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Wind energy is investment for the futureBy Jennifer Bremer Wind energy is the new buzz on the renewable energy forefront. While it has been around for quite some time, a steady growth of wind farms nationwide has been seen in recent years. Larry Flowers, national technical director of Wind Powering America at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory told participants at the 2008 Commodity Classic in Nashville plentiful growth in wind farms has been seen all across the country. "It can be a wind turbine small enough to power a family home or one big enough to power an entire village. We are seeing more and more of them across the country side," he said. Wind turbines as small as 1-kilowatt power family homes, but most of the turbines being constructed now are 1.5 to 2.5-megawatts in size. Offshore turbines are being built as big as 3 to 10-MW in size. "We have learned a lot since the first wind farm was built in 1980 near Palm Springs. Technology has really given us the opportunity to have more wind power," he said. The United States is currently second to Germany in the amount of wind power generated, followed by Spain, India and China. In January 2008, worldwide wind power totaled 90,521-MW. The U.S. Department of Energy as developed a scenario in which 20 percent of the electricity in this country will be produced by wind energy by the year 2030. Flowers said in 1999, only four states were utilizing wind energy, but in 2007 that had increased to 16 states who were utilizing or working on adding wind energy to their renewable energy plate. "Texas has a $7 billion wind farm planned that would have as many as 2,000 wind turbines and generate up to 4,000 MW of electricity," he said. The continuing increase in wind power creates opportunities for rural economic development and for landowners in rural America, according to Flowers. Numerous grants are available to start wind energy projects, as well as tax credits. Flowers said the drivers in the growth of wind energy include the declining cost of wind energy, the uncertainty in fuel prices, federal and state policies, economic development, public support for the projects, the growth of green power and the increase in energy security. "When wind is blowing and turbines are running, we decrease our dependence on natural gas and other fuels," he said. Tax credits continue to be a very important driver for the growth in wind farms. With the passage or an energy bill, more than 33 states will continue to work on renewable energy with an investment of more than $1 billion. The increasing popularity of "green power" has pushed for a premium for wind power and Flowers said people are willing to pay for it because they know it means the country is moving toward energy independence. "Initial input costs continue to be one of the biggest challenges for wind energy. New wind is more expensive than the old wind," said Flowers. "But maintained turbines can last for decades." The benefits of wind power help agriculture and farmers greatly by increasing land lease payments, adding jobs and attracting youth back to the agriculture industry. The environmental benefits of wind energy are plentiful as well. Wind energy doesn't put particles in the air, involved no mercury, no carbon monoxide and no water. He does admit that wind power won't work in all parts of the country, but in areas that can use it, plentiful amounts can be produced. "There are some key issues we have to deal with including policy, citing, permitting, access and cost," Flowers said. By getting to the 20 percent wind power by 2030 there will be an extreme increase in jobs, nearly $444 billion in total economic benefit as well as an environmental savings of four trillion gallons of water if there is a continual increase in wind power. While there is extensive economic benefit, the wind energy vision will cost $2.4 trillion to meet, but Flowers said that is an investment for the future of renewable energy. "Renewable energy will be here forever, so we need to continue to find ways to use the industry and become energy independent," he concluded. Jennifer Bremer can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120 or by e-mail at jbremermaj@hotmail.com. 3/24/08 Date: 3/19/08
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