Common Sense to Offshore Wind Power

Developing new wind power farms off the Atlantic coast of America received a much needed shot in the arm this week from the Obama administration. One of the largest deterrents to expanding wind power offshore is the multiple levels of federal, state, and local red tape that every project must go through before even one wind turbine can be built. The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a fast track process that will remove years from the process by pre-qualifying potential tracts offshore for potential developers that are considering new offshore wind projects. The new initiative has been rightfully named, “Smart from the Start”.

BALTIMORE, MD -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today launched a ‘Smart from the Start’ wind energy initiative for the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf to facilitate siting, leasing and construction of new projects, spurring the rapid and responsible development of this abundant renewable resource. “Our ‘Smart from the Start’ Initiative for Atlantic wind will allow us to identify priority Wind Energy Areas for potential development, improve our coordination with local, state, and federal partners, and accelerate the leasing process,” Salazar noted. “If we are wise with our planning, we can help build a robust and environmentally responsible offshore renewable energy program that creates jobs here at home.” The accelerated leasing process is being simplified through a regulatory change, enabling leases to be issued in 2011 and 2012. – U.S. Department of the Interior

With our nation still heavily dependent on foreign sources for our energy needs then it makes for common sense that our government does everything possible to expedite our weaning from those energy sources.

The Cape Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts is just one example of regulation gone mad with the project taking almost ten years before even one watt of energy is harvested. Cape Wind once completed will supply 75% of the electricity needed by the residents and businesses on Cape Cod. Just imagine dozens of such wind farms off the Atlantic coast and the impact that would have on reducing our energy dependence.

Several states like Maryland, New Jersey and Rhode Island have already taken steps to speed up the process for new offshore wind power farms and the added streamlining by the Department of the Interior is a win, win for renewable energy in America.

Papamoka

Renewable Energy News Update

This is just a quick round-up of Renewable Energy news items for this past week that are going on in America.

SunPower and Iberdrola To Build 30-MW Solar Plant

Colorado, United States -- SunPower said this week that it's going to design, build and supply panels for a 30-MW PV project in Colorado. The project, called the San Luis Valley Solar Ranch, will begin construction this year. If all goes as planned, the plant will be fully operational by 2011. – Renewable Energy World.Com

Calico Solar Project a GO

San Bernardino, California - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger applauded the California Energy Commission (CEC) decision today to approve the Calico Solar Project, the seventh solar thermal power plant licensed by the state in the past two months, totaling 3,493 megawatts (MW) of renewable solar power.

The Calico Project will generate 664 MW of clean, renewable energy and create nearly 900 jobs in San Bernardino County. – Imperial Valley News

Wood Pellet Manufacturer’s List

If you have a wood pellet stove in your home or business then this handy list of manufacturer’s of wood pellets might be of use to you. Give them a call to find the nearest retail or distributor for their wood pellet products for your home heating needs.

WoodAndCoal.com


And if you are curious how the mechanics of a wood pellet stove works then check out Outdoorwoodstoves.com

Wood Pellet stoves have become more and more popular as an alternative to fossil fuels for home heating because of their renewable source. Installation is fairly simple where the exhaust from the stove can be vented straight out the wall. Unlike tradition wood stoves where you have to constantly feed the fire, you simply fill the hopper with wood pellets, set the desired heat level, and enjoy the heat for hours on end.


Wind Power Offshore Mega Watt News

Wind turbine MW output is going up and up and that is always a good thing for the planet. With the massive potential to feed the energy needs of America located just off of our coasts it’s awesome to see one industry pair up with another to solve the many technical problems associated with offshore wind power.

Turbine OEM and shipbuilder launch offshore agreement

A wind energy OEM and a shipbuilding operating in Newport News, Virg., have agreed to cooperate on offshore wind technology. The agreement calls for the companies to cooperate on the U.S. launch of Gamesa’s first G11X-5.0 MW offshore prototype using Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s expertise in heavy load logistics, systems performance, and reliability and the applications of such technologies offshore. To erect the first G11X-5.0 MW offshore prototype in the U.S., Gamesa and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding are setting up an initial team of as many as 40 engineers in the Hampton Roads, Virginia over the next month. – Wind Power Engineering

Check back soon for more updates and breakthroughs.

Papamoka

U.S. Wind Power Breaks Record in 2009

If you have been reading this site long enough then you probably already know that I’m a renewable energy geek. I am constantly on the look out for the latest news and information on anything new and improved that will move the Green Energy industry forward even just a smidge. One of my favorites in the renewable energy field of products is wind power generation and all the news that my neurons can possibly devour. It just fascinates me that as each year passes, America is that much closer to being less dependent on foreign fossil fuels to generate electricity for our nation.

Check out this latest report from American Wind Energy Association…

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. wind industry broke all previous records by installing nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity in 2009 (enough to serve over 2.4 million homes), but still lags in manufacturing, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said today in its Q4 report.

These new projects place wind power neck and neck with natural gas ¹ as the leading source of new electricity generation for the country. Together, the two sources account for about 80% of the new capacity added in the country last year. - AWEA

What blew me away by this report was that Texas was the leader in the nation with wind power by almost a three to one margin followed by its closest rival Iowa for MW installed wind turbines. Then there is the little factoid that wind power generation is growing by 39% per year in America. Mega Watt “Ut oh” for OPEC or anyone else that wants to try and dim the lights on America. Then I’m wondering if there are even 2.4 million homes in the entire state of Massachusetts? That leaves 49 states to go!

