DOCSLIB.ORG

Small Wind Energy Policy Making in the States: Lessons for a Shifting Energy Landscape

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Small Wind Energy Policy Making in the States: Lessons for a Shifting Energy Landscape Small Wind Energy Policy Making in the States: Lessons for a Shifting Energy Landscape Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Joshua George Wiener, M.P.A. Graduate Program in Environment & Natural Resources The Ohio State University 2009 Thesis Committee: Tom Koontz, Advisor Jeremy Bruskotter Anand Desai Earl Epstein Andrew Keeler Copyright by Joshua Wiener 2009 Abstract A key component of climate change policy is the promotion of alternative energy sources. Among renewable energy technologies wind energy represents an important source of alternative energy with a minimal carbon footprint. While utility-scale wind farms have garnered much attention, a more widely dispersed energy resource is “small wind” – installations capable of generating small quantities of electricity in distributed (close to the end-user) rather than centralized form. With less visibility and smaller potential gain for large utilities, small wind technologies provide an interesting study in state environmental policy adoption. This research looks at the status of state small wind policies across the United States, and it tests the applicability of two policy adoption models to explain variability in state small wind policies: (1) internal determinants and (2) regional policy diffusion. Primary data were collected using an online survey instrument distributed to state energy officials across the country, and the results were analyzed using both statistical and qualitative techniques. Additionally, case studies were performed for three states – Oregon, Ohio, and Oklahoma – to provide greater contextual understanding to the survey instrument results and to illustrate the unique circumstances determining small wind policy adoption at the state level. The findings from the survey analysis suggested that the internal determinants model was better suited to explain state adoption of small wind policies than the regional ii policy diffusion model, although variables from both models were deemed important. In particular, six primary factors were found to be connected to the development of state small wind policies: a state’s historical commitment to environmental protection and policy innovations; citizen ideology; economic wealth and development; retail price of electricity; degree of legislative professionalism; and interstate competition related to leadership on environmental and energy issues. The case study analyses examined these variables in greater depth, exploring the level of impact of each variable in different circumstances as well as the manner in which these variables interact with each other to influence state small wind policy adoption. Furthermore, the case studies revealed that other variables might be important under specific conditions, highlighting the strength of fossil fuel energy industries in Oklahoma and the value of small wind’s perceived economic development potential in Ohio. The case studies also assessed the practical effect that different policies have on the small wind market, revealing that financial incentives combined with effective public outreach programs were perceived to have the greatest positive impact on small wind adoption in these three states. iii Acknowledgments This document could not have completed without the help of numerous people, and I would briefly like to highlight the key individuals who made this project possible. First, a sincere thank you goes out to my advisor, Tom Koontz, for the countless hours he spent working with me to develop my research topic and methodology, as well as all of the steps that were required to move forward from that point to this final document. His guidance was invaluable throughout this long process, and his kindness and support helped me navigate through the difficult points to reach this destination. Similarly, my committee members contributed important insights and suggestions throughout the research process, and I thank each of you for your dedication to my work and your assistance over the past year. In addition, I am thankful for the funding support I received from the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), School of Environment and Natural Resources, John Glenn School of Public Affairs, and GradRoots to further my education and research while attending The Ohio State University. This research also would not have succeeded without the willingness of countless individuals to give up their time to complete my survey and speak with me about my research. Due to promises of confidentiality I cannot mention any individuals by name, iv but I thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to assist a graduate student interested in developing a clean energy future. Dozens of individuals in Oregon, Ohio, and Oklahoma shared their thoughts, experiences, and insights about small wind energy with me, and this research effort was strengthened as a result of your contributions. Similarly, I also must thank Greg Payne from the Ohio Department of Development for spending time with me on the development of the survey instrument to ensure that the questions I asked would successfully address the topics I wished to cover. Finally, a big thank you goes out to my parents for their constant love, support, and encouragement throughout it all. They instilled in me at a young age a deep thirst for knowledge and a general inquisitiveness about how the world works, and they have never wavered in their support for my endeavors. No research project can ever be completed without the support of family, and I also thank Bob, Sally, Jenny, and Julie for creating a new