Back in February, David Bradish, who blogs at NuclearNotes, commented on my post “Nuclear meltdown in Finland“:
How about you let us know when wind power in the U.S. actually generates one percent of the electricity in the country? Then I would say you could start bragging.
I knew we had already broken one percent but wanted to wait until we had EIA’s full electricity data for 2008, which you can find here:
Total Generation 2008: 4,114,880 Thousand Megawatthours
Wind Generation 2008: 52,017 Thousand Megawatthours
So wind was about 1.25% of U.S. electricity in 2008 — higher really now, since that averages over many months during which the record wind construction last year was taking place (see “U.S. wind energy grows by record 8,300 MW“).
So I guess it is time to start bragging.
Interestingly, EIA reports that last year, wind generation soared while coal and natural gas dropped:
The drop in coal-fired generation was the largest absolute fuel-specific decline from December 2007 to December 2008 as it fell by 5,198 thousand megawatthours, or 3.0 percent…. Natural gas-fired generation was down by 4.4 percent and was second only to coal-fired generation in its contribution to the national drop in net generation, as it was down by 2,907 thousand megawatthours from the December 2007 total…. Net generation from wind sources was 67.2 percent higher than it had been in December 2007.
In Obama’s first term, wind is likely to at least double its production, and be a large fraction of whatever growth in demand their is given the economic slowdown and Obama’s big push on energy efficiency.
I noted a couple of days that the severe downturn and credit crunch hit all capital-intensive energy investments hard, but the stimulus package has started to turn things around — see Stimulus and venture capital sow seeds for cleantech industry’s “revival.” As E&E News PM (subs. req’d) put it Monday:
In a sign the federal stimulus might be reawakening the clean energy industry, General Electric’s energy investment division announced two big capital injections today into wind project developers and manufacturers.
GE Energy Financial Services said it would pump $200 million into three wind farms being built by Noble Environmental Power in Clinton, Franklin and Wyoming counties. The project, backed by a consortium of 10 foreign and domestic financial firms, is expected to generate 330 megawatts — enough electricity to power 110,000 households….
Today’s news comes after GE’s announcement last week of expanded wind activity.
Last Thursday, project developer Invenergy Wind announced a deal in which GE Energy will supply 74 1.5-megawatt wind turbines to expand the Grand Ridge wind farm in LaSalle County, Ill. That development should generate 110 megawatts.
Finally, while the news is filled with endless announcements of job cuts in almost every sector, it’s worth excerpting today’s Detroit News story, “Wind turbine plant in Novi to hire 250“:
A wind turbine assembly plant opening later this year in Novi could give the region’s sputtering economy a much-needed lift by creating about 250 manufacturing jobs.
Global Wind Systems Inc. will begin hiring skilled assembly line tradespeople as soon as May to staff the new facility — Michigan’s first manufacturer of delivery-ready, large-scale wind turbines.
The 74-ton turbines that will roll off the plant’s assembly line will be used by utility companies and wind farm developers for generating commercial wind power.
“We’re the guys that put together the final assembly of these turbines and complete the customer care for the people that consume our products in the field,” said Chris Long, founder and CEO for Global Wind Systems.
The alternative energy company, which now has about 20 employees, was founded in September and is investing $32 million to establish the plant, which will be an original equipment manufacturer or OEM for wind turbines.
The company received $7.3 million in tax credits from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority in December to create 256 direct jobs over six years. Long said the company likely will grow well beyond that number within two years — to more than 400 employees — and hopes to source components for its 1.5 megawatt turbines to in-state suppliers, a move that could support thousands of additional manufacturing jobs.
Wind equipment manufacturing is a fledgling industry in Michigan. Last year a new state mandate gave the industry a boost requiring Michigan utilities to generate at least 10 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar and biomass fuels, by 2015.
More than two dozen companies have sprung up or diversified into wind parts manufacturing, helping to establish a supply chain in Michigan that will feed components to assembly plants, like the one being built by Global Wind Systems. The renewable energy mandate has prompted utility companies such as DTE Energy Corp. in Detroit to invest heavily into wind power generation, as well.
