Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Iowa Wind energy advocates are warned of challenges

DAN PILLER, Des Moines Register • • Posted 2012-04-12 10:13:52

The shadow of inexpensive natural gas hovered over the annual meeting of the Iowa Wind Energy Association in Des Moines on Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Ia., warned the association that “a war is being waged against renewable energy.” [ read more … ]

Wind turbine and blade makers grow Corn Belt jobs

Daniel Cusick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2012-04-12 11:14:28

Indeed, several experts noted that Iowa — and particularly the I-80 corridor in eastern Iowa — has emerged as the backbone of the U.S. commercial wind power sector, much the way that New York dominates the U.S. financial sector and the Gulf Coast anchors the oil and gas industry. Since 2005, the state has enticed four global wind energy firms to establish core manufacturing facilities here, while dozens of secondary supply chain firms have followed the leaders into the cornfields. [ read more … ]

Iowa prepares a bumper crop of wind energy professionals

Daniel Cusick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2012-04-12 11:14:59

There are the wind energy component manufacturers — like Acciona Windpower and TPI Composites — that have moved into the state to provide the hardware and expertise needed to harness the state’s wind and convert it into electricity.
And there are the human resources — like the aspiring engineers Butler teaches at the University of Iowa — who represent the future of an industry that has become so woven into Iowa’s economic fabric that the state’s higher education system has recalibrated itself to meet its needs. [ read more … ]

Renewable Sources of Power Survive, but in a Patchwork

DIANE CARDWELL, New York Times • • Posted 2012-04-12 11:15:29

JUST a few years ago, the future of renewable energy looked as bright and shiny as a white turbine blade coming out of the mold. The federal government was handing out money under the stimulus package, states were approving clean energy mandates, young companies were racing ahead with promising new technologies and big global developers were planting stakes for ambitious, utility-scale projects. Now that picture has dimmed. The low price of natural gas has made renewable power less appealing to utilities and energy companies. The high price of gasoline — which has become an issue in the presidential campaign, as Republican candidates seek to use it against President Obama, has renewed calls to increase oil exploration and production at the expense of alternatives. State lawmakers are reconsidering requirements for utilities to buy green power. Surprisingly fierce competition from Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers has driven American ventures to the brink of bankruptcy and beyond. [ read more … ]

Study finds no relationship between electricity prices, state renewable portfolio standards

Daniel Cusick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2012-04-12 11:16:04

The debate over the effect of renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) on electricity rates has a new entrant, the Center for American Progress, which issued a report today suggesting there is no relationship between the state-based RPSs and what customers pay for electricity. [ read more … ]

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

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	April 12, 2012
Iowa Wind energy advocates are warned of challenges DAN PILLER, Des Moines Register • • Posted 2012-04-12 10:13:52 The shadow of inexpensive natural gas hovered over the annual meeting of the Iowa Wind Energy Association in Des Moines on Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Ia., warned the association that “a war is being waged against renewable energy.” [ read more … ] Wind turbine and blade makers grow Corn Belt jobs Daniel Cusick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2012-04-12 11:14:28 Indeed, several experts noted that Iowa — and particularly the I-80 corridor in eastern Iowa — has emerged as the backbone of the U.S. commercial wind power sector, much the way that New York dominates the U.S. financial sector and the Gulf Coast anchors the oil and gas industry. Since 2005, the state has enticed four global wind energy firms to establish core manufacturing facilities here, while dozens of secondary supply chain firms have followed the leaders into the cornfields. [ read more … ] Iowa prepares a bumper crop of wind energy professionals Daniel Cusick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2012-04-12 11:14:59 There are the wind energy component manufacturers — like Acciona Windpower and TPI Composites — that have moved into the state to provide the hardware and expertise needed to harness the state’s wind and convert it into electricity. And there are the human resources — like the aspiring engineers Butler teaches at the University of Iowa — who represent the future of an industry that has become so woven into Iowa’s economic fabric that the state’s higher education system has recalibrated itself to meet its needs. [ read more … ] Renewable Sources of Power Survive, but in a Patchwork DIANE CARDWELL, New York Times • • Posted 2012-04-12 11:15:29 JUST a few years ago, the future of renewable energy looked as bright and shiny as a white turbine blade coming out of the mold. The federal government was handing out money under the stimulus package, states were approving clean energy mandates, young companies were racing ahead with promising new technologies and big global developers were planting stakes for ambitious, utility-scale projects. Now that picture has dimmed. The low price of natural gas has made renewable power less appealing to utilities and energy companies. The high price of gasoline — which has become an issue in the presidential campaign, as Republican candidates seek to use it against President Obama, has renewed calls to increase oil exploration and production at the expense of alternatives. State lawmakers are reconsidering requirements for utilities to buy green power. Surprisingly fierce competition from Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers has driven American ventures to the brink of bankruptcy and beyond. [ read more … ] Study finds no relationship between electricity prices, state renewable portfolio standards Daniel Cusick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2012-04-12 11:16:04 The debate over the effect of renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) on electricity rates has a new entrant, the Center for American Progress, which issued a report today suggesting there is no relationship between the state-based RPSs and what customers pay for electricity. [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
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