The US Senate and House are going to pass a ”’’so-so”’ renewables plan that gives SOLAR eight years of Tax Credits and yet only gives Wind one year………..talk about the SHAFT of the Wind Turbine stuck where the Petro Dont shine!!!!

The bill accomplishes something Inslee and enviros have been pushing for — renewing tax credits for renewables. Worth some $18 billion, the tax cuts include an eight-year investment credit on solar and fuel cells; a three-year production credit on biomass, geothermal, hydropwer and landfill gas/solid waste; and a one-year production credit for wind.

That last one, a mere 12 months for wind, is worrisome to wind advocates.

Anyone know of local companies that are closely watching this tax credits saga? I’d very much like to speak with them. if you now of someone, please post in the comments section or e-mail me at robertmcclure@seattlepi.com.

guessing Texas, Montana, and South Dakota

As Earth Day approaches, a new report finds that the United States is on track to breeze past Germany within two years as the world leader in installed capacity to spin the wind into electricity.

Globally, wind-power capacity rose 27 percent in 2007 to 94,100 megawatts, according to the report from the Washington D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute.

The U.S. led the charge with a record-breaking 5,244-megawatt increase for a total of 16,818 megawatts—enough to power 4.5 million U.S. homes.

And the potential in the U.S. is far greater, according to Janet Sawin, director of the Worldwatch Institute’s energy and climate change program and author of the new report.

“Wind resources in just three U.S. states could, theoretically, meet all of our nation’s electricity needs,” she said in an email.

Technologically and economically, researchers believe wind could account for 20 percent of U.S. electricity by 2030.

Global Growth

The U.S. is the fastest growing wind market worldwide. There remains substantial potential for the expansion of wind power to achieve approximately 20 percent of the nation’s generating mix.
Texas, Washington, and California lead the U.S. in annual capacity growth.
Wind power is competitive and has provided good value in wholesale power markets. Wind power has consistently been priced at, or below, the average price of conventional electricity (coal, nuclear, natural gas, etc.).
The cost of turbines has risen since 2002. Higher costs have reversed the decline in total wind project costs and driven up the cost of generating wind power. Turbine cost increases have been driven by rises in input material and energy prices, and some shortages in certain turbine components.
Wind project performance, has increased sharply over the last several years. This has been driven in part by improved project siting, and technological advancements.
The wind market is in a period of transition. Electric utilities have shown increased interest in wind project ownership, and merchant wind power plants and sales to power marketers have become more common.