Report: Wind power could be 35% of supply by 2050

[bananas]

Source: USA Today

The Obama administration is setting higher goals for wind power, saying it could supply 35% of the nation's electricity by the year 2050.

Wind power currently generates 4.5% of electricity, but that number is expected to more than double to 10% by 2020, says a report obtained by USA TODAY that will be released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Wind energy continues to be one of America's best choices for low-cost, zero-pollution renewable energy, and in an increasing number of markets, may be the cheapest source of new energy available," says a summary of the report by the Obama administration.

The new report — titled "Wind Vision: A New Era of Wind Power in the United States" — replaces a 2008 document produced during the George W. Bush administration called "20% Wind Energy by 2030."

<snip>

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/12/obama-wind-power-report-energy-department/70160824/

[mountain grammy]

1. 2050 is far too late.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. I hope humans are still around by 2050.

After some of the posts about climate change and methane and photosynthesis of late, I'm feeling less assured that that will be so.

[daleanime]

4. Amen....

need to move a lot faster.

[bananas]

3. FACT SHEET: Wind Vision Report Highlights Long Term Benefits of Investing in America's Wind Energy

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/12/fact-sheet-wind-vision-report-highlights-long-term-benefits-investing-am

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 12, 2015

FACT SHEET: Wind Vision Report Highlights Long Term Benefits of Investing in America's Wind Energy Industry

As a key part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the wind power industry supports more than 50,000 American jobs and supplies enough energy to power 16 million homes. Building on this momentum, today the Department of Energy released Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States, a highly anticipated analysis of America’s wind energy industry – charting the future of wind power through 2050 and underscoring the economic and environmental benefits that steady growth will make possible.

Today, the United States stands as a global leader in wind energy, ranking first in the world in wind power generation, providing affordable and renewable electricity to American families and businesses nationwide. With utility-scale wind plants installed in 39 states, growth in America’s wind energy industry has boosted the economy, spurring more than $400 million in exports in 2013 and supporting jobs related to development, siting, manufacturing, transportation and other industries. The report shows that with continuing technological advancements, cost reductions, and siting and transmission development, the nation can deploy wind power to economically provide 35% of our nation’s electricity and supply renewable power in all 50 states by 2050.

Since President Obama took office, the electricity we get from wind has increased by three fold. In fact, between 2009 and 2013, wind represented approximately 30% of new electricity generation in the United States. With economically competitive prices in many areas, the U.S. wind energy market currently remains strong as more utilities select wind as a cost-saving option, paving the way to a low-carbon future that protects our air and water and addresses climate change.

<snip>

[bananas]

5. Key Points

Key Points:

• The United States could install up to 11 GW per year in new capacity through 2050, an ambitious but feasible deployment scenario comparable to the wind capacity installed in 2012.
  
  
  
  • This growth could lead to America operating and maintaining a fleet of more than 400 GW nationwide through 2050, enough to power more than 100 million homes.
    
    
  • The report also indicates that the United States could install a total of 86 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050, creating clean energy jobs in coastal communities.
    
  
  
• U.S. manufacturing supplies the majority of the blades and towers installed at U.S. wind farms.
  
  
  
  • With more than 500 U.S. manufacturing companies across 43 states, continued investment in America’s wind energy manufacturing sector could boost America’s competitiveness, help launch new businesses across the country, and secure the future of thousands of U.S. manufacturing jobs.
    
    
  • Total investment would reach $70 billion per year by 2050 under this growth path.
    
  
  
• Today, average wind energy costs nationally are approaching cost-competitive levels. Backed by stable policies including the production tax credit and the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, costs will continue to drop as the industry scales up and innovates.
  
  
  
  • Wind is anticipated to provide nearly $280 billion consumer savings by 2050.
    
    
  • Wind generation agreements typically provide 20-year fixed pricing, helping reduce rate shocks caused by volatility in natural gas and coal fuel prices.
    
  
  

[7962]

7. So just how many windmills are we talking about?

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

12. At least 200,000.

[niyad]

6. wow--35% in 35 years--really moving right along there.

[Thinkingabout]

8. Wont be around to see the success but am hopeful this will come to pass.

Solar, wind and water power would be nice. We take products and generate a useful outcoe. We could already be using these sources if we could get our leaders to listen.

[buddysmellgood]

9. Hopefully, we won't need 35 % from wind

I'm betting solar and nuclear, combined with some natural gas, will reduce our dependency on coal before wind gets to 35 percent.

[bananas]

13. Hopefully, we won't have any nuclear by then.

Nuclear is one of the worst sources of energy.
Not only is it dirty, dangerous, and expensive, it is also a corrupting influence on politics.
The old reactors should all be shut down by then.
We just have to stop building new ones.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

10. Zero chance of that happening. Wind and solar power are already obsolete.

[JudyM]

14. Obsolete? Curious about the facts behind this...

Care to expand on it a bit with sources?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

15. I could, but you probably wouldn't believe me. Not that I would blame you for bein highly skeptical.

[riversedge]

11. Wisconsin will be (IS) left behind again. We do have a start but Walker

but a halt to new construction when elected gov 4 years ago