family for me in Ohio that I could turn to at any time. Most importantly though, my biggest thank you is reserved for Lauren and Petey. I don’t think I could have done this without you, and your patience, understanding, and support throughout this process has been nothing short of incredible. Thank you for always believing in me and for never failing to bring a smile to my face when I needed it most. v Vita June 2004………………………… B.A. History, University of California Los Angeles 2004………… Field Organizer, Democratic National Committee Coordinated Campaign 2005…………………………………… New Accounts Representative, Los Padres Bank 2005-2006…………………………….. Personal Banking Specialist, Ohio Savings Bank 2007………………... ORCAS Summer Fellow, Oak Ridge Center for Advanced Studies 2007-2008…………………….Recipient of the OARDC Director’s Associateship Award 2008…………………... Analyst Intern, United States Government Accountability Office 2008-2009……………... Public Affairs Intern, Franklin County Board of Commissioners June 2009…………………………………………….. M.P.A., The Ohio State University June 2009……………... Recipient of the Outstanding Policy/Management Paper Award, The John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University June 2009…………….. Recipient of the Mary E. Katchmar Outstanding Service Award, The John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University Field of Study Major Field: Environment & Natural Resources Specialization: Environmental Social Sciences vi Table of Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………... ii Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………. iv Vita………………………………………………………………………………………. vi List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………..... ix List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………. x Chapter 1: Introduction…………..……………………………………………………… 1 Chapter 2: Survey Instrument………….………………………………………………. 12 Chapter 3: Case Studies…………...…………………………………………………… 63 Chapter 4: Case Study Policy Tool Results…….…………………………………….. 116 Chapter 5: Conclusion…..…………………………………………………………….. 136 References……………………………………………………………………………... 146 Appendix A: State Small Wind Policy Survey Instrument…………………………… 153 vii Appendix B: Complete Correlation Matrix…………………………………………… 176 Appendix C: Sample Oregon Interview Protocol…………………………………….. 178 Appendix D: Sample Ohio Interview Protocol……………………………………….. 181 Appendix E: Sample Oklahoma Interview Protocol………………………………….. 184 viii List of Tables Table 1. Policy Tools Framework……………………………………………………… 31 Table 2. Policy Tool Usage in Small Wind States……………………………………... 39 Table 3. State Usage of Tools From the Policy Instrument Groupings………………... 40 Table 4. Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Analysis Results……………………... 44 Table 5. Influential Factors Related to Policymakers’ Support for Small Wind………. 47 Table 6. Small Wind Policy Adoption Variables………………………………………. 60 Table 7. Current Small Wind Policies in the Case Study States……………………….. 92 Table 8. Impact of Policy Adoption Variables by State……………………………… 108 Table 9. Policy Tool Impact…………………………………………………………... 129 Table 10. Complete Correlation Matrix………………………………………………. 176 ix List of Figures Figure 1. Small Wind Policy Map……………………………………………………... 37 x Chapter 1: Introduction Growing concerns about global climate change, the safety and security of America’s energy supply, and the economic hardship caused by high gasoline prices have brought energy-related issues to the forefront of contemporary public discourse. Confronting these complex challenges will require diverse multi-faceted solutions within the public and private sectors, along with a willingness to move away from the current “business as usual” practices that helped to create the existing situation. Although the political will and financial means for confronting these issues may be diminished in the face of the current national economic crisis, economic circumstances do not lessen the need
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Wind Powering America Fy08 Activities Summary
    WIND POWERING AMERICA FY08 ACTIVITIES SUMMARY Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Dear Wind Powering America Colleague, We are pleased to present the Wind Powering America FY08 Activities Summary, which reflects the accomplishments of our state Wind Working Groups, our programs at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and our partner organizations. The national WPA team remains a leading force for moving wind energy forward in the United States. At the beginning of 2008, there were more than 16,500 megawatts (MW) of wind power installed across the United States, with an additional 7,000 MW projected by year end, bringing the U.S. installed capacity to more than 23,000 MW by the end of 2008. When our partnership was launched in 2000, there were 2,500 MW of installed wind capacity in the United States. At that time, only four states had more than 100 MW of installed wind capacity. Twenty-two states now have more than 100 MW installed, compared to 17 at the end of 2007. We anticipate that four or five additional states will join the 100-MW club in 2009, and by the end of the decade, more than 30 states will have passed the 100-MW milestone. WPA celebrates the 100-MW milestones because the first 100 megawatts are always the most difficult and lead to significant experience, recognition of the wind energy’s benefits, and expansion of the vision of a more economically and environmentally secure and sustainable future. Of course, the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report (developed by AWEA, the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and other stakeholders) indicates that 44 states may be in the 100-MW club by 2030, and 33 states will have more than 1,000 MW installed (at the end of 2008, there were six states in that category).