Hold on, it gets better…

GE gets $1.4-B contract for largest US wind farm
January 27, 2010, 3:25pm

NEW YORK – GE (NYSE:GE) said it has received a $1.4 billion contract from independent power producer Caithness Energy to supply wind turbines and provide services for an 845-megawatt (MW) wind farm project to be located in Oregon.

The wind farm, called Shepherds Flat, has received most of the necessary government permits to operate and is ready to be built. When completed, it will be larger than any wind farm currently in operation around the globe. - Mb.com.ph

THE LARGEST in the WORLD! Now that is some great news!

Every single time I see one of those monster wind turbines spinning free power out of the air I can’t help but think of energy independence and that makes me think of the American flag which ultimately stands for freedom. And that makes me feel very comfortable knowing that my children’s future will not be held energy hostage by any foreign nation.

Papamoka

Related posts:
Holy Name High School Turbine
Wind Power in my Neighborhood
Energy Saving Cargo Ships

Solar Farm in my Hometown

Central Mass is putting its feet firmly down in support of green energy. Worcester already has one huge wind turbine at Holy Name High School and another proposal for another wind turbine at College of the Holy Cross in the study phase, Worcester Envelope is also studying a wind turbine power option. Douglas is looking at a proposed mega wind farm on leased land from the state parks. And this list goes on and on in renewable energy projects across Worcester County.

Now a private company is looking at 150 acres in my hometown at Worcester Airport for a solar panel farm. Over at the Worcester Telegram they have this on it…

Friday, January 16, 2009
Company eyes land at airport for solar farm

Up to 150 acres may be used for production of electricity
By Martin Luttrell TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
mluttrell@telegram.com

WORCESTER — A solar energy company is in discussions with city officials and Massport to lease up to 150 acres at Worcester Regional Airport to build a solar farm that could produce 33.3 megawatts of power.

Ansar Energy LLC of Scituate is also negotiating with officials in Attleboro and Greenfield for solar power production there, officials in those communities said.

Assistant City Manager Julie A. Jacobson said the talks, which began in December, are preliminary, but the solar farm, if built according to the company’s plans, would be a $250 million investment.

Junaid Yasin, president of Ansar Energy, is out of the country and could not be reached for comment. - Worcester Telegram

Every single one of these projects is great to see when you think about how energy dependent we are on other nations for our electricity. Each one adding to the negative column the number of barrels of oil per year we import. If you happen to work in the construction industry, it means jobs down the road for qualified trades people too. Not to just build them initially but to maintain the systems as well for the long haul.

Mega Watt Kudo’s goes out to Mass Technology Collaborative!

Papamoka

Oil Price Tank Threatens Green Energy

One of the biggest factors for many industries and people to go with green energy was the high cost of oil. They went solar, they went with wind power, hydro, bio-fuels, hydrogen fleets, electric cars, and the green energy movement was born again. What happens now to that green energy drive when oil is once more affordable? Should it be abandoned or pursued more feverishly?

In my little corner of the world it was great to see one small Catholic high school put up a wind turbine on its campus from their pristine location on a high hill in our city. Seeing that turbine whip around and feed the school all of its electric energy needs is just amazing to behold. I would love to see the seven hills of Worcester, MA look like the Gray Goose about to take off. That would be a Howard Hughes reference to an aircraft that he proposed and the government prosecuted him over that it could never fly. It did fly and so will the green energy mentality.

America has been burned over the last few years with the speculation on oil and we frankly are late on getting on the green energy bandwagon. We never learned from the oil embargo of the 1970’s but we sure as hell will never forget the oil desecration of our financial system once the oil bubble burst.

Over at the Guardian and from Chris Goodall they have this amazing piece on "The Ten Big Energy Myths". I loved it! This is a must read article and you might find yourself amazed at the myths and what the truth actually is…

Myth 1: solar power is too expensive to be of much use
Myth 2: wind power is too unreliable
Myth 3: marine energy is a dead-end
Myth 4: nuclear power is cheaper than other low-carbon sources of electricity
Myth 5: electric cars are slow and ugly
Myth 6: biofuels are always destructive to the environment
Myth 7: climate change means we need more organic agriculture
Myth 8: zero carbon homes are the best way of dealing with greenhouse gas emissions from buildings
Myth 9: the most efficient power stations are big
Myth 10: all proposed solutions to climate change need to be hi-tech

Guardian.co.uk

I’m hoping that we in America will continue the fight for energy independence. We can not prosper as a people when any foreign entity controls our power needs. If we can not supply our nation with the energy we need to continue the fight that is right for human rights then we are dead in the water. If we as a people espouse to be the conscience of the world then we had better be able to feed the energy needs of that mind set. Otherwise, we need to start kissing the butt’s of some of the same folks that reaped the largest financial gains in history from the American people.

Keep up the fight for clean energy and chuck the bird at the people that told us we can not survive as a nation without the product they have to sell us. Thus dragging us collectively as a people into their political wars that have not made any sense for centuries.

Papamoka