Week of August 18, 2008 |
Editor: C.V. Clute editor@epoverviews.com Opportunities in Midwestern Renewable Energy, Oct. 6-8, '08, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Conf. & Events) Opportunities in Midwestern Renewable Energy will be held on Oct. 6-8, '08 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This conference will bring together regulators, utility renewable energy policy and planning executives, developers, and financiers to discuss obtaining required renewable energy sources effectively, efficiently, and quickly. They will discuss where states' Renewable Portfolio Standards programs are creating opportunities for wind and biomass developmnts, specific local factors in getting renewable sources developed, financed and built, and how to work with MISO, PJM and other regional transmission organizations. Developers are eager to take advantage of the opportunities for renewable energy in the Midwest, but only the most savvy will be able to overcome regional transmission interconnection queuing problems and efficiently deal with local permitting issues. This conference will point to the inside track in the race to develop renewable energy in the Midwest.
Is Renewable Energy the answer to NYC's energy needs? (Ind. Report) The New York City Economic Development Corporation has released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) calling for innovative ideas to help New York City develop renewable energy sources. These ideas could include offshore wind farms, wind turbines on top of New York City's bridges and skyscrapers, tidal power, solar power and geothermal energy. The information gathered from this RFEI will be used to identify promising renewable energy projects for New York City and to provide a better understanding of the opportunities for both established and emerging renewable energy technologies. Responses are due Sept. 19, '08. (Source: Reuters, Aug. 20, '08)
234 MW Wind project planned in Wisconsin (Ind. Report) Milwaukee-based We Energies has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for the construction of a 90-turbine, 234 MW wind farm to be located between the Columbia County villages of Cambria and Friesland. The Randolph Wind project would allot each turbine a half-acre footprint, and would use up to 50 miles of 50-foot-wide corridors for collector cables and 20 miles of permanent roads to access the turbine sites. Total construction costs have yet to be determined. (Source: The Capital Times, Aug. 18, '08)
Geothermal is competitive with Wind power on "dollar-for-megawatt" basis (Int'l - Ind. Report) Petratherm Limited indicates that geothermal would compete very favorably with wind on both commercial and performance grounds as a result of a "dollar-for-megawatt" cost assessment of the two technologies, based on the company's emerging Paralana Geothermal Project in South Australia's northern Flinders Ranges. The Paralana project is one of one of Australia's most advanced geothermal projects and is expected to produce the country's first commercial flows of geothermal energy in 2010. "Including estimated transmission and substation costs, Paralana will cost $165-$174 million US ($190-200 million AUS) to develop initially to 7.5 MW capacity and then to the second stage 30 MW capacity," Managing Director, Terry Kallis said. (Surce: Oil Voice, Aug. 18, '08)
U.S. Wind Market surges (Ind. Report) Emerging Energy Research (EER) has released a study that indicates the U.S. wind market is poised for a record breaking surge with cumulative installed wind capacity to surpass 150 GW by 2020. With 5,329 MW of new wind capacity installed in 2007, the U.S. wind power market was responsible for installing more than 27% of newly added global wind capacity this past year, securing the U.S.' position as the largest wind growth market by annual installations for the third straight year. 2008 is poised to set another record for annual installations in the U.S., with over 8 GW of wind projects currently under construction scheduled for operation by year's end, according to EER.
With over 45 GW of wind projects un development, Texas continues to serve as the hub of wind project development activity. However, future growth in top wind regions such as the Southwest, Midwest, West and Pacific Northwest hinges on the completion of numerous proposed transmission projects, according to EER. "Major transmission expansion investments on both the intra-state and inter-state levels will be crucial to sustaining long-term build-out of the market," said Director, Joshua Magee. (Source: Press Release, Aug. 14, '08)
Mass Megawatts Wind Power raises $275,000 US (Funding) Mass Megawatts Wind Power, Inc. indicates it has raised $257,000 US in a private placement of restricted shares of common stock. Part of the proceeds has been used to eliminate company debt. The remainder will be used to fuel future growth, specifically by initiating substantial third-party verification of the Mass Megawatts Wind Power augmenter technology. When this is completed, Mass Megawatts can then begin developing strategic alliances with other wind power developers who have completed the zoning, financing and other requirements in the development of much larger commercial wind energy projects. (Source: PR Newswire, Aug. 15, '08)
Southern California Edison inks 909 MW Wind deal (G&C) Following up on a project that was last mentioned in our Aug. 1, '08 issue, Southern California Edison has signed a 20-year contract with DCE, an affiliate of Caithness Energy, for up to 909 MW of wind power from Oregon. The Caithness Shepherd's Flat project will involve the installation of 303 wind turbines across 30 square miles in Gilliam and Morrow counties in north-central Oregon between 2011 and 2012. The project is not expected to require additional or upgraded transmission lines. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. (Source: Reuters, Aug. 18, '08)
Naikun Wind Energy bids on Offshore Wind in British Columbia (Ind. Report) NaiKun Wind Energy Group Inc. has registered its proposal for a 320 MW Phase 1 offshore wind project in the Hecate Strait off the Coast of British Columbia, with BC Hydro as part of the Clean Power Call request for proposal (RFP) process. NaiKun is preparing a competitive bid with ENMAX Corporation designed to secure an energy purchase agreement with the utility. Final submissions are due by Nov. 25, '08. Previous details of the RFP were carried in our June 16, '08 issue. (Source: eMediaworld, Aug. 12, '08)
Other Noteworthy News Distributed Energy Systems sells Wind Turbine business (M&A)
Distributed Energy Systems indicates it has completed the sale of the assets of its Vermont-based wind turbine division to CB Wind, a newly formed private company focused solely on wind energy. In connection with the closing, CB Wind has changed its corporate name and will continue to operate under the name Northern Power Systems, Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary of Wind Power Holdings. (Source: Fox Business, Aug. 19, '08
1050 MW of Renewable Energy for Xcel (Reg. & Leg.) Following up on an initiative last reported in our Nov. 16, '07 issue, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission has approved Xcel Energy's request to build a 200 MW solar plant using concentrated solar technology and the addition of 850 MW of wind power to the utility's power generation system. The commission also approved Xcel's voluntary decision to close two coal burning generation stations in Denver and Grand Junction. (Source: Rocky Mountain News, Aug. 20, '08)
Composite Technology inks Willmar Wind deal (G&C) Composite Technology Corporation indicates its DeWind subsidiary has signed an agreement for the sale of two, 2 MW wind turbines to Willmar Municipal Utilities (WMU) in Willmar Minnesota. The contract for the DeWind D8.2 turbines is valued in excess of $6 million US. Delivery is scheduled for May '09. DeWind will provide nacelles, blade sets and towers. Willmar Municipal Utilities is the electricity, water, and heating utility for the City of Willmar. Their interest in wind power had first been reported in our Feb. 13, '08 issue. (Source: Press Release, Aug. 21, '08)
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