    [Show full text]
  • Jacobson and Delucchi (2009) Electricity Transport Heat/Cool 100% WWS All New Energy: 2030
    Energy Policy 39 (2011) 1154–1169 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Energy Policy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol Providing all global energy with wind, water, and solar power, Part I: Technologies, energy resources, quantities and areas of infrastructure, and materials Mark Z. Jacobson a,n, Mark A. Delucchi b,1 a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4020, USA b Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA article info abstract Article history: Climate change, pollution, and energy insecurity are among the greatest problems of our time. Addressing Received 3 September 2010 them requires major changes in our energy infrastructure. Here, we analyze the feasibility of providing Accepted 22 November 2010 worldwide energy for all purposes (electric power, transportation, heating/cooling, etc.) from wind, Available online 30 December 2010 water, and sunlight (WWS). In Part I, we discuss WWS energy system characteristics, current and future Keywords: energy demand, availability of WWS resources, numbers of WWS devices, and area and material Wind power requirements. In Part II, we address variability, economics, and policy of WWS energy. We estimate that Solar power 3,800,000 5 MW wind turbines, 49,000 300 MW concentrated solar plants, 40,000 300 MW solar Water power PV power plants, 1.7 billion 3 kW rooftop PV systems, 5350 100 MW geothermal power plants, 270 new 1300 MW hydroelectric power plants, 720,000 0.75 MW wave devices, and 490,000 1 MW tidal turbines can power a 2030 WWS world that uses electricity and electrolytic hydrogen for all purposes.
    [Show full text]
  • Integrating the Built and Natural Environments Through Renewable Energy Technologies: Supplying Wind Power to Kirkmont Center
    Integrating the Built and Natural Environments Through Renewable Energy Technologies: Supplying Wind Power to Kirkmont Center A thesis submitted to the Miami University Honors Program in partial fulfillment of the requirements for University Honors with Distinction by Mark Cerny Miami University Oxord, Ohio May, 2006 ii ABSTRACT Integrating the Built and Natural Environments Through Renewable Energy Technologies: Supplying Wind Power to Kirkmont Center by Mark Cerny Wind power is a renewable energy technology currently experiencing a huge growth in popularity due to its cheap cost, widespread availability, and clean nature. Ohio currently has largely unexplored wind resources waiting to be utilized for the generation of electricity. This thesis summarizes an initial feasibility study I conducted to understand the potential for installing a wind turbine at Kirkmont Center in Bellefontaine, OH to take advantage of wind resources on the site. Kirkmont boasts the second highest elevation in the state of Ohio, which makes it an excellent candidate for generating wind power, with average wind speeds of 6-7 m/sec at 30m. In addition, the wind turbine will correspond with the construction of a new interactive educational facility, serving as a valuable educational and marketing tool. My work also included finding potential funding sources, grants, and incentives to help cover the cost of constructing and maintaining the turbine; contacting manufacturers regarding providing their services to Kirkmont; and presenting my findings to the Kirkmont Building Committee. The research for this project was also used for the California Green Stop rest stop design competition with me serving as a consultant on wind power for the design team.
