View this email in a web browser.
Wind energy grows 28% in a year, delivering more economic benefits to America than ever
Wind energy grew 28 percent in America last year, setting a new installation record and confirming its status as a mainstream energy source, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report for 2012, released today on a webinar for association members and reporters. In its best year ever, the U.S. industry topped all energy sources with 42 percent of all new U.S. electric generating capacity. Over 6,700 new wind turbines were erected, which produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 3.5 million homes. Overall, America finished the year with 45,100 wind turbines that can power 15.2 million homes. [ read more … ]
Kansas moves up in wind-energy ranking
The American Wind Energy Association in a report released Thursday said that in 2012 only two other states — Texas and California — built more wind generation. Kansas more than doubled its production capacity during the year. That pushed it from 14th to ninth place in the total amount of electricity the state could generate from wind among the 39 states and Puerto Rico that have wind power. [ read more … ]
Turbines, customer base increase but industry wants tax certainty
Wind energy was the largest source of new generation installed in the United States last year, with a growing number of utilities and other purchasers signing long-term contracts for the electricity generated by new turbines, according to a report today from the industry’s primary trade group. The American Wind Energy Association’s annual report highlights some good news for the industry but warns that continued uncertainty over the fate of its level of federal support led to a sharp drop in new project planning that buffeted the wind manufacturing sector and continues to challenge the industry. [ read more … ]
Obama seen giving himself wiggle room with call for permanent tax credit
President Obama’s budget proposal calls for the permanent extension of a key renewable energy tax credit — an approach that goes beyond even what the credit’s main beneficiary says it needs to thrive and that observers say allows room to negotiate a proposal that falls short of the president’s initial request but still allows wind and other beneficiaries to thrive. The budget released yesterday calls for a permanent extension to renewable and efficiency incentives, such as the production tax credit. The wind industry is the largest beneficiary of the 2.3-cent-per-killowatt-hour credit by virtue of its position as the largest non-hydro renewable energy source, but it also provides support for geothermal, biomass and other renewable electricity producers. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.