of electricity in the United States.
The American Wind Energy Association, U.S. Department of Energy
and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have committed to
develop an action plan, and technology officials joined policy,
public outreach, utility and project development stakeholders at the
wind power conference in Pittsburgh to start the process. After
soliciting input from stakeholders in environmental groups,
utilities, investors, educators and communities, the action plan
will be unveiled at the 2007 wind power conference to be held in Los
Angeles next June.
“In his Advanced Energy Initiative, the President described his
vision of changing the way we power our homes and businesses by
increasing energy efficiency, alleviating price pressure on natural
gas, lessening dependency on imported fuels, and fostering
alternatives for power production, including wind energy,” said Andy
Karsner, assistant secretary of renewables with DOE. “I am pleased
to join with AWEA and pledge the support of the U.S. Department of
Energy for this critical effort which will accelerate the use of the
Nation’s vast wind energy resources.”
“Wind is an abundant and free domestic energy resource,” says
Randall Swisher of AWEA. “Coupled with modern technology, wind
energy displaces the need for fossil generation and reduces U.S.
dependence on imported energy.”
“As we have seen in Europe and with growing popularity in other
nations of the world, wind power is proven and can play a
substantial role in powering America’s energy future,” he adds.
“Wind energy works - for our economy, environment and energy
security.”
Wind can provide “a significant contribution toward meeting
large-scale electricity needs,” states the ‘Pittsburgh Commitment.’
“With America’s volatile fuel pricing and growing environmental
concerns, now is the time to tap into our nation’s abundant wind
energy resource - now is the time for us all to commit to the
realization of this goal.”
In February, president George Bush said areas of the U.S. with good
wind resources could provide 20% of total U.S. electricity demand.
In recent years, studies have focused on the feasibility of
integrating greater amounts of green power into grids in New York,
Minnesota and Germany, and have “established confidence in the goal
to supply up to 20% of America’s electricity from wind.”
Currently, the California Energy Commission and California
Independent System Operator are studying the limits of existing
systems to absorb up to 33% of the state’s power from renewables.
“Wind energy generation is competitive with new conventional energy
generation plants,” the commitment continues. Output over the life
of a given windfarm can be reliably predicted, “providing an
effective hedge against fossil fuel price volatility,” and wind
energy provides a positive net energy payback in less than six
months.
Every 1,000 MWh of wind generation avoids 600 tons of CO2 emissions,
and 22 man-years of employment are created for every MW of wind
turbine capacity that is manufactured, installed or serviced.
“As the United States moves toward a clean energy future, an
integrated portfolio approach, including renewables and wind, will
become increasingly important,” it concludes. “Domestic renewables
can provide a significant portion of the U.S. energy supply,
augmenting the existing fossil fuel infrastructure. Wind is the
first utility-scale renewable to become economically competitive.”
Solar, geothermal and biomass are following, with significant
development expected to occur in the next decade, it adds.
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