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Related: About this forumWind Topped All New US Generation Capacity in 2012, Ahead of Gas and Coal
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Wind Topped All New US Generation Capacity in 2012, Ahead of Gas and CoalRecord-breaking numbers at competitive prices
HERMAN K. TRABISH: FEBRUARY 7, 2013
With a Q4 installed capacity of 8,380 megawatts, the U.S. wind industry brought its 2012 total to 13,124 megawatts, shattering its 2009 record by 3,000 megawatts. With its record year, U.S. wind became the first renewable energy to lead the nation in annual new generation capacity, ahead of traditional electricity sources like natural gas, coal and nuclear, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Q4 2012 report.
Wind power was 42 percent of all new U.S. generation capacity built in 2012. Total new renewable capacity was over 55 percent of the nations build.
In Texas, which once again led the U.S. in cumulative, annual, and Q4 installed capacity, the Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT) released a report with some startling conclusions. ERCOTs newest cost and output numbers showed wind and solar to be more competitive than natural gas over the next twenty years and serving to drive electricity market prices lower.
With its Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) transmission initiative about to be completed, this sets Texas up for a huge renewables future if its legislators and regulators choose to continue backing them.
...
Read more at: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Wind-Topped-All-New-U.S.-Generation-Capacity-in-2012-Ahead-of-Gas-and-Coal?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=headline&utm_campaign=GTMDaily
ETA:
Wind, Solar, Biomass Provide All New U.S. Electrical Generating Capacity In January 2013
By Kenneth Bossong
According to the latest Energy Infrastructure Update report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions Office of Energy Projects, 1,231 MW of new in-service electrical generating capacity came on line in the United States in January 2013 all from wind, solar, and biomass sources.
This represents a nearly three-fold increase in new renewable energy generating capacity compared to the same month in 2012 when wind, solar, and biomass provided 431 MW of new capacity.
Once again, renewable energy sources have dominated the new electrical generation market. And once again, their rapid expansion demonstrates that the U.S. can meet its future energy needs without resorting to dirtier sources such as nuclear power or the Keystone XL pipeline.
...snip...
*Note: Generating capacity is not the same as actual generation. Actual net electrical generation from renewable energy sources in the United States now totals about 13% according to data provided by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/02/24/1631211/wind-solar-biomass-provide-all-new-us-electrical-generating-capacity-in-january-2013/
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)kristopher
(29,798 posts)I know it is your intent to piss on the accomplishments of renewables, but the OP shows we are actively changing the composition of the chart you posted.
RELATED:
ERIC WESOFF: JANUARY 30, 2013
Distributed renewable energy is a threat to fossil-fuel-based utilities and industries. The more clean energy consumers produce, the fewer assets utilities get to add and the less energy gets sold. It turns the utility model upside down.
It would be naive to think that these incumbent forces would not push back, hard, against renewable energy on the frontlines and in back rooms...
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Solar-Industry-and-Renewables-Face-ALEC-a-Powerful-Foe?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=013113&utm_campaign=GTMDaily
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)We'll look at the 2013 chart at the end of the year. See how much it has changed.
Natural gas and wind, in bed with each other to allow us to export coal. Fracking being the primary source of that natural gas. Business as usual.
timdog44
(1,388 posts)can take a lead in this. Walgreens is building a new facility in Elgin, Illinois to be a net zero or better energy efficient campus.
http://www.ecochunk.com/6770/2013/03/09/walgreens-to-build-nations-first-net-zero-energy-retail-store-in-illinois/
There is no reason to believe that when this happens and other businesses see that it is $$$ efficient that more will happen. I also saw a Honda plant in Kentucky? building a plant with solar to maximize $$$.
My take is that it is not wrong for the present energy producers to be doing the same. They will find it to save $$$ also. Cut out the suppliers of oil and make us more independent. This would also cut out the Koch brothers, too. So, win/win/win(d).
waddirum
(979 posts)(my hometown)
timdog44
(1,388 posts)Had that town on my mind from some other news.
I am down south of Joliet. My wife has kin in Wilmette.
Still, in all, it is good news.
Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)We need to keep the momentum so that soon renewables exceed fossil fuels both in terms of actual production and cost.
Only then will we shut down coal and natural gas-fired plants as a first step to reducing our carbon footprint. The jury is out on whether we are beyond the point of no return. If we are this will likely only cause some discomfort for me before I pass on but for future generations this is significant.
