February 29, 2004

Wind Harvest Company Wind News
A compilation of story leads from around the world.
By:  Kevin Wolf

Note:  These story titles and lead paragraphs predominantly come from Energy Central's daily posting of the world's energy stories. Others are sent to me by subscribers of Wind News.  Energy Central requires paid membership to read full stories.  You can often paste the headline into the Google search engine and find the original source of the story.   When I have them, I will include the URL.  Please send me stories that you find, and I will add them into the next edition of Wind News.  Thank you. Kevin
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WIND UP POWER

  WIND power is set to be the UK's main source of renewable energy
  until 2020.
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CALL FOR CLEAN ENERGY

  Western Australia (WA) needs to  diversify its energy supply to
  avoid  power shortages.
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REVIEW PAVES WAY FOR NEW WIND FARMS

  SCOTLAND is to get more wind farms as a new government review has
  urged expansion of the controversial power source.
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APS CATCHES WIND OF NEW PLANT PARTNERS WITH WESTERN WIND ON
ARIZONA'S FIRST COMMERCIAL WIND FARM

  The winds that whip through Eastern Arizona soon will power
  Arizona's first commercial wind farm.
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UK GOVERNMENT: GOVERNMENT RENEWABLES PLEDGE BOOSTS ENERGY TARGETS

  At least ten per cent of the electricity government uses will be
  from renewable sources within four years, Ministers pledged today.
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KANSAI ELECTRIC TO TAKE 20 PERCENT STAKE IN WIND-POWER GENERATOR

  Kansai Electric Power Co. said Thursday it will take a stake of
  about 20 percent in Eco Power Co., one of Japan's biggest
  wind-power generating companies, next month.
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LAW REQUIRES MORE RENEWABLE POWER

  New Mexico legislators have given their stamp of approval to the
  state's commitment to renewable energy.
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RENEWABLES PICKING UP THE SLACK

  Renewables picking up the slack U.S. Energy consumption is
  expected to grow 1.5 percent a year over the next two decades,
  using more renewable energy sources than previously thought.
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CALIFORNIA PENSION FUNDS TO INVEST
IN ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES

California State Treasurer Phil Angelides has launched an initiative called "Green Wave" to encourage the State's two large public pension funds-the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS)-to commit $1.5 billion to investments in what he called "cutting-edge" technologies and environmentally responsible companies.  The stated goal of the initiative is to improve long-term financial returns for pensioners and taxpayers through investments in the burgeoning environmental technology sector, while also reducing the risks to the pension funds posed by corporate environmental liabilities.
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ALTAMONT ZONING BOARD
APPROVES WIND PERMITS

On Thursday, January 29, the East Alameda Board of Zoning Adjustments approved conditional use permits for about 1,700 wind turbines in the Altamont Pass.

The Alameda County staff imposed a 20-year permit expiration date, and a permit review every five years.  Board members said that the conditions set forth are flexible and allow for the imposition of new requirements in the future if new methods to reduce bird deaths are discovered.

The decision was initially expected January 15, but the Board postponed the decision to better understand the implications of a lawsuit that was filed alleging violations of wildlife protection laws.
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WIND POWER GROWS
BY 23% IN EUROPE IN 2003

Wind power capacity in Europe increased by 23% last year to 28,401 MW.  The total installed capacity of wind power is expected to produce 60 billion kWh of electricity in an average wind year, equal to approximately 2.4% of total E.U. consumption.  The installed wind power capacity would provide the equivalent electricity needs of 14 million average European households, or 35 million citizens.

Germany and Spain continue to dominate the market, with 2,645 MW and 1,377 MW of new wind power added in 2003, respectively.  Austria, with 276 MW added in 2003, appears among the top three European markets for the first time.  Denmark added 243 MW.
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NEW MEXICO
PASSES RPS LAW

The New Mexico legislature passed a law that codifies the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) originally put into force by the state Public Regulatory Commission in 2002 (see Wind Energy Weekly #1024, December 20, 2002).

The RPS law requires investor-owned utilities to procure at least 5% of their power supply from renewables by 2006 and 10% by 2011.  In addition, all utilities, including rural co-ops and municipally-owned utilities must offer a voluntary green pricing program.
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