Scientists & Engineers for America

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[edit] More on Wind Power

[edit] Policies In Use

• Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Extension: The Production Tax Credit (PTC) applies a 1.9-cent per kilowatt-hr credit for the first ten years of a renewable energy facility’s operation. The 110th Congress extended this policy, first introduced by the 109th Congress, via the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (H.R. 6408) until December 31, 2008. The credit is provided specifically for renewable energy such as wind, solar, geothermal, and “closed loop” bio-energy facilities. Renewable Energy PTCs have been frequently allowed to expire before reemerging as new legislature. Individual states have also begun to increase favorable renewable energy policies. Lapses and spurts of developmental policies cause volatile variations in wind power capacity (Figure 1), demonstrating the importance of extended, consistent support for wind energy for sustainable growth. Wind energy proponents urge the 111th Congress to pass a long-term PTC extension of at least 5 years. ^[1]
• Renewables Portfolio Standard: The Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS), or Renewables Energy Standard (RES), is a policy making use of competitive market mechanisms to encourage growth of renewable energy sources. Electricity supply companies are required to purchase a portion of their energy from renewable energy generators. Thus, a market is created in which renewable energy generators can compete to provide energy to suppliers. The competitive nature of this policy may allow electricity to be provided from a diverse array of American renewable energy. While the policy does not specifically favor a particular renewable energy technology, those that can lower costs the most will thrive over other technologies. This may help guide the evolution of the most cost effective renewable energy. Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia have adopted a RPS. Nationally, an RPS was recently passed in 2007 by the House of Representatives. The RPS did not pass in the Senate’s energy bill. ^[2] Had it been passed, a 15% RPS requirement by 2020 would have been established, as well as increased gas mileage standards and a tax increase targeted at oil companies. ^[3]
• Small Wind Systems Tax Credit: This policy provides a federal investment tax credit to help purchase small wind turbines for use in homes, farms, or small businesses. A small wind system of 100 kilowatt capacity or less will earn 30% of the total installed cost, though not exceeding $4000. For homes, the credit earned is the lesser of $4000 or $1000/kilowatt of capacity. ^[4] The Small Wind Systems Tax Credit was established as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and is valid until 2016. ^[5]
• Clean Air Interstate Rule: The Clean Air Interstate rule was issued by the EPA in 2005 to provide clean air by reducing air pollution that crosses state boundaries. ^[6] This policy permanently caps sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in the eastern US. The American Wind Energy Association supports the Clean Air Interstate Rule, as wind energy is a zero emissions energy source.

[edit] Proposals for Future Research

As the Nation’s higher wind speed sites fill with growing numbers of wind turbines, lower wind speed sites become important to continue to grow capacity. The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and Sandia National Laboratories are working with industrial partners to create efficient low wind speed technologies for use in unused low wind speed sites. A wider availability of such cost-effective low-speed turbines would further establish wind energy’s position in the Renewables Portfolio Standard and further encourage the use of the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit.

Wind Partnerships for Advanced Component Technology (WindPact) aims to enable technologies which reduce the cost of wind energy. ^[7] Often, the government-industry partnership designs and tests components (such as new blade designs, drivetrains, or rotor configurations) and troubleshoots problems that arise. WindPact also supports technology transfer from the lab to the industrial setting.

NREL provides support to the International Energy Agency Wind Energy Executive Committee. Here, research has been focused on modeling studies, offshore wind technology, and integration of power sources. ^[8]

The Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative (BWEC) was formed in 2003 by Bat Conservation International (BCI), the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the US Department of Energy (NREL), and funded by numerous industrial partners. ^[9] BWEC has been primarily concerned with studying and understanding the effect of wind turbines on the recent increase in bat deaths. ^[10] While wind energy continues to grow, the increase in fatalities of bats, who are predators of agricultural insect pests, pollinators, and seed dispersers is a concern for conservationists.

[edit] Interesting Resources

20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution to the US Electricity Supply The Department of Energy’s evaluation of the current state of wind energy technology and the ability to increase contribution.

The National Energy Policy

A report of the National Energy Policy Development Group.

[edit] Action in Congress on Wind Power

[edit] Floor Votes

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1)

Sponsor: Rep. David Obey (D-WI)

Introduced: January 26, 2009

1/28/2009 House - 244 Ayes, 188 Nays, 1 Present/Not Voting

2/10/2009 Senate - 61 Ayes, 37 Nays, 1 Present/Not Voting

2/17/2009 Signed by President Obama

Title XVI - General Provisions: Addresses renewable energy tax incentives, and removes limitations on tax credits in order to promote development of alternative energies.

Section 1101: Extends for three years the tax credit for producing electricity from wind, biomass, geothermal or solar, solid waste, and qualified hydropower facilities. Extends such credit for two years for marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy resources.

Section 1102: Allows an election in 2009 and 2010 to treat certain renewable resource facilities (e.g., wind, biomass, hydropower, etc.) as energy property eligible for the 30% energy tax credit.

Section 1103: Repeals limitations on: (1) the energy tax credit for qualified small wind energy property; and (2) property financed by subsidized energy financing.

Section 1104: Denies tax credits for investments in energy property and renewable energy facilities for taxpayers who receive grants for specified energy property under this Act. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of such grants.