    [Show full text]
  • Manufacturing Climate Solutions Carbon-Reducing Technologies and U.S
    Manufacturing Climate Solutions Carbon-Reducing Technologies and U.S. Jobs CHAPTER 11 Wind Power: Generating Electricity and Employment Gloria Ayee, Marcy Lowe and Gary Gereffi Contributing CGGC researchers: Tyler Hall, Eun Han Kim This research is an extension of the Manufacturing Climate Solutions report published in November 2008. It was prepared on behalf of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) (http://www.edf.org/home.cfm). Cover Photo Credits: 1. Courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit – Iberdrola Renewables, Inc. (formerly PPM Energy, Inc.) 2. Courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit – Iberdrola Renewables, Inc. (formerly PPM Energy, Inc.) 3. Courtesy of DOE/NREL, Credit – Reseburg, Amanda; Type A Images © September 22, 2009. Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness, Duke University The complete report is available electronically from: http://www.cggc.duke.edu/environment/climatesolutions/ As of September 22, 2009, Chapter 11 is not available in hardcopy. 2 Summary Wind power is a cost effective, renewable energy solution for electricity generation. Wind power can dramatically reduce the environmental impacts associated with power generated from fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas). Electricity production is one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States. Thus, adoption of wind power generating technologies has become a major way for the United States to diversify its energy portfolio and reach its expressed goal of 80% reduction in green house gas (GHG) emissions by the year 2050. The benefits of wind power plants include no fuel risk, no carbon dioxide emissions or air pollution, no hazardous waste production, and no need for mining, drilling or transportation of fuel (American Wind Energy Association, 2009a).
    [Show full text]
  • Guidance for Testators Wishing to Transfer a Wind Interest
    IS THE WIND MINE TO GIVE AWAY? GUIDANCE FOR TESTATORS WISHING TO TRANSFER A WIND INTEREST I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 399 II. WHY WIND ENERGY IS IMPORTANT ................................................ 400 III. THE CONTROVERSIAL W IND ............................................................ 402 IV . THE W IND LEASE ............................................................................. 404 V. WIND AS A SEPARATE AND SEVERABLE PROPERTY RIGHT ............. 406 VI. DEVISING A W IND RIGHT ................................................................. 411 A . The G rant................................................................................. 4 11 B. DetailedDescription of Specific Rights.................................... 412 C. Allocation of Payments ............................................................ 414 VII. DEVISING A ROYALTY INTEREST IN WIND ...................................... 415 V III. C ONCLUSION .................................................................................... 417 A PPEND IX A ........................................................................................... 419 I. INTRODUCTION Arlon and his family have been through periods of devastating droughts as well as prosperous growth in the more than half century that they have grown cotton on their family farm in rural West Texas. Of the many difficulties that Mother Nature has imposed, wind has recently become of particular importance. The blowing winds were
    [Show full text]
  • Clean Energy Coalition Letter to Congress on Tax Extenders
    October 5, 2015 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader Minority Leader United States Senate United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable John Boehner The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, and Minority Leader Pelosi: As companies, organizations, and advocates who support clean and alternative energy technology and energy efficiency, we urge you to pass legislation that provides a multi-year extension of expired and expiring tax incentives benefiting these technologies as soon as possible this year. Businesses and investors need stable, predictable federal tax policy to create jobs, invest capital, and deploy pollution-reducing energy technologies. Allowing the lapsed clean energy tax provisions to languish undermines investor confidence and jeopardizes continued economic and environmental benefits. These bi-partisan tax provisions have a proven track record of helping scale up production, increase private sector investment and drive down the cost of clean energy technologies, thereby ensuring that market-ready technologies are deployed to their full potential. Tax provisions that spur the use of a broad array of clean energy technologies, including biogas, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, waste-to-energy, wind, fuel cells, renewable fuels, alternative fueled vehicles, combined heat and power, waste heat to power, and energy efficiency technologies lower the cost of clean energy and keep the U.S. competitive in the global technology race. They promote economic development, job creation, and a cleaner environment. To continue capturing these benefits, it is essential to restore stability in the marketplace by providing long-term tax certainty.
