Issue #46: July 2-13, 2012
The Wind Powering America Newsletter is issued twice a month to inform WPA partners and interested individuals of wind energy events, webinars, financial opportunities, new publications, state success stories, and other WPA activities. If you have news items and success stories to share, please submit to Ruth Baranowski.
Success Story
News
Webinars
Events
Success Story
Wind Powering America Hosts 11th Annual All-States Summit
Approximately 100 members of Wind Powering America's (WPA's) network attended the 11th Annual All-States Summit on June 7 at the Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center in Atlanta, with an additional 53 attending via webinar. The Summit, which follows the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA's) annual WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition, provides state Wind Working Groups, state energy officials, U.S. Energy Department and national laboratory representatives, and professional and institutional partners an opportunity to review successes, opportunities, and challenges for wind energy and plan future collaboration. Presentations from the event are available.
News
USDA REAP Funds 450 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects
On June 25, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced funding for 450 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2008 Farm Bill's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The grants total nearly $7.4 million, which includes $412,304 in funding to 20 agricultural producers and rural businesses to conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems. Over the past 3 years, REAP has funded more than 6,000 initiatives, including 325 wind projects. See the complete listing of REAP grant recipients  .
Energy Department Honors Minnesota and California Utilities with 2012 Public Power Wind Awards
On June 19 at the American Public Power Association's (APPA's) annual conference in Seattle, Washington, the president of APPA's board presented three Public Power Wind Awards to Moorhead Public Service in Minnesota, City of Palo Alto Utilities in California, and Minnesota Municipal Power Agency. The Energy Department's Wind Powering America initiative and APPA created the award to recognize public power utilities that demonstrate outstanding leadership in advancing wind power and furthering energy independence in the United States. A list of past recipients since 2003 is available.
Small Town Turns to Wind Energy to Rebuild, Revitalize Community
In conjunction with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, Wind Powering America produced an audio interview with Bob Dixson, mayor of Greensburg, Kansas. On May 4, 2007, a tornado destroyed Greensburg. When planning began to rebuild the town, the decision was made to pursue green energy. Mayor Dixson says that decision was based on wanting to be a stronger, more sustainable community and the legacy of the town's ancestors. This interview is the first of a series exploring how wind energy has played a role in the rebuilding of the Greensburg community after the town's devastating tragedy.
Two New Wind Energy Reports Published
The Past and Future Cost of Wind Energy
IEA Wind (Task 26) published a new report that presents key global historical trends in the cost of wind energy, while also summarizing forecasts for the future cost of wind energy. Contributors to the report include staff at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), as well as European participants in the IEA Wind's "The Cost of Wind Energy" task.
Over the past 30 years, wind power has become a mainstream source of electricity generation. However, the future of wind power will depend a great deal on the ability of the industry to continue to achieve cost of energy reductions. This summary report reviews the methods used to estimate long-term cost trajectories and summarizes the range of costs projected for onshore wind energy across an array of forward-looking studies and scenarios. It also highlights high-level market variables that have influenced wind energy costs in the past and are expected to do so into the future. Coverage is primarily focused on the United States and Europe.
Changes in the Economic Value of Variable Generation at High Penetration Levels: A Pilot Case Study of California
LBNL's new report evaluates how a subset of the benefits and costs of variable renewable generation changes with increasing penetrations on the electric grid. Researchers used a unique investment and dispatch model that simulates long-run investment decisions while also incorporating detailed operational constraints and hourly time resolution over a full year. The model is applied to a case study that is loosely based on California in 2030. The primary findings of the analysis include that the value of wind is largely driven by energy value and is lower than solar at low penetration. The value of wind is found to drop with increasing penetration, but at a slower rate than the drop in value of PV and concentrating solar power without thermal storage. Hence, at high penetration, the value of wind can exceed the value of PV and CSP without thermal storage. This report was funded in part by the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. A PowerPoint presentation that summarizes key findings is also available.
Webinars
Offshore Wind Accelerator Project Webinar: Wind Farm Siting and Maritime Traffic - Challenges and Opportunities
July 11, 2012, 1 p.m. ET
Clean Energy States Alliance is hosting an Offshore Wind Accelerator Project webinar on offshore wind siting issues. Any new structures placed on the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States will affect maritime traffic, including offshore wind farms. The U.S. Coast Guard has undertaken the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study (ACPARS) to understand maritime traffic patterns, identify major routes that intersect planned wind farm sites, and make recommendations on how to move forward. Join Dana Goward, director of Marine Transportation Systems Management for the U.S. Coast Guard, to learn about the Coast Guard's marine spatial planning efforts, progress to date on ACPARS, and how this research is helping to improve wind farm siting and maritime safety. The webinar is free but registration is required.