DTE, for instance, has put 56,000 acres of land in easements for constructing Michigan wind farms, company officials said.
State leaders say Michigan’s technological know-how and manufacturing expertise for milling large volumes of precision parts make it ideal for building and assembling wind energy equipment.
“We’re used to building and finishing various metal parts for the auto industry. Wind turbines need gear boxes and ball bearings, too,” said John Sarver, chairman of the Michigan Wind Working Group, a part of the state’s Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth….
Asked whether the openings at the assembly plant would be well-suited for displaced autoworkers, Long replied: “Absolutely.”
Finally, we have the wind at our backs!
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It looks like the electric car is going to the top of the class.
However, wont this rush to electric cause a spike in coal consumption and therefore CO2 because the green power generation infrastructure isn’t there yet?
I think we are right on the threshold this could be a tipping point that we could avoid.
Wow 1.25% from wind and 48.5% from coal, we’re on our way! Great news.
Even if you get 100% of you electricity for your electric car from a coal plant, there is still less C02 emitted than a gasoline engine. That’s what I heard, is that correct Joe?
This is good news…much-needed jobs in a sagging economy. The 3% drop in coal generation is huge. Since wind power has grown, it’s clearly not just an element of a bad economy and the high energy prices of last year.
However, I’m not sure we can declare (even with the pun) “Finally, we have the wind at our backs”. In another post today, you linked a story that shows blue dog Democrats in coal-rich states showing resistance to cap and trade and the likelihood that they will try to water it down. If wind generated as much as coal, perhaps these Democrats would be in wind-rich states and on board with legislation. It’s a bit of a chicken/egg problem. The entrenched interests of fossil fuels are still very strong.
Let’s say for a minute that carbon tax or cap and trade legislation passes in a weak form, where it’s effectiveness is limited. And what if, due to EPA regulation and actions by Congress and the Obama Administration:
- very few new coal plants are built for new generation or to replace old coal generation
- most new and replaced power generation comes from low carbon sources (namely renewable). Strong tax credits provide economic competitiveness for solar and other renewables that aren’t on par with wind power.
- plug-in hybrids become mainstream in 10-15 years
- we protect most of our remaining natural carbon sinks
- building energy efficiency is improved substantially through strong incentives and building codes
Would this be sufficient to get needed reductions in emissions in this country? If so, what would be the benefits of cap and trade? To help get other countries on board?
David Bradish wrote: “How about you let us know when wind power in the U.S. actually generates one percent of the electricity in the country?”
How about you let us know when nuclear generating capacity grows by 50 percent in a single year, or when nuclear power accounts for 42 percent of all new generating capacity added in a year — both of which were true of US wind power in 2008? Then maybe you can start bragging.
It’s no wonder that nuclear proponents are so petulant. Wind and solar are attracting billions in private venture capital investment (thin-film PV manufacturer Nanosolar was the top recipient of venture capital investment in the US in 2008), and are growing by record-breaking double-digit rates every year, while the “free market” won’t touch nuclear and it is barely maintaining its share of generating capacity.
It’s not “environmentalists” who have rejected nuclear power and enthusiastically embraced wind and solar. It’s Wall Street and Silicon Valley.
‘How about you let us know when nuclear generating capacity grows by 50 percent in a single year, …’
Huh? That happened back around 1960.
‘It’s not “environmentalists” who have rejected nuclear power … It’s Wall Street …’
Remains to be seen; nobody’s gotten a license to build yet. Elsewhere, India seems to be doing alright:
‘NPCIL chair S K Jain said in a telephone interview with Bloomberg that the company had invited foreign banks to express their interest in the project. Fifteen international finance institutions including ten from France responded, said Jain, adding, “Our expression was for €3 billion but we have got commitments for €8 billion.”‘
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=24924
I would also add that not all environmentalists are against nuclear. I for one would rather have nuclear than coal, and wouldn’t oppose a moderate nuclear expansion (maybe 1/2 of a wedge) but of course give me wind any day over those two.
