Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Buffett’s Midwest utility places major new bet on wind power

Daniel Cusick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2013-05-13 11:36:05

In a bold move characteristic of its billionaire owner, Warren Buffett, MidAmerican Energy Co. this week said it would add 1,050 megawatts of wind power to its already extensive wind holdings in Iowa by the end of 2015. The $1.9 billion investment, billed as the largest economic development project ever in Iowa, follows a trajectory set by Des Moines-based MidAmerican several years ago when it pledged to become one of the world’s most aggressive utility deployers of renewable energy. [ read more … ]

Hickenlooper ‘still reviewing legislation’ to increase renewable standard for rural electric co-ops

By David O. Williams, RealVail News • • Posted 2013-05-13 11:36:32

One major piece of legislation on the majority Democratic agenda this session – Senate Bill 252 aimed at increasing the state’s renewable energy standard — is still swinging in the wind. Democrats on Thursday told the Denver Post they don’t expect Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto any of the bills currently awaiting his signature, including SB 252. But many Republicans – and a majority of the state’s rural electric associations (REAs) want him to kill the bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass, and Senate President John Morse, D-Colorado Springs. [ read more … ]

Nebraska’s wind power continues to lag behind Iowa

• Associated Press • Posted 2013-05-13 11:36:57

Nebraska’s wind power production continues to lag behind Iowa and other nearby states that offer better incentives. Wind power development in Nebraska has been hurt because the state’s public utilities can’t qualify for the same incentives as private companies. [ read more … ]

Group opposes Nebraska Public Power spending on wind, energy efficiency

By Tyler Ellyson, Columbus Telegram • Associated Press • Posted 2013-05-13 11:37:15

A group of Nebraska electric utilities is asking the state’s largest power supplier to eliminate proposed investments in wind energy, emissions-reduction measures and energy efficiency programs to lower costs passed on to customers. The Nebraska Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative Inc., which represents 21 public power districts including Cornhusker, Polk County Rural and Butler and one cooperative, made its case for the cuts Thursday after hiring a consultant to complete an independent review of Nebraska Public Power District’s 20-year integrated resource plan.
[ read more … ]

LePage wants wind energy goals out of Maine law

By Matthew Stone, Bangor Daily News • Associated Press • Posted 2013-05-13 11:37:31

Gov. Paul LePage wants to strip from state law goals for increasing the state’s wind energy capacity over the next two decades. LePage’s energy director, Patrick Woodcock, made recommendations Thursday to rewrite the state’s 2008 Wind Energy Act, shifting focus from growing wind energy capacity to lowering electricity costs and making sure Maine sees an economic return on its wind energy investments. [ read more … ]

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

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	May 13, 2013
Buffett’s Midwest utility places major new bet on wind power Daniel Cusick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2013-05-13 11:36:05 In a bold move characteristic of its billionaire owner, Warren Buffett, MidAmerican Energy Co. this week said it would add 1,050 megawatts of wind power to its already extensive wind holdings in Iowa by the end of 2015. The $1.9 billion investment, billed as the largest economic development project ever in Iowa, follows a trajectory set by Des Moines-based MidAmerican several years ago when it pledged to become one of the world’s most aggressive utility deployers of renewable energy. [ read more … ] Hickenlooper ‘still reviewing legislation’ to increase renewable standard for rural electric co-ops By David O. Williams, RealVail News • • Posted 2013-05-13 11:36:32 One major piece of legislation on the majority Democratic agenda this session – Senate Bill 252 aimed at increasing the state’s renewable energy standard — is still swinging in the wind. Democrats on Thursday told the Denver Post they don’t expect Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto any of the bills currently awaiting his signature, including SB 252. But many Republicans – and a majority of the state’s rural electric associations (REAs) want him to kill the bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Gail Schwartz, D-Snowmass, and Senate President John Morse, D-Colorado Springs. [ read more … ] Nebraska’s wind power continues to lag behind Iowa • Associated Press • Posted 2013-05-13 11:36:57 Nebraska’s wind power production continues to lag behind Iowa and other nearby states that offer better incentives. Wind power development in Nebraska has been hurt because the state’s public utilities can’t qualify for the same incentives as private companies. [ read more … ] Group opposes Nebraska Public Power spending on wind, energy efficiency By Tyler Ellyson, Columbus Telegram • Associated Press • Posted 2013-05-13 11:37:15 A group of Nebraska electric utilities is asking the state’s largest power supplier to eliminate proposed investments in wind energy, emissions-reduction measures and energy efficiency programs to lower costs passed on to customers. The Nebraska Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative Inc., which represents 21 public power districts including Cornhusker, Polk County Rural and Butler and one cooperative, made its case for the cuts Thursday after hiring a consultant to complete an independent review of Nebraska Public Power District’s 20-year integrated resource plan. [ read more … ] LePage wants wind energy goals out of Maine law By Matthew Stone, Bangor Daily News • Associated Press • Posted 2013-05-13 11:37:31 Gov. Paul LePage wants to strip from state law goals for increasing the state’s wind energy capacity over the next two decades. LePage’s energy director, Patrick Woodcock, made recommendations Thursday to rewrite the state’s 2008 Wind Energy Act, shifting focus from growing wind energy capacity to lowering electricity costs and making sure Maine sees an economic return on its wind energy investments. [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
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