    [Show full text]
  • Energy Assurance Daily, March 24, 2010
    ENERGY ASSURANCE DAILY Wednesday Evening, March 24, 2010 Electricity Snow, Winds Knock Out Power to More than 57,000 Customers in Colorado March 23-24 Heavy snow and wind disrupted travel, downed tree branches, and cut power to about 36,400 Xcel Energy customers and 20,732 Black Hills Energy customers in Colorado on March 23-24, a news source said. Xcel had restored power to all but 7,500 customers and Black Hills had returned service to all but 986, as of latest reports. http://www.blackhillsenergy.com/eoc/mainoutage.do http://www.thestate.com/2010/03/24/1214287/denver-storm-cancels-flights-leads.html http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=12193907 Substation Equipment Failure Cuts Power to about 40,000 PG&E Customers in California March 22 Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) restored service to all affected customers within about two hours, a spokeswoman said. http://www.ktvu.com/news/22915612/detail.html Calpine's 751 MW Pastoria Gas-fired Unit in California Reduced by March 23 According to the California Independent System Operator, the unit reported an unplanned curtailment of 281 MW by March 23. http://www.caiso.com/unitstatus/data/unitstatus201003231515.html Update: Multiple Companies’ 346 MW Antelope Wind Farm in California Ramps up by March 23 According to the California Independent System Operator, the unit reported a return from an unplanned curtailment of 106 MW. http://www.caiso.com/unitstatus/data/unitstatus201003231515.html APS Declares ‘Unusual Event’ after Unidentified Leakage at 1,403 MW Palo Verde Nuke Unit 1 in Arizona March 22 Operators identified a rising level and temperature trend in the Reactor Drain Tank (RDT) on March 22, and declared an “unusual event” due to an unidentified leakage of greater than 10 gallons per minute, the company said in a filing with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
    [Show full text]
  • Smoothing Wind Farm Output Power Through Co-Ordinated Control and Short Term Wind Speed Prediction
    Imperial College London Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Smoothing wind farm output power through co-ordinated control and short term wind speed prediction Philip R. Clemow A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Ph.D degree of Imperial College and Diploma of the Imperial College in the subject of Electrical Engineering Research September 2011 1 The work presented in this thesis has been conducted by the author, all other work has been appropriately referenced. 2 Abstract In recent years the energy sector has looked to renewables as a means to reduce emissions. Wind power is able to provide large amounts of energy at a reasonable cost from presently available products. Thus the amount of wind generation has risen steeply in recent years, notably in the countries of northern Europe. However, this rise in wind power has lead to issues regarding the variability of the wind power output. Wind power is related to the wind speed, which varies greatly. This variability can cause issues with wind operators' ability to participate in electricity markets and can also lead to a rise in balancing costs. The system proposed in this thesis aims to reduce the variation of wind farm output seen in the minute to minute time-scale and provide controllability in longer time-scales. To do this the system uses short-term wind speed predictions and the inertial energy storage of the wind turbines themselves and does so in a co-ordinated fashion across the whole farm. Using short term wind speed predictions, the amount of energy in the wind is calculated for the next short period.