Why can't we get Congress to stop taking OUR MONEY and giving it to the oil companies in the form of subsidies? These RW nuts say they don't want their money going to abortions. Well, first of all, none of their money can go to an abortion under current law. But I demand my tax dollars stop subsidizing businesses that are killing our planet.
GliderGuider
(21,088 posts)That 13,000 MW of wind is equal to maybe 4,000 MW of coal, nicht wahr?
"Installed capacity" is whirligig marketing spin.
Massacure
(7,525 posts)Not building 4000 MW of coal is still a notable achievement. Wind power is quickly becoming relevant.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)joshcryer
(62,276 posts)It's not about "capacity factor" so much that oil and gas are going up for electrical production. Wind needs storage and a smart grid. Which we don't have. And won't be building for decades.
mountain grammy
(26,623 posts)They're going strong with the oil boom. Lot of people getting rich amongst poverty and ignorance, and the rich like it that way. The last four years have been a boom for many thanks to policies of that "damn Obama."
Rain Mcloud
(812 posts)And more than that,no one has ever seen wind so how can a mega-energy corporation harness something that can not be seen?
The Tea Freepublic also had probably demonstrably verifiable proof from some people who reported they held theorhetorical doctorial degrees from the oregon institute of technology that wind farms in texas had created the second greatest drowth in hysterical records
by blowing the rain away.
Its an liberal illegal alien conspiracy,i tells ya! Evil!
Oh yeah,just in case:
kristopher
(29,798 posts)By Marc Roca, Bloomberg
March 8, 2013
LONDON -- The $77 billion solar-energy industry is forecast to expand the most since 2011, as China becomes the biggest market for the first time and drives annual global installations to a record.
New generation capacity will rise about 14 percent this year to 34.1 gigawatts, equal to about eight atomic reactors, according to the average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. That would beat the 4.4 percent growth in 2012, when demand shrank in Italy and France after subsidies were cut.
China, after building scores of factories that helped cut panel prices 20 percent in the past year, is poised to become the biggest consumer of the devices after doubling its 2013 target for new projects in January. Tumbling prices are benefiting installers including Solarcity Corp. and SunPower Corp. of California while hurting manufacturers such as LDK Solar Co. of China and Norways Renewable EnergyCorp. ASA.
Solar demand is proving very resilient and will keep growing this year even as European markets slump, said Jenny Chase, head of solar analysis at Bloomberg New Energy Finance in Zurich. A further increase in installations driven by record- low prices, however, wont do much to help manufacturers margins.
The benefits are...
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/03/china-drives-record-solar-growth-while-panel-makers-wilt?cmpid=SolarNL-Saturday-March9-2013
FBaggins
(26,748 posts)I had it on good authority that China was already making 35 GW of solar (and the world 45GW+) two years ago. How could the entire world still be short of that at the end of this year (almost three years later)?
NickB79
(19,253 posts)For example: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/science/earth/wind-farm-developers-race-against-end-of-tax-credit.html?_r=0
All over the country, developers are in a sprint to get new wind farms up and running before Tuesday, when two subsidies will disappear like Cinderellas ball gown. After that, the nations wind-farm building will be at a virtual standstill.
The stakes of meeting the deadline are enormous. Wind turbines that are connected to the grid and in commercial service before midnight on New Years Eve are entitled to a 2.2 cent tax credit for each kilowatt-hour they generate in their first 10 years, which comes out to about $1 million for a big turbine. Or companies can request a lump-sum payment equal to 30 percent of the construction cost.
As it stands now, those that enter service on Jan. 1 or later are out of luck.
Luckily, the tax credits were extended into 2013 at the last minute: http://www.triplepundit.com/2013/01/wind-production-tax-credit-extended-fiscal-cliff-deal/
kristopher
(29,798 posts)By Kenneth Bossong
According to the latest Energy Infrastructure Update report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions Office of Energy Projects, 1,231 MW of new in-service electrical generating capacity came on line in the United States in January 2013 all from wind, solar, and biomass sources.
kristopher
(29,798 posts)This news sure got the nuclear fan club all worked up into a tizzy, didn't it?
I can certainly understand why.
Duke CEO confirms threat renewables pose to their business model
http://www.democraticunderground.com/112737600
Nuclear is part of the business model being threatened.