Wind Powering America July Webinar: The 30-Meter High-Resolution Wind Map for Small and Distributed Wind Projects: Its Value and Appropriate Use
July 18, 2012, 3 p.m. ET
This webinar will provide an introduction to the new, state-of-the-art 30-meter high-resolution wind maps that have been developed for the small and distributed wind markets. Included in the discussion will be the methodology behind the wind maps, how these maps leverage the learning that occurred in the development of the utility-scale wind maps, and the appropriate use of the maps.
Audio Access
800-988-9387
Participant passcode: 5263973
Web Access
https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=RW9341550&p=5263973&t=c
Grid Reliability: Impacts to Tribal Renewable Projects Webinar
July 25, 2012, 1 p.m. ET
This webinar is part of a series provided by the Energy Department's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, the Energy Department's Tribal Energy Program, the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership Program, and Western Area Power Administration. The webinars promote tribal energy sufficiency and foster economic development and employment on tribal lands through the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Tribes interested in responding to utility-offered renewable RFPs and/or learning more about the competitive power market, utility staff, and other stakeholders should attend. The webinar is free but registration is required.
Office of Indian Energy START Program Status Webinar
September 26, 2012, 1 p.m. ET
This webinar is part of a series provided by the Energy Department's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, the Department's Tribal Energy Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership Program, and Western Area Power Administration. The webinars promote tribal energy sufficiency and foster economic development and employment on tribal lands through the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Tribes interested in responding to utility-offered renewable RFPs and/or interested in learning more about the competitive power market, utility staff, and other stakeholders should attend. The webinar is free, but registration is required.
Events
Making It Here: Manufacturing Our Energy Future
Cleveland, Ohio—July 11-12, 2012
Join manufacturers and policy leaders for a conference on how to grow our energy manufacturing economy. Breakout sessions led by industry experts will highlight five key industries: wind, solar, natural gas, energy efficiency, and advanced transportation. The keynote speaker and public policy plenary will focus on immediate actions needed to "Manufacture Our Energy Future."
WP 101: Wind Design and Installation
Anchorage, Alaska—July 16-20, 2012
Solar Energy International will offer this course and four other training sessions in Anchorage this summer. Course participants will receive a nationally recognized certificate of completion and 40 credit hours toward the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners certification. These courses (a $1,080 value each) are being offered free of charge for Alaska residents through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant administered by the Alaska Department of Labor. Travel scholarships are also available. An additional wind turbine installation course will be offered in Hooper Bay in August (date TBD). For more information, contact David Pelunis-Messier, Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council Energy Department, 907-978-1866.
Advancing Wind Power in Illinois
Normal, Illinois—July 17-18, 2012
Register now to attend the conference and hear the latest about large wind farms, community wind, and small wind. The program features plenary sessions, breakout seminars, breakout panel sessions, and exhibitors.
KidWind Wind Senator Training
Bar Harbor, Maine—July 29 - August 4, 2012
The KidWind Project, one of Wind Powering America's Wind for Schools project partners, is offering a week-long Wind Senators training for 25 educators who are interested in teaching and working with other teachers to improve wind energy education in their regions. This training combines learning about wind energy science and teaching about wind in K-12 classrooms using a wide array of curricula and educational materials focused on wind energy. This annual activity will expose educators to the best in K-12 wind energy curricula and is likely the best overall opportunity for K-12 educators to immerse themselves in wind energy.
North American Wind Energy Academy (NAWEA)
Amherst, Massachusetts—August 7-9, 2012
The University of Massachusetts-Amherst is pleased to host the inaugural meeting of the NAWEA. NAWEA is an organization of universities, research laboratories, and industry participants dedicated to coordinating wind energy research and education activities to advance the state of wind energy technology and to develop the next generation of wind energy engineers, researchers, scientists, and innovators in North America. The meeting will provide a mix of presentations and workshops with a strong focus in discussions regarding implementation of the Academy concept. The meeting will end with a signing ceremony around the Academy charter. The registration fee will increase after July 23.
American Renewable Energy Day
Aspen, Colorado—August 18-20, 2012
This event features cross-sector dialogue with world leading renewable energy and clean technology experts, as well as the AREDay Expo and Film Festival. Exhibitors include local, state, and national businesses; utilities; and other organizations that incorporate renewable energy technologies and promote cutting-edge energy efficient and green practices, products, and services. All Expo activities are free and open to the public.
