World Wind Watch | Green Energy News

August 21, 2005 – Vol.10 No.22

WORLD WIND WATCH.

At the beginning of this year this editor was worried that because of a slow start of new wind turbine installations it would be a slow year for wind.

Well, things turned out for the better. Much better.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is now reporting that 2005 could be a banner year for wind - its biggest year yet - with up to 2500 megawatts installed.

According to the trade association, turbines are popping up in both small towns, with one or two turbines, and in large facilities.

For instance...

Three towers are being erected each day at a 90-turbine project at Judith Gap near Great Falls, Montana. The towers will receive GE 1.5 megawatt turbines for a total of 135 megawatts.

Wind turbine parts are beginning to arrive at the Port of Oswego, New York for the Maple Ridge Wind Farm nearby. The project will have 120 Vesta’s 1.65 megawatt turbines -198 megawatts - when complete this year. Next year another 75 turbines could be added.

In Kansas PPM Energy’s Elk River Wind Farm is set for completion by the end of November. That project of 150 megawatts will have 100 GE 1.5 megawatt turbines.

And in the state of Oregon the Hopkins Ridge Wind Project in Columbia is well underway with 83, Vestas 1.8 megawatt turbines.

The AWEA is also reporting that Gamesa is confident enough in the growth of the U.S. wind energy business with help from the extension of the production tax credit (PTC) for wind energy that it will go ahead and double its production of turbine blades in Pennsylvania. With the second production line up to 150 permanent jobs will be created. Overall the company will create as many at 1000 jobs in the state over the next five years.

Visit the AWEA at http://www.awea.org/ .