    [Show full text]
  • The Siting of Wind Power Projects on Public Lands in the Obama Era
    A Shift in the Wind: The Siting of Wind Power Projects on Public Lands in the Obama Era * ERIC S. SPENGLER Wind energy production in the United States skyrocketed in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Capacity for wind-generated electricity in the United States increased by a factor of fourteen—from just under 2500 megawatts (MW) at the turn of the millennium to over 35,000 MW at the beginning of 2010.1 The United States propelled past Germany as the world’s leading wind-harnessing nation in 2008,2 and more capacity was added in this country from wind energy in 2009 than from any other source except natural gas.3 American wind turbines currently supply enough electricity to meet the demands of roughly eight to eleven million American households.4 As the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) touts, “[w]ind energy is no longer a boutique energy source. It is * J.D./M.P.A. Candidate, Class of 2012, Indiana University Maurer School of Law— Bloomington and Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Questions and comments can be sent to the author at [email protected]. 1. See AM. WIND ENERGY ASS’N, AWEA YEAR END 2009 MARKET REPORT 1–2 (2010) [hereinafter 2009 MARKET REPORT], available at http://www.awea.org/learnabout/ publications/reports.cfm; U.S. Cumulative Installed Wind Power Capacity and Annual Addition, 1980–2009, EARTH POLICY INST., http://www.earth-policy.org/datacenter/ xls/indicator10_2010_4.xls; U.S. Installed Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations, U.S. DEP’T OF ENERGY, http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_installed_capacity.asp [hereinafter U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • OMA Government Affairs Committee Meeting Materials
    9:30 a.m. (EST) Via Zoom Government Table of Contents Affairs Meeting Agenda 2 2 2 Committee Committee Attendee Roster 3 June 15, 2021 3 Bios • Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State 5 4 Hot Topics 6 Ohio Elections Bill Article 18 6 Discussion Issues 18 • HB 283 – Distracted Driving 21 • State Budget Issues 27 • HB 6 Repeal and Fallout 28 33 • HB 248 – Vaccination Bill 32 34 • HB 235 – Forced Union Bill 35 37 • HB 68 – Contracts Bill 44 49 • SB 52 – Renewable Energy Bill 59 OMA Staff Reports • Energy 50 • Tax 81 86 • Safety and Workers’ Compensation 100 89 • Environment 107 100 • Human Resources 120 101 103 OMA Counsel’s Report 133 105 106 110 2021 Government Affairs Our Meeting Sponsor: Committee Calendar Meetings begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 25 Thursday, November 18 9:30 a.m. (EST) Via Zoom Government Affairs Committee Agenda June 15, 2021 Welcome & Introductions Scott Corbitt, Region Vice President, Anheuser-Busch, Committee Chair NAM Update Todd Shelton, National Association of Manufacturers COVID-19 Information Rob Brundrett, OMA Staff Ohio Elections Bill Chris Slagle, Partner, Bricker & Eckler LLP, OMA General Counsel Guest Speaker Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State Elections Update OMA Staff Kevin DeWine, CBD Advisors Discussion Topics Committee Members • HB 283 – Distracted Driving Chad Wilson, Associate Vice President, Nationwide Insurance • State Budget Issues Rob Brundrett, OMA Staff • HB 6 Repeal and Fallout Rachael Carl, OMA Staff • HB 248 – Vaccination Bill • HB 235 – Forced Union Bill • HB 68 – Contracts Bill • SB 52 – Renewable Energy Bill Staff Reports OMA Staff • Energy • Tax • Safety and Workers’ Compensation • Environment • Human Resources OMA Counsel’s Report Chris Slagle, Partner, Bricker & Eckler LLP, OMA General • Redistricting Counsel • Supreme Court 2021 Government Affairs Committee Our Meeting Sponsor: Calendar Meetings begin at 9:30 a.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Fx :Psl 4Ubuf &Ofshz 3Ftfbsdi Boe %Fwfmpqnfou
