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20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply : On May 12, the US Department of Energy (DOE) released a report that examines the technical feasibility of harnessing wind power to provide up to 20 percent of the nation's total electricity needs by 2030. The report identifies requirements to achieve this goal including reducing the cost of wind technologies, siting new transmission infrastructure, and enhancing domestic manufacturing capability. The report says that achieving a 20 percent wind contribution to US electricity supply would:
(1) Reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation by 25 percent in 2030;
(2) Reduce natural gas use by 11 percent;
(3) Reduce water consumption associated with electricity generation by 4 trillion gallons by 2030;
(4) Increase annual revenues to local communities to more than $1.5 billion by 2030; and
(5) Support roughly 500,000 jobs in the United States, with more than 150,000 workers directly employed by the wind industry.
Andy Karsner, DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said “DOE’s wind report is a thorough look at America's wind resource, its industrial capabilities, and future energy prices, and confirms the viability and commercial maturity of wind as a major contributor to America's energy needs, now and in the future.”
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) : The American Wind Energy Association (AWEATM) promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for consumers around the world. AWEA is a national trade association representing wind power project developers, equipment suppliers, services providers, parts manufacturers, utilities, researchers, and others involved in the wind industry - one of the world's fastest growing energy industries.
Anholt Offshore Wind Farm (Denmark) ; When completed this offshore wind farm will provide 4% of Denmark's energy needs, pollution-free.
Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends (2007) : For the third consecutive year the U.S. was home to the fastest-growing wind power market in the world, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). Specifically, U.S. wind power capacity increased by 46 percent in 2007, representing a $9 billion investment in new wind projects. At this pace, wind is on a path to becoming a significant contributor to the U.S. power mix: wind projects accounted for 35 percent of all new electricity-generating capacity added in the U.S. in 2007, and more than 200 GW (gigawatts, or billion watts) of wind power are in various stages of development throughout the country. The 2007 edition of the Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the rapidly evolving U.S. wind power market. The need for such a report has become apparent in the past few years, as the wind power industry has entered an era of unprecedented growth, both globally and in the United States.
Capturing the Wind: Power for the 21st Century : Wind power is one of the oldest sources of energy, and also one of the newest. Ethan Goffman. Proquest Discovery Guide. June 2008.
Environmental Issues in Wind Energy : Multiple organizations, governmental agencies and bloggers provide input on the potential environmental impacts of wind energy facilities siting and operation. Potential issues include impacts on flora and fauna (such as bats and birds) and radio frequency propagation, to name only a few.
European Wind Energy Association : The voice of the wind industry, actively promoting the utilisation of wind power in Europe and worldwide. It is ideally situated in the Renewable Energy House in Brussels ensuring close proximity to European decision-makers. It now has over 600 members from nearly 60 countries including manufacturers with a 90% share of the global wind power market, plus component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, developers, contractors, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies and consultants. This combined strength makes EWEA the world’s largest and most powerful wind energy network.
Landowner Guidelines for Evaluating Wind Energy Production Contracts : Stephen B. Harsh, David Schweikhardt, and Lynn Hamilton of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics Michigan State University (July 2008)
Michigan Land Use Guidelines for Siting Wind Energy Systems : Michael Klepinger, Michigan State University Extension Bulletin WO-1053, October 2007.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Wind Research Highlights : Wind is a clean, inexhaustible, indigenous energy resource that can generate enough electricity to power millions of homes and businesses. Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing forms of electricity generation in the world. The United States can currently generate more than 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the wind, which is enough to power 2.5 million average American homes. Industry experts predict that, with proper development, wind energy could provide 20% of this nation's energy needs. Much of the wind industry's success can be attributed to the research conducted at NREL's National Wind Technology Center (NWTC).
U.S. Department of Energy /Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy / Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program : To help meet America's increasing energy needs while protecting our Nation's energy security and environment, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working with wind industry partners to develop clean, domestic, innovative wind energy technologies that can compete with conventional fuel sources. DOE's Wind Energy Program efforts have culminated in some of industry's leading products today and have contributed to record-breaking industry growth.
Wind: An Energy Alternative (1980 film) - Department of Energy. : Produced by the Solar Energy Research Institute for the U.S. Department of Energy, this film looks at the history and uses of wind power, used for centuries by humans to move boats, pump water and grind grain including discussions on efficiency, problems in the urban environment, experimental systems and windmill use across the United States.
Wind Energy at MSU : EEP 445 class presentation.
Wind Energy: Improving Regional Air Quality With Wind Energy
Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States : "This atlas estimates wind energy resource for the United States and its territories,(a1). and indicates general areas where a high wind resource may exist. This information is valuable to wind energy developers and potential wind energy users because it allows them to choose a general area of estimated high wind resource for more detailed examination." Includes background information, regional summaries, maps, and other information.
Wind Energy the Facts : Widely considered to be the most important wind energy reference in the world. It presents a detailed overview of the wind energy sector, with the most up-to-date and in-depth information on the essential issues concerning wind power today. March 2009.
Wind Power : Impacts on Wildlife and Government Responsibilities For Regulating Development and Protecting Wildlife : GAO report 05-906, September 2005. Also see related report.
Wind Power in the United States : Technology, Economic, and Policy Issues. Jeffrey Logan and Stan Mark Kaplan, GAO report, June 20, 2008.
Wind Power Renewable Energy Technology Basics : We have been harnessing the wind's energy for hundreds of years. From old Holland to farms in the United States, windmills have been used for pumping water or grinding grain. Today, the windmill's modern equivalent - a wind turbine - can use the wind's energy to generate electricity.
Wind Power Technologies : Compilation of resources by the Sandia National Laboratory.
Wind Powering America : Wind Powering America is a commitment to dramatically increase the use of wind energy in the United States. This initiative will establish new sources of income for American farmers, Native Americans, and other rural landowners, and meet the growing demand for clean sources of electricity. Through Wind Powering America, the United States will achieve targeted regional economic development, enhance our power generation options, protect the local environment, and increase our energy and national security.
Wind Powering America : U.S. Installed Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations. This page provides an overview of how much power installed wind projects are producing, or installed wind capacity. It also provides links to other Web sites, which provide specific details about individual wind projects.
Wind Turbine Map. Shows the location of more than 47,000 onshore wind turbine locations around the U.S. to aid in land-use planning and the siting of future wind turbines. From the U.S. Geological Survey
Wind Turbines : The largest social network for the wind turbine community where the public and the wind energy profession can come together to get advice, share ideas and network for career advancement.
Windfarms: Landowner and Leasing Issues : Wind siting information geared toward landowners.
World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) : A non-profit association working towards the promotion and development of wind energy technology with members in 95 countries. Perhaps most helpful on the site are the news headlines and stories, publications on wind energy, and events listings for those interested in becoming involved with the wind energy industry. WWEA has also published an educational website dedicated to inform members about the wind energy industry.
For miscellaneous newspaper articles about wind power and wind turbines, see Environmental Studies Resources Blog