Stories tagged with "wind energy"

Wind power set to decline under Obama?

Posted by Jerome a Paris on January 31, 2009 - 11:04pm in The Oil Drum: Europe
Topic: Alternative energy
Tags: original, ptc, stimulus, wind, wind energy [list all tags]

For the fourth consecutive year, the US set records in 2008 for the construction of new wind farms, with more than 8,300MW installed in the year, making the country the leader for both yearly installations and, for the first time in many years, overall installed capacity (nudging out Germany which has long been the world leader). The sector created a record number of jobs at a time when few other sectors did.

But for reasons linked to the inconsistent regulatory framework until now, and to the ongoing credit crisis, 2009 is likely to be a bad year for wind, with a decline in installations and, possibly, layoffs.

Of course, Obama is not to blame for that situation, which he inherits, but it will be a pretty bad signal to see wind power decline significantly this year - and it would be an inexcusable one if that decline continues into 2010. The current stimulus plan does include measures to support the industry, but these seem oddly unambitious given the context of economic crisis and wind's proven ability to create jobs and economic activity, to provide cheap power and to eliminate both carbon emissions and fossil fuel imports.

Earlier diaries: Windpower series

There's more… (1247 words) | Comments (79) | | Permalink | Without comments | PDF version

Weekend Energy Listening: Wind Power with Paul Gipe

Posted by benk on June 8, 2008 - 11:00am in The Oil Drum: Canada
Topic: Alternative energy
Tags: alternative energy, wind energy, wind farms, wind generation, wind power [list all tags]

The World Wind Energy Conference is just around the corner and happens to be in my home town. I was flipping through the conference program and noticed a familiar name pop up quite a lot: Paul Gipe. He's written a number of books on wind power and most recently has become involved in feed-in tariffs for wind power in North America. I spoke to him a while ago about how the industry has developed.

To listen to the show, you can either play it in the built in player, or download it directly via the link.


or download directly: Wind Power Conversation with Paul Gipe
There's more… (4892 words) | Comments (32) | | Permalink | Without comments | PDF version

A tourist observation - or the yellowing of England

Posted by Heading Out on May 28, 2006 - 3:17pm
Topic: Alternative energy
Tags: biodiesel, north of england, wind energy [list all tags]

As the crews stroke the Elvet, and the Durham Cow ruminates on an uncertain future, it is time again to visit the Land of the Prince Bishops and note some changes. Some forty years ago the land was dotted with pit heaps, some 26 underground coal mines had been producing coal from seams perhaps 700 ft below ground for up to a hundred years or more apiece, and the spoil bands dominated the landscape. But coal and its miners were not popular, and so now, as one drives around it is hard to find much evidence of that history. The land has been restored, and fields of rape and tall wind turbines now control a landscape where coal mining references are found only in the names of the odd village, the halves of a pit wheel, buried at the end of a housing estate, or the lone statue of a pit pony and his tub, isolated in a roundabout.
There's more… (405 words) | Comments (32) | | Permalink | Without comments | PDF version