Electical Contractor

A new study by Emerging Energy Research (EER), an analyst of renewable-energy markets, forecasts substantial growth during the next 10 years for global offshore wind.

Officials from EDP and EDP Renewables, a generator of wind energy, announced that the company intends to devote approximately $4 billion through 2012 to building new wind farms in the United States. In 2009, the company installed 800 megawatts (MW) of wind energy on $1.5 billion of investment.

It has only been two Years since a devastating EF5 tornado destroyed almost the entire town of Greensburg, Kan. The town is now pinning its future hopes on the force that nearly wiped it off the map.

Two Duke Energy wind power projects recently under construction in Pennsylvania and Wyoming are now online and generating clean, renewable electricity. Duke Energy also announced that Siemens Industry Inc.

With lingering, albeit dwindling, controversy over an offshore wind farm in Nantucket Sound as a backdrop, a recently released study envisions wind power playing a greater role in the future of New England.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported the U.S. market for small wind turbines with 100 kilowatts (kW) capacity or less grew 78 percent in 2008, with a total of 17.3 megawatts (MW) of new installed capacity, offering evidence that consumer demand for clean energy options is rising.

In April, Madison County, Ind., commissioners adopted an ordinance amending the County’s Land Use and Development Code with regulations for the development of wind farms. The ordinance sets standards for such issues as setbacks, height, access and safety. Tax issues also were addressed.

Researchers have developed a technique that uses sensors and computational software to constantly monitor forces exerted on wind turbine blades, a step toward improving efficiency by adjusting for rapidly changing wind conditions.

Americans can once again pride themselves on setting an example for the rest of the world. In the race to save the planet by producing more power from clean, renewable sources, the United States has taken a commanding lead.