Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Getting More North Dakota Wind Power on the Grid

• Johnathan Hladik, Center for Rural Affairs • Posted 2013-03-18 11:50:07

There is a treasure trove of renewable energy in the U.S., but the obstacles and barriers to getting it on the grid are many. Johnathan Hladik, energy policy advocate with the Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA), said the biggest hurdle right now is the lack of high voltage transmission lines. Adding to that infrastructure would allow for the use of more renewable resources, he said, while helping with rural economic development. “There is so much opportunity associated with increased property tax paid by wind-turbine owners and by those building transmission lines, with the actual construction jobs associated with both the wind turbines and the transmission lines,” he explained. “We’re looking at a good way to rejuvenate a lot of our smaller communities.” [ read more … ]

Texas Wind energy takes off

By Kevin Welch, Amarillo Globe News • Johnathan Hladik, Center for Rural Affairs • Posted 2013-03-18 11:50:35

The Texas Panhandle’s wind energy industry is about to be blown away. An international mix of companies has committed to more than doubling the region’s production capacity by spending more than an estimated $3.3 billion on construction of wind farms in the next two years. [ read more … ]

Wind could hedge against natural gas price spikes — study

Umair Irfan, E&E reporter • Johnathan Hladik, Center for Rural Affairs • Posted 2013-03-18 11:51:13

It’s unlikely that natural gas will be cheap forever, so hedging against future price shocks with wind power could be a viable strategy for utilities in the United States, according to new research. In a report released last week, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researcher Mark Bolinger observed that wind power has a hard time competing on cost alone when natural gas prices bounce near a record floor. “It may need to fall back on its nonprice attributes,” he said in a conference call yesterday. [ read more … ]

Wind turbine project on hold in Iowa City

• Associated Press • Posted 2013-03-18 11:51:31

An Iowa City industrial park that the city has spent millions to develop sits empty, nearly two years after a Maryland-based wind turbine company announced it would build an $85 million plant and employ nearly 200 people there.
Nadicom, or North American Ductile Iron Co., announced in April 2011 that it would build an iron foundry on the site that would support 175 jobs. But the foundry never materialized. [ read more … ]

Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.

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	March 18, 2013
Getting More North Dakota Wind Power on the Grid • Johnathan Hladik, Center for Rural Affairs • Posted 2013-03-18 11:50:07 There is a treasure trove of renewable energy in the U.S., but the obstacles and barriers to getting it on the grid are many. Johnathan Hladik, energy policy advocate with the Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA), said the biggest hurdle right now is the lack of high voltage transmission lines. Adding to that infrastructure would allow for the use of more renewable resources, he said, while helping with rural economic development. “There is so much opportunity associated with increased property tax paid by wind-turbine owners and by those building transmission lines, with the actual construction jobs associated with both the wind turbines and the transmission lines,” he explained. “We’re looking at a good way to rejuvenate a lot of our smaller communities.” [ read more … ] Texas Wind energy takes off By Kevin Welch, Amarillo Globe News • Johnathan Hladik, Center for Rural Affairs • Posted 2013-03-18 11:50:35 The Texas Panhandle’s wind energy industry is about to be blown away. An international mix of companies has committed to more than doubling the region’s production capacity by spending more than an estimated $3.3 billion on construction of wind farms in the next two years. [ read more … ] Wind could hedge against natural gas price spikes — study Umair Irfan, E&E reporter • Johnathan Hladik, Center for Rural Affairs • Posted 2013-03-18 11:51:13 It’s unlikely that natural gas will be cheap forever, so hedging against future price shocks with wind power could be a viable strategy for utilities in the United States, according to new research. In a report released last week, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researcher Mark Bolinger observed that wind power has a hard time competing on cost alone when natural gas prices bounce near a record floor. “It may need to fall back on its nonprice attributes,” he said in a conference call yesterday. [ read more … ] Wind turbine project on hold in Iowa City • Associated Press • Posted 2013-03-18 11:51:31 An Iowa City industrial park that the city has spent millions to develop sits empty, nearly two years after a Maryland-based wind turbine company announced it would build an $85 million plant and employ nearly 200 people there. Nadicom, or North American Ductile Iron Co., announced in April 2011 that it would build an iron foundry on the site that would support 175 jobs. But the foundry never materialized. [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
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