    +6/& '&"563&4 1SPGJMF /FX:PSL4UBUF&OFSHZ 3FTFBSDIBOE%FWFMPQNFOU "VUIPSJUZ /FX&OFSHZJO /PSUIXFTU*PXB 0OUBSJP&NCSBDFT B$MFBOFS'VUVSF 1PUFOUJBMJOUIF5FYBT 1BOIBOEMF (SFFOJOHUIF $PMVNCJB(PSHF '"703"#-&8*/%4 */.*44063* %&1"35.&/54 $POTUSVDUJPO±/"&4$PSQ .BJOUFOBODF±3FW3FOFXBCMFT 5FDIOPMPHZ±1FOO4UBUF8JOE&OFSHZ -PHJTUJDT±1SPGFTTJPOBM-PHJTUJDT(SPVQ 2""MBTUBJS4NJUI 1PSUPG7BODPVWFS64" Iowa_FP_0611.indd 2 5/17/11 2:53:46 PM 0611_WindSystems.indb 1 5/13/11 3:12:52 PM 0611_WindSystems.indb 2 5/13/11 3:12:54 PM ?JC:'%&& FEATURES COMPANYPROFILE: NEW YORK STATE ENERGY AND RESEARCH 20 DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BY RUSS WILLCUTT For more than four decades NYSERDA has been steering the state toward a brighter, cleaner, more- sustainable future. FAVORABLE WINDS 22 IN MISSOURI BY CHRISTOPHER CHUNG Steady winds, a healthy business infrastructure, and an educated workforce create an ideal environment for wind farms and component manufacturing. NEW ENERGY IN 26 NORTHWEST IOWA BY BOB HENNINGSEN This region shares an exciting future with that of the wind energy industry, offering opportunities and attributes that are truly beyond expectations. ONTARIO EMBRACES A CLEANER FUTURE 32 BY MIKE MOEN With legislation dictating a forced phaseout of coal by 2014, Ontario has created a new demand for renewable energy and a rapidly growing wind power industry cluster. POTENTIAL IN THE 38 PANHANDLE BY CLAY RICE In its earliest stages of development, Pampa offers wind developers and manufacturing site seekers a host of amenities along with powerful Texas winds. GREENING THE 42 COLUMBIA GORGE BY MIKE CANON The Columbia Gorge Bi-state Renewable Energy Zone, or CG-BREZ, is sowing the seeds of renewable energy, resulting in a healthier local economy.
    [Show full text]
  • Does Natural Gas Make Sense for Freight? Environmental Implications of the “Pickens Plan”
    Does Natural Gas Make Sense for Freight? Environmental Implications of the “Pickens Plan” CFIRE 04-22 CFIRE April 2013 National Center for Freight & Infrastructure Research & Education Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering College of Engineering University of Wisconsin–Madison Authors: Paul J. Meier, Tracey Holloway, Matt Luedke, Ethan A. Frost, Erica Scotty, Scott P. Williams, Erica Bickford University of Wisconsin–Madison Principal Investigator: Paul J. Meier National Center for Freight & Infrastructure Research & Education University of Wisconsin–Madison Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. CFIRE 04-22 CFDA 20.701 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Month, Year Does Natural Gas Make Sense for Freight? Environmental and Resource April, 2013 Implications of the “Pickens Plan” 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author/s 8. Performing Organization Report P. Meier, T. Holloway, M. Luedke, E. Frost, E. Scotty, S. Williams, E. Bickford No. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) National Center for Freight & Infrastructure Research & Education (CFIRE) University of Wisconsin-Madison 11. Contract or Grant No. 1415 Engineering Drive, 2205 EH DTRT06-G-0020 Madison, WI 53706 12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Research and Innovative Technology Administration Covered United States Department of Transportation Final Report [9/1/2011 – 4/30/2013] 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes Project completed for USDOT’s RITA by CFIRE. 16. Abstract The “Pickens Plan” is a highly promoted U.S. energy strategy, proposing to use natural gas as a transportation fuel to displace imported oil and, simultaneously, to increase renewable contributions to national electricity production.
    [Show full text]