Section 1122: Removes limitations on the tax credit for residential energy efficient property for solar water heating, wind, and geothermal heat pump property expenditures.

Section 1302: Allows a new tax credit for investment in a qualifying advanced energy project. Defines such projects to include property used to produce energy from the sun, wind, geothermal deposits, or other renewable resources, fuel cells, microturbines, electric grids to support the transmission of renewable energy, new qualified plug-in electric vehicles, and other property designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 (H.R.7060)

Sponsor: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)

Introduced: September 25, 2008

09/26/2008 House – 257 Ayes, 166 Nays, 10 Present/Not Voting

[edit] Introduced Bills

Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Designation Act (H.R. 328) - Identifies the potential for energy development by oil, natural gas, geothermal, wind, and solar along a historical route between Newport, RI and Yorktown, VA.

Sponsor: Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY)

Introduced: January 8, 2009

Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands on February 4, 2009

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Act (H.R.7142)

Sponsor: Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA)

Introduced: September 26, 2008

Status: House Science and Technology: Referred to the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight

Generating Energy Using Small Turbines Act of 2008 (GUST Act)–(H.R. 6736)

Sponsor: Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI)

Introduced: July 31, 2008

Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means

Rural Wind Energy Development Act (S.673; H.R.1772.)

Sponsor: Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO)

Introduced: March 29, 2007 (House) and February 16, 2007 (Senate)

Status: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure (House; Senate)

[edit] News Stories on Wind Power

• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commision(FERC) approved a return for investments on a porject to create a “superhighway” for a Michigan company. This highway would be 300 miles and transport 12,000 megawatts of wind generated power from the midwest. 300 homes can be powered by one megawatt of the generated wind power. The highway has been nicknamed the Green Power Express and is expected to boost the midwest’s economy. Permits and planning still need to be worked on but it is expected for the project to be online by 2020.

^[11]

• Although President Obama focused part of his campaign on renewable energy, there are several roadblocks to making this a reality. The Stimulus provides for $2 billion for transmission lines to transport energy but in reality roughly $100-$200 billion is needed to complete the project. It is expected that private donors will fund these projects. Additionally, turbines and transmission lines will be placed in remote areas such as deserts and small community where citizens are already beginning to oppose their construction. The transmission lines would need to be built to reach faraway cities where the most power is needed. Another problem is the that nature is unpredictable. Ideal conditions for wind or solar power will not always be present. While this is a step in the right direction, problems such as financial, environmental, and logistical ones are arising.^[12]

• A recent report has stated that the cost of building a system to transport electricity created through wind power to the edges of the country would be between $50 and $80 billion. ^[13]

• A new weather forecast system is being developed in hopes of better predicting and tracking wind for wind power generation. This will help companies rely less on coal and natural gas since they will be able to better control wind power. ^[14]

• "For Wind Turbine Manufacturers, the Layoffs Begin" By Kate Galbraith, New York Times, Jan. 16, 2009.

[edit] Endnotes

1. ↑ “Wind Energy Production Tax Credit Fact Sheet.” American Wind Energy Association. http://www.awea.org/legislative/pdf/PTC_FactSheetOctober2008.pdf
2. ↑ Broder, John M. “Senate Blocks Energy Bill.” The New York Times, December 7, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/washington/07cnd-energy.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
3. ↑ “Renewables Portfolio Standard.” American Wind Energy Association. http://www.awea.org/legislative/#RPS
4. ↑ “Renewables Portfolio Standard.” American Wind Energy Association. http://www.awea.org/legislative/#RPS
5. ↑ “Small-Wind Turbine Tax Credit.” American Wind Energy Association. http://www.awea.org/legislative/pdf/Small_Wind_Fact_Sheet.pdf
6. ↑ “Clean Air.” American Wind Energy Association. http://www.awea.org/policy/regulatory_policy/cleanair.html
7. ↑ “Advanced Component Technology – WindPact.” National Renewable Energy Laboratory. http://www.nrel.gov/wind/advanced_technology.html
8. ↑ “Advancing Wind Energy Through International Co-operation.” IEA Wind. http://www.ieawind.org/
9. ↑ “Overview.” Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative (BWEC). http://www.batsandwind.org/main.asp?page=overview
10. ↑ “Researchers Seek to Reduce Bat Deaths at Wind Turbines.” BWEC. 14 October 2008. http://www.awea.org/newsroom/releases/BWEC_Curtailment_Press_Release_10-14.pdf
11. ↑ Gabrukiewicz, Thom. "Federal officials back wind energy 'superhighway'" Angus Leader. 15 Aug. 2009. 20 Apr. 2009 <http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090415/NEWS/904150313/1001/news>.
12. ↑ Slevin, Peter, and Steven Mufson. "Alternative Energy Still Facing Headwinds - washingtonpost.com." Washington Post. 17 Feb. 2009. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601199.html>
13. ↑ Kate Galbraith. "Up to $80 Billion to Transmit Wind Power From Midwest to Northeast." New York Times. February 10, 2009. http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/up-to-80-billion-to-transmit-wind-power-from-midwest-to-northeast/
14. ↑ Alysia Patterson. "New forecasts aim to help with wind energy." Associated Press. February 4, 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h_MscyCbSs_Y_Hv7NjWA987LqixQD964TNIG2