John Hennessy III,
P.E.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) created this sleek, highly functional interactive map to illustrate the country’s vast network of wind turbines. Vital stats are available for each site, and you can filter results by unique parameters like total height, capacity and blade length. Wind energy aficionados, stakeholders and curious citizens couldn’t ask for a better visualization of our at-home wind farm network.
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UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
LAWRENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LABORATORY
This study investigates a common concern of people who live near planned or operating wind developments: How might a home’s value be affected by the turbines? Previous studies on this topic, which have largely coalesced around non-significant findings, focused on rural settings. Wind facilities in urban locations could produce markedly different results. Nuisances from turbine noise and shadow flicker might be especially relevant in urban settings, where negative features, such as landfills or high voltage utility lines, have been shown to reduce home prices. To determine if wind turbines have a negative impact on property values in urban settings, this report analyzed more than 122,000 home sales, between 1998 and 2012, that occurred near the current or future location of 41 turbines in densely-populated Massachusetts communities.
ENVIRONMENT OREGON
America has vast wind energy resources, and there is still plenty of room for growth. But the pending expiration of the federal renewable energy production tax credit and investment tax credit threatens the future expansion of wind power. To protect the environment, federal and state governments should continue and expand policies that support wind energy.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
The U.S. offshore wind industry is transitioning from early development to demonstration of commercial viability. While there are no commercial-scale projects in operation or in the construction phase, there are eleven U.S. projects in advanced development, defined as having either been awarded a lease, conducted baseline or geophysical studies, or obtained a power purchase agreement (PPA). There are panels or task forces in place in at least 13 states to engage stakeholders to identify constraints and sites for offshore wind. U.S. policymakers are beginning to follow the examples in Europe that have proven successful in stimulating offshore wind technological advancement, project deployment, and job creation.
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
The Midwest’s remarkable renewable energy resources, vast agricultural land, strong manufacturing base, and leading research institutions have propelled the region to become a hub for renewable energy development. It is home to over a third of U.S. wind power capacity and 80% of U.S. biofuel production capacity. However, uncertainty about federal policy – like the production tax credit (PTC) and renewable fuels standard (RFS) – as well as transmission constraints could hinder Midwestern renewable energy capacity additions in the near term, with 2013 expected to yield only a fraction of the installations seen in previous years.
Oklahoma is an energy state. And, wind energy comes from our rich land just like oil, natural gas and other resources to create our diverse energy mix, which is contributing to Oklahoma’s renaissance.
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“If the wind stops blowing in one place it’s most likely blowing somewhere else around that region and therefore across the region, and these are regional electricity markets that we have in the country. Across the region wind itself is not variable…if you spread it out with transmission across such a wide region.”
View this complete post...This program looks at the history and uses of wind power, used for centuries by humans to move boats, pump water and grind grain including discussions on efficiency, problems in the urban environment, experimental systems and windmill use across the United States. Department of EnergyProduce by the Solar Energy Research Institute – keyanage on YouTube
View this complete post...Wind Energy – Windturbine 3D AnimationOriginal: SMASHVisualMedia – TheFreeenergyvideos on YouTube
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GRIST.orgBy: David Roberts You have probably heard by now that Congress has voted through a bill that will avert the absurdly named “fiscal cliff.” I’ll leave it to other blogs to get into the details. (Suzy Khimm has a nice rundown.) I’ll also leave it to others to lament the absurd way in which this […]
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