Commercial-Scale Wind Projects: Alternative Financing Strategies
Las Vegas, NV—August 27-28, 2012
Electric Utility Consultants Inc. is hosting this event. Industry professionals will discuss their current projects and apply these case studies to best practices for project management that can be used in any region. Also of interest will be discussions around getting maximum return on investment while mitigating risk. Join Vestas, Nevada PUC, NV Energy, the city of Reno, CoBank, and other experts as they discuss avenues for completing these projects in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Northeast Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop
Portland, Maine—September 4, 2012
This workshop has been created for those who want to learn about current market trends and supply chain opportunities in the wind energy industry. The workshop presenters have toured the world's largest original equipment manufacturers, interviewed wind farm developers and general contractors, and condensed the findings into this focused educational program. The program is geared toward:
- Manufacturers interested in exploring new market opportunities who operate a foundry, forge, machine shop, or fabricating plant
- Manufacturers of power electronics, control systems, hydraulics, composites, fasteners, brakes, blades, nacelles, or supplemental equipment for the wind industry such as ladders, elevators, hoists, and fire-suppression, lighting, or meteorological equipment.
AWEA Regional Wind Energy Summit - New England
Portland, Maine—September 5-6, 2012
Get a comprehensive view of wind energy in the Northeast United States, and delve into the most important present and forecasted issues facing this region's wind energy development. Whether you are already involved in New England wind project development or want to learn more about entering into this region's market the AWEA Regional Wind Energy Summit - New England covers all of the major topics.
North Carolina Wind Energy Supply Chain Workshop
Raleigh, North Carolina—September 18, 2012
This workshop has been created for those who want to learn about current market trends and supply chain opportunities in the wind energy industry. The workshop presenters have toured the world's largest original equipment manufacturers, interviewed wind farm developers and general contractors, and condensed the findings into this focused educational program. The program is geared toward:
- Manufacturers interested in exploring new market opportunities who operate a foundry, forge, machine shop, or fabricating plant
- Manufacturers of power electronics, control systems, hydraulics, composites, fasteners, brakes, blades, nacelles, or supplemental equipment for the wind industry such as ladders, elevators, hoists, and fire-suppression, lighting, or meteorological equipment.
West Virginia Wind Forum
Davis, West Virginia—September 25, 2012
The West Virginia Wind Working Group promotes wind energy development for the benefit of West Virginia and hosts an annual wind forum to examine the barriers to wind energy development and potential solutions for reducing these barriers. Updates on wind energy-related issues around the state are also included in this forum. This event will be informative for electric utility representatives, wind energy developers, utility and environmental regulators, consumers and consumer advocates, environmentalists, and economic development representatives.
Great Lakes Wind Collaborative 5th Annual Meeting
Erie, Pennsylvania—September 25-26, 2012
The Great Lakes Wind Collaborative's 5th Annual Meeting will bring together representatives of U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, state/provincial and local governments, the wind industry, electric utilities, nonprofit organizations, academia, and other interested stakeholders to discuss and address issues regarding the sustainable development of wind energy in the bi-national Great Lakes region.
Kansas Energy Conference
Manhattan, Kansas—September 25-26, 2012
Planned topics include wind, solar, energy efficiency, and biofuels. John Graham, President and CEO of BP Wind Energy, is a featured speaker.
AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition
Virginia Beach, Virginia—October 9-11, 2012
The AWEA OFFSHORE WINDPOWER 2012 Conference & Exhibition brings together exhibitors and attendees from all over the world to this premiere offshore wind event. The conference is one of the prime U.S. focal points for this new and highly promising market, pulling together interested parties from many different technical and deployment-related organizations.
Fifth Annual Nebraska Wind Conference
Lincoln, Nebraska—October 22-23, 2012
This 2-day conference will focus on Nebraska's future wind energy development challenges and opportunities, including the potential extension of the federal Production Tax Credit program and other federal wind incentives. It will include an array of national and state keynote speakers, as well as multiple educational tracks applicable for utilities, suppliers, landowners, economic development officials, students, environmentalists, and anyone interested in the Nebraska wind industry.
National Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference
Albany, New York—November 13-15, 2012
The Clean Energy Workforce Education Conference will bring together the nation's most innovative educators who are training today's clean energy workforce. Over three days, they will offer the latest information and insight on instructional strategies, curricula development, credentialing, and best training practices. Three plenary sessions, more than 60 breakout presentations, and five pre-conference technical workshops will fuel participants with a breadth of facts, ideas, and best instructional models under way at community colleges, technical high schools, skill centers, trades and industry training centers across the country.
NWCC Wind Wildlife Research Meeting
Denver, Colorado—November 27-30, 2012
The National Wind Coordinating Collaborative's biennial Wind Wildlife Research Meeting provides an internationally recognized forum for researchers and wind-wildlife stakeholders to hear contributed papers, view research posters, and listen to panels that synthesize the most recent wind power-related wildlife research. Academics, researchers, conservation scientists, consultants, federal and state officials, NGO representatives, and industry professionals come together for this unique opportunity. This meeting is organized by the NWCC Wildlife Workgroup and presented by the American Wind Wildlife Institute.
Please visit the WPA Events Calendar to learn about more upcoming events.
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