Paulm,
The ADDITIONAL wind power added in 2008(8.3GW capacity or 2,700MWaverage) is enough to power about 7million electric vehicles for the next 20-30 years. If this years additional wind power is only the same as 2008, it will be able to power another 7million vehicles, but if wind power grows by 30% as it has in last 10 years we will be able to power another 10 million EV’s. Clearly wind power can keep up with any EV’s likely to be produced by Detroit.
With more efficient use of electricity there is no reason why any new coal fired plants need to be built.
Next milestone, 2% of electric power produced by wind, should be May this year or when an additional 2,400MW wind capacity is added in 2009.
I calculate that at January 1st, 2009 wind was providing 1.7% of electric power.
I’m with Will Greene on nuclear power. It’s many times better than coal, and is as good as an energy source there is with regards to global warming, but it’s expensive and has other issues. I know that Republicans have been promoting nuclear power. If their support for climate legislation is contingent on allowances for moderate expansion of nuclear fission, then this is a good compromise.
DTE is investing “heavily” in wind power? Is that why there are NINE coal-powered plants in various stages of permitting here in Michigan? I am a member of several groups that are fighting like heck to keep these behemoths out of our state, or we will be behind the renewable curve for decades. Our power consumption here in Michigan is declining and projected to decline further over the coming decade. If a new 900+ MW coal plant gets built in Bay City, as is being proposed, how much wind power are we going to put in place? Hardly any.
Hopefully we can delay the permitting process long enough for new regulations to make the proposed plants non-viable before ground is broken.
I am not against Nuclear in general, but…
AFAIK, Nuclear is far too expensive, as compared to ANY other source of energy. The only thing that makes the costs look reasonable is the heavy subsidy(ies), and the fact that the present Nukes have been around a long time.
New ones will cost a FORTUNE.
Why do Republicans favour it? That’s too much for a mere Canadian to understand.
PaulM:I hope your wrong.Obama said that he was going to help mandate a Global effort. We may owe the Chinese a lot of Green, but they need our exports and their own burgeoning middle class is getting sick of pollution.
Brewster:Ya!They are making a lot of progress on wind,solar has new MIT technology, and carbon Sequestration looks good. Every day another good Idea will come to the front, and soon we will get it right.
Chad is absolutely right to work to block new coal fired plants from being permitted and built.
Let efficiency and renewables take over.
Thank you, Chad.
re electric cars vs coal use.
electric cars will not add greatly to coal generation as they will mostly be charging at night during times when there is an excess of spinning reserve. Battelle Labs of DOE estimated 84 percent of cars and light trucks could be charged on spinning reserve with no need to add new generation.
In reality, the gradual conversion to wind/solar etc, and the use of vehicle to grid storage of energy will allow for a gradual transition as we back out of coal generation.
This is great news, even better is that the Noble Environmental Windparks are already operating. The funding was not for construction of the projects, but operational financing. I visited one of these parks last fall.
http://www.noblepower.com/our-windparks/index.html
Naturally, Republicans and “conservative” wingnuts like nuclear. It’s not free! Really green energy – solar, wind, and geothermal – once installed are cheap to free and that’s SUBVERSIVE, don’t you know that’s why the Muslin Obama and the librul commies promote it! That’s why there is this environmental plot to pull off the global warming hoax!
Here’s my last comment on a Palin website about her refusal to allow endangered species status for, um, endangered species:
Palin and the wingnuts cannot allow species to be listed as endangered because if they did so, it would inhibit their ideologically imprisoned predilection to drill baby drill through every available resource regardless of the consequences.
Palin and other believers in the end times have no motivation to conserve or protect the environment, they see it as God-given to them to exploit. She and her enablers who obstruct efforts to transform from a destructive dependence on burning fossil fuels to a green (wind, solar, geothermal) economy are heedless of their responsibility for leaving future generations an uninhabitable climate.
Climate chaos and its attendant extreme and unpredictable weather – tornados, intense hurricanes, droughts, wildfires and floods, as well melting glaciers and ice sheets, sea rise, and acidification of the oceans – fits right in with the coming Apocalypse predicted by the fundamentalist convictions.
Great page. So nice to read some articles like this. We are so lucky to have this technology that is cost competitive, ready and development seriously happening with it right now.