February 12, 2007

Wind Harvest's "Wind News"
A compilation of story leads from around the world.
By:  Kevin Wolf <kwolf@windharvest.com>

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 Google and find the original source of the story. You are welcome to share this with others. This is a free service from Wind Harvest.   Thank you. Kevin
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UK GOVERNMENT: WORLD'S FIRST WIND AND GAS OFFSHORE ENERGY PROJECT
GIVEN GREEN LIGHT

  A unique dual energy scheme to be sited off the Cumbrian coast was
   given the go-ahead today by Energy Minister Lord Truscott. The
  Ormonde project from Eclipse Energy will be sited 10KM from Walney
  Island near Barrow in Furness.
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CHANGING WINDS: IDAHO POWER RELEASES STUDY ON IMPACT OF SMALL WIND FARMS

  It takes energy to maintain energy from small wind farms. That was
  the conclusion of Idaho Power's study on the impact of wind power,
  which was released Wednesday.
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WIND FARM SUPPLIES STRETCHED

  A long-vacant Clinton manufacturing plant is suddenly in demand.
  The surge in wind farm development throughout the country has
  created a shortage in materials like the wind farm towers that
  will soon be manufactured at the old Thrall Trinity Freight Car
  plant in Clinton.
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BABCOCK & BROWN COMPLETES PURCHASE OF FOUR U.S. WIND FARMS

  Babcock & Brown Renewable Holdings Inc. entered into a definitive
  agreement at the end of last year to acquire 100% of the
  membership interest of four companies owned by Gamesa Energy USA,
  LLC and Gamesa Energía, S.A., affiliates of Spanish wind turbine
  maker Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologica SA headquartered in Madrid.
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WILDLIFE TRUST OBJECTS TO LEWIS WIND FARM

  A huge wind farm on Lewis would cause "irreversible damage" to one
  of the country's most important wetland sites, an environmental
  group said yesterday.
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XCEL PLANS $210M WIND FARM IN STATE: CEO SAYS HE'S WARY OF
LEGISLATIVE ENERGY MANDATES

  Xcel Energy CEO Dick Kelly said Wednesday that the state's largest
  energy utility would build a $210 million, 100-megawatt wind farm
  in Minnesota as part of its commitment to developing renewable
  sources of energy.
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A TALL TEST FOR TURBINES: ASHE COUNTY WILL CONSIDER LAW TO GOVERN
WIND-ENERGY SYSTEMS

  A proposed wind farm of 25 to 28 wind turbines in Creston has
  prompted the Ashe County government to draw up an ordinance to
  govern wind-energy systems.
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ROGERS: GLOBAL WARMING REVERSIBLE: DUKE CEO SAYS KEYS ARE AN
EMISSIONS CAP, CARBON DIOXIDE PROGRAM

  Duke Energy Corp. Chief Executive Jim Rogers said a global warming
  report predicting dire consequences from decades of environmental
  neglect overstates a troubling trend that can be reversed through
  smart government programs.
**********

TOWN TO GET LOOK AT RULES FOR WIND FARMS

  Town officials may be able to review a wind ordinance by as early
  as next week. Members of the Pomfret Planning Board on Wednesday
  night heard from attorney Daniel Spitzer, a wind power expert, who
  was hired to design the law governing  the development of
  so-called wind farms that would be proposed for the town.
**********

BARCLAYS GOES GREEN WITH BIGGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE

  In a bid to help the environment and reduce the carbon intensity
  of its operations, Barclays has confirmed its biggest ever
  purchase of renewable energy and, as a result, will reduce its
  carbon dioxide emissions by 125,000 tonnes per year.
**********

WIND FARM TAX MEASURES PROPOSED

  Gov. Joe Manchin has proposed a mix of tax increases and credits
  for West Virginia's emerging wind power industry.
**********

CONTROVERSIAL BID FOR WIND FARM WINS COUNCIL BACKING

  A highly-controversial bid for an 18-turbine wind farm in
  Northumberland was given the backing of county planners yesterday
  despite renewed claims that it will harm tourism and ruin the landscape.
**********

LADWP CALLS FOR PROPOSALS TO BUILD $176 MILLION IN GREEN POWER

  The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is seeking
  proposals for 2,200 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy per year--worth
   approximately $176 million annually--from "green power" resources
  such  as solar, wind, and geothermal power.
**********

GUIDES FOR WIND FARM GET INITIAL OK: ASHE COMMISSIONERS APPROVE AN
ORDINANCE FOR WIND ENERGY

  Ashe County commissioners approved an ordinance yesterday to
  govern wind-energy systems, a response to a proposed commercial
  wind farm of 25 to 28 windmills.
**********

MSC RECEIVES D-VAR(R) ORDER FROM SUZLON ENERGY FOR AUSTRALIAN WIND FARM

  American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC), a leading
  energy technologies company, announced today it has received an
  order  from Suzlon Energy Australia Pty. Ltd. (SEA) for a Dynamic
  VAR (D-VAR)  system for Australia's Hallett Wind Farm.
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IND ENERGY CONTINUES TO GAIN IN POPULARITY AMONG NYSEG AND RG&E CUSTOMERS

  More and more NYSEG and  RG&E customers are finding that the
  source of electricity they prefer is  blowin' in the wind.
**********

Giant wind farm moves a step closer as officials give blessing
The Scotsman, Feb 5, 2007
MURDO MACLEAN

A CONTROVERSIAL giant wind farm has been recommended for approval this week after winning the support of senior planning officials, it has emerged.

In documents due to be released to the public later this week, Keith Bray, senior planner at Western Isles Council, has recommended councillors approve the proposals for the 181-turbine scheme at Barvas Moor, north Lewis.
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 February 7, 2007
Global Wind Energy Markets: 2006 Another Record Year
Industry delivered 32% of annual market growth despite supply chain difficulties.
Brussels, Belgium [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) released its annual figures for 2006, which include wind energy developments in more than 70 countries around the world, showing that this year the installation of 15,197 megawatts (MW), brings the total installed wind energy capacity to 74,223 MW, up from 59,091 MW in 2005.

snip

Despite constraints facing supply chains for wind turbines, the annual market for wind continued to increase at the rate of 32% following the 2005 record year, in which the market grew by 41%. In terms of economic value, the total value of new generating equipment installed in 2006 reaching Euro 18 billion, or US$23 billion.

The countries with the highest total installed capacity are Germany (20,621 MW), Spain (11,615 MW), the U.S. (11,603 MW), India (6,270 MW) and Denmark (3,136). Thirteen countries around the world can now be counted among those with over 1000 MW of wind capacity, with France and Canada reaching this threshold in 2006.

In terms of new installed capacity in 2006, the U.S. continued to lead with 2,454 MW, followed by Germany (2,233 MW), India (1,840 MW), Spain (1,587 MW), China (1,347 MW) and France (810 MW). This development shows that new players such as France and China are gaining ground.
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