Wind Power // Current

Geoengineering: How to Cool Earth--At a Price

Global warming has become such an overriding emergency that some climate experts are willing to consider schemes for partly... more

covelogibbs
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Windfarm consortium to invest billions off UK coast

Two of the world's leading wind farm operators have teamed up to make joint bids for the next round of offshore licences in... more

jefftego
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Birds killed by windmills: Fact or Foul?

Birds killed by windmills. Should construction on new wind farms be stopped? As we race to live the dream of clean... more

Greenpointer
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Green Jobs for Americans Coming Right Up

In the past month, four wind turbine parts manufacturers have announced plans to put factories in the heartland, otherwise known... more

resolute
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Wind power a potential threat to wildlife

Wind turbines have raised concerns around the world for denuding scenic landscapes and posing a risk to birds, bats, and other... more

urlspotter
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We want green jobs now

The sooner we become self sufficient as a nation the sooner we can 'buy' our country back from it's lenders... more

resolute
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Rock Port Wind

The small town of Rock Port, Missouri (pop. 1,300) is the first city in the US to be 100% powered by wind. The city's wind... more

Robbiefresh
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How local governments are 'standing in the way of clean energy'

Too often people who want to install clean, efficient solar and wind systems can find themselves drowning in a sea of red tape.

With the federal government's failure to address climate change, close to 900 U.S. cities and towns have agreed to reduce greenhouse gases in their communities by at least 7 percent by 2012. Support for small-scale solar and wind electricity generators would go a long way toward meeting those goals, especially as large-scale systems continue to get bogged down by opposition in many communities.

States nationwide are implementing or expanding programs that serve as an important economic incentive; people who generate their own clean energy can send the excess to the grid, dramatically lowering their electric bills, while also reducing demand on non-renewable, over-stressed electric systems. However, many towns, counties and cities are still making it difficult and expensive for people who want to generate their own renewable energy.

Small-scale solar and wind generation systems can promote green jobs at this time of economic turmoil, skyrocketing energy costs, widespread desire for energy independence, and increasing public concern about air quality and climate change. Local officials must do their part by removing unnecessary barriers to installation of these systems that exist in local building codes and permit and inspection requirements.

In Virginia, renewable energy contractor Jim Madden calls local permit and planning processes a major obstacle. "The biggest problems," he said, "are the length of time required and lack of knowledge about renewable energy systems at the county government level." In New York, solar contractor Steve Englemann says that local permit requirements cause "by far the greatest delay in the industry, requiring so much time and energy, and delaying jobs to the extent that we have a hard time financially with our business because of it. Every town and village has very different requirements from one another, which is a huge burden on our business."

According to Curt Bradley in California, "Contra Costa County will issue a permit for a small wind generator if the site is zoned for agricultural use, but not if it is zoned commercial or industrial." Recently, a church that is ideally located in the San Francisco Bay wind corridor asked Bradley to install two small wind turbines, 10 kilowatts or less, to provide energy for their sanctuary, school and offices. Because the church is located on property that is zoned commercial, the county planning department would not entertain their proposal.

It is particularly striking that this is happening in California, which has some of the nation's strongest laws and policies to encourage the adoption of small-scale solar and wind, but stories like these are repeated from state to state. In Arizona, where the state is upgrading its net metering program, solar and wind contractors cite barriers that include local government disorganization, inconsistent permit requirements and wide variations in fees.

The more than 40 states that have adopted net metering should take the next step by mandating that towns adopt consistent and appropriate permit requirements and uniform standards. For example, New Hampshire's legislature recently passed a law that prevents local governments in the state from applying building height limits to wind turbines and sets a statewide standard for how much sound they can emit. The states could also smooth the process by educating building and electrical inspectors about the proper installation of common renewable systems.*******CONTINUES****************Too often people who want to install clean, efficient solar and wind systems can find themselves drowning in a sea of red tape. ... more

goldenways
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10 responses

1 month ago

NJ Looks to Lead in Wind Power

Gov. Jon Corzine wants the Garden State to triple the amount of wind power it plans to use by 2020 to 3,000 megawatts. That would... more

ebindelglass
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18 responses

1 month ago

Wind and Solar Tax Credits Could Ride Into Law in Bailout Bill

Maybe the tenth time will be a charm. Last night was the tenth time since June 2007 that an extension of wind and solar tax... more

starr111
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0 responses

1 month ago

The Queen buys world's biggest wind turbine

The Queen has just ordered the biggest wind turbine in the world. Standing 574 feet tall, the turbine is taller than Big Ben and... more

purplefox
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13 responses

1 month ago

Inner City Turbine - Something New on the Horizon

East Yorkshire companies are leading the way in the battle to become green and on September 22nd a new landmark made its secretive... more

EclecticBadger
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1 response

1 month ago

Worst Crisis Since '30s, With No End Yet in Sight

"The financial crisis that began 13 months ago has entered a new, far more serious phase."

elsonwvu
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5 responses

2 months ago

The Answer My Friends.....Is Blowing in the Wind........

.....Hugh Piggott is one of the Worlds leading authorities on harvesting the power of the wind......He also has helped so many to... more

Virtual_Will_Rogers
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10 responses

2 months ago

Amid bluster over energy, Senate cuts a deal - BusinessWeek.com- msnbc.com

To pass the legistlation to many's new opinion drilling and nuclear for the GOP and the democrats get some incentives for... more

starr111
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0 responses

2 months ago

Energy ball - a cheap and efficient wind turbine

As our dependence on fossil fuels will be reduced, we will need new ways of harnessing renewable energies. Actually, there are... more

goldenways
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4 responses

2 months ago

Afghanistan goes green thanks to the British military?

British troops have successfully completed one of their largest operations in southern Afghanistan, transporting a massive... more

lecoke
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4 responses

3 months ago

Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks

Congress is putting the short-term future of renewable energy companies in jeopardy even as the presidential candidates and most lawmakers hail windmills, solar panels and biofuels as long-term solutions to high gasoline prices and global warming.

Some $500 million in investment and production tax credits will expire Dec. 31 unless Congress renews them. Without that help, solar and wind power companies say they will reverse planned expansions and, in many cases, cut payrolls and capital investment.

Investment tax credits, available to homeowners and businesses that invest in solar power equipment, and the production tax credit, based on kilowatt hours of energy produced by wind, geothermal, biomass and other renewables, are only two of dozens of temporary tax breaks that die out after a year or two if Congress does not revive them.

This year Congress is considering tax-extenders worth more than $50 billion over the next decade. The production tax credit would cost $7 billion and two solar investment credits would cost $2.7 billion over 10 years.

In addition to breaks for renewable energy and energy conservation, several dozen other tax breaks are targeted to businesses and individuals. They include people paying state and local sales taxes; parents with higher education tuition costs; and teachers with out-of-pocket expenses.

Almost all the provisions are popular. But Senate Republicans have blocked consideration of tax-extender plans by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. GOP lawmakers are protesting efforts to offset the costs with other taxes or other items attached to the proposals. In the House, conservative Democrats promise to block any extension that adds to the deficit.

Putting expiration dates on tax breaks is a useful budget gimmick for lawmakers seeking to mask the growing federal budget deficit.

Because they are set to expire at a certain date by law, they do not count as revenue losses after that date even though most people assume Congress eventually will act to extend them. The Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 are the biggest extenders of all in this respect. Trillions of dollars will be added to the federal debt if Congress chooses to make them permanent after they are set to expire in 2010. Congress is putting the short-term future of renewable energy companies in jeopardy even as the presidential candidates and most... more