American Wind Energy Industry Rebounded In 2014

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American Wind Energy Industry Rebounded In 2014

American Wind Energy Industry Rebounded In 2014

US Wind Industry Annual Market Report, the US wind energy industry added 23,000 jobs in 2014, and began 2015 with 12,700 MW worth of wind energy projects under construction — “a record for the start of any year,” the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) concluded.

“These results show that extending the Production Tax Credit for wind power in 2013 was good for business in America,” said Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA. “We’ve got a mainstream, Made-in-the-USA product that supports jobs in every state and is gaining momentum. With a more predictable policy we can add more jobs and keep this American success story going.”

The full report is available for purchase now, or download if you are a member of the AWEA, and “provides a comprehensive review of wind industry trends, industry rankings, and the market landscape through 2014.”

However, the accompanying press release put out by the AWEA highlights several key points from the report that are worth noting. Probably the most impressive highlight was a repeat of news the AWEA released in January of 2015 at the time of their fourth quarter 2014 report, which showed that the American wind energy industry brought over four times more wind energy online in 2014 than in 2013.

According to the January press release, “2014 saw the completion of 4,854 [MW] in generating capacity” brought online in 2014, “with cumulative installed capacity increasing eight percent to a total of 65,879 MW.”

2014 finished with the wind energy industry employing nearly 20,000 workers across more than 500 facilities in 43 states, with another 53,000 jobs in project development, construction, operations, and other parts of the industry. In fact, the US wind industry drover $12 billion in private investment in 2014, for a total of more than $100 billion since 2008.

Go wind energy, go!!! Wahooo!
 
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6,000 People Employed By Iowa Wind Industry In 2014

6 000 People Employed By Iowa Wind Industry In 2014 CleanTechnica

About 6,000 people were employed by the Iowa wind industry in 2014. Across the US, about 73,000 people worked in the wind industry in the same year, which was an increase of about 23,000 over 2013. Iowa had the second-most wind industry employees in 2014.

Texas had even 11,000 more people working in the wind industry, with a total of 17,000.

Much press about renewable energy focuses on whether or not renewable energy is affordable (which it typically is now), but it tends to not acknowledge that renewable energy contributes economically by employing people to build wind and solar farms, and operate and maintain them. Research, design, engineering and manufacturing wind power technology are obviously required too. Wind power workers also need training, and that activity employs some as well. Another consideration that is overlooked typically is the fact that wind industry jobs are skilled, so they can pay well. According to one source, wind power service technicians can earn salaries ranging from $30,000 to $100,000 per year.

Fossil fuel power also creates jobs, but much of the cost comes from the fuel itself (not to mention the health costs). Wind and solar have been found to create many more jobs per $1 million invested than fossil fuel sources of power.
 
Guess dey's savin' the oil an' gas development fer later...

Feds Auction 343,833 Offshore Acres to Wind Power Companies; 87 Percent Off Limits for Oil, Natural Gas Development
October 8, 2015 | The federal government is auctioning off 343,833 acres of offshore federal land for wind energy development on Nov. 9, with bidding coming from 13 companies deemed to be “legally, technically and financially qualified” to participate.
As part of President Obama’s comprehensive Climate Action Plan to create U.S. jobs, develop domestic clean energy resources and cut carbon pollution, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper announced Wednesday that “343,833 acres offshore New Jersey will be offered for commercial wind energy development in a competitive lease sale on November 9, 2015,” the Sept. 23 press release stated. “On the heels of this summer’s historic ‘steel-in-the-water’ milestone for the nation’s first commercial offshore wind farm, today’s announcement marks another major step in standing up a sustainable offshore wind program for Atlantic coast communities,” Jewell said in the press release. “This effort took significant engagement and cooperation with New Jersey and other stakeholders to advance clean energy development and reduce potential use conflicts, which moves us closer to harnessing the enormous potential of wind energy along the Atlantic coast.”

wind_turbine.jpg

According to the Institute for Energy Research, wind energy accounts for a small fraction of energy production in the United States. “Today, wind power provides 1.8 percent of all the energy consumed in the United States. Though wind power has increased substantially since 1970, it constitutes only a small fraction of U.S. electricity supply. In 2013, wind power accounted for 4.4 percent of all electricity generated in the U.S.,” the Institute reported. “Wind power can be viable for companies in areas where prevailing conditions are favorable, especially if the government compels the production of renewable energy,” the Institute reported.

BOEM reported that it has awarded “nine commercial offshore wind leases, including seven through the competitive lease sale process (two in an area offshore Rhode Island-Massachusetts, another two offshore Massachusetts, two offshore Maryland and one offshore Virginia),” the press release stated. “These lease sales have generated about $14.5 million in winning bids for more than 700,000 acres in federal waters,” it stated. Conversely, according to BOEM, 87 percent of federal offshore acreage is off limits to the oil and natural gas development, including the entire Atlantic Coast, the entire west coast and most of Alaska.

Feds Auction 343,833 Offshore Acres to Wind Power Companies; 87 Percent Off Limits for Oil, Natural Gas Development
 

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