World Wind Watch | Green Energy News

February 20, 2005 – Vol.9 No.48

WORLD WIND WATCH.

FPL Energy (the largest owner and operator of wind turbines in the U.S.) possibly concerned about the bad press the wind energy industry has received in recent weeks regarding bat collisions with turbines, has issued a second press release in the same number of weeks regarding its environmental record. (see ENERGIES week of 2/13/05)

The latest release is entitled “FPL Energy to Continue Aggressive Actions to Reduce Avian Collisions in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area.” According to the release, actions taken include removing or taking out of service 169 older turbines (10 percent of its Altamont fleet) that were susceptible to bird collisions and replacing them with 31 newer turbines and towers that have less potential for bird strikes.

Similar action was taken with an additional 100 turbines that had a high potential for bird strikes. The company has also upgraded electrical protection measures on utility structures to better reduce the possibility of raptor electrocution.

Further measures may include the seasonal shutdown of turbines that have the possibility of bird strikes during migration periods.

FPL and its partners have nearly 2200 turbines operating in Altamont Pass. Visit FPL Energy at http://www.fplenergy.com/ .

Boralex, a Montreal-based owner of power generation facilities, has announced it will triple its installed wind power capacity in France to a total of 81 megawatts.

In two projects the company will add 57 megawatts of power which will be sold to Electricite de France. GE Wind will provide 1.5 megawatt turbines as well as installation of them and maintenance at the facilities. The Plateau d’Ally will have 26 turbines. Plateau de Cham de Cham will have 12. Visit Boralex at http://www.boralex.com/ .

For peaceful purposes Iran is planning to expand its wind generation capacity. The first step will be to complete a wind energy atlas for the nation during the next three years that will identify possible sites for new wind farms. Experts there see the potential for more than 6500 megawatts that could be built.

The country already has at least 120 megawatts installed. Turbines and towers are apparently home-grown.

Why wind energy for a country with major oil and natural gas reserves? Power generated from sources other than fossil fuels will allow remaining fossil reserves to continue to be a source of revenue until they are depleted. After depletion, the new power resources will continue to drive the economy.

For information on Iran's energy efforts click http://www.iranenergy.org.ir/English/index.htm . Links to more Iranian energy sites can be found through the Iranian Solar Energy Society at http://www.irses.org/links.htm .

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has determined that up to 10 percent (3300 megawatts)of the states anticipated energy needs by 2008 could be supplied by the wind without impacting cost or reliability. The study is available at http://www.nyserda.org/rps/default.asp