Wind Riding Favorable Policy Breeze Toward Record Year (US)

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48795

Although only a modest 124 MW of new wind power was commissioned in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2007, the impressive number of projects currently under construction is expected to make this year the biggest one yet by far in terms of new capacity installations. Over 4,500 MW of wind power projects are in the process of being built for completion this year and early next year, according to reports from American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) member companies.

In the past, much of the development in the Midwest has taken place in Iowa and Minnesota, in part because of state regulations that encouraged wind power growth. Development in those states is not slowing down. In Minnesota, over 400 MW are under construction. Horizon is developing the 101-MW Prairie Star project; PPM Energy, the 150-MW Minn-Dakota project partially in Minnesota and partially in South Dakota; and enXco, the 205-MW Fentonwind farm.

At the end of the first quarter, total installed wind power capacity was 11,699 MW. The fact that the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) has been available consistently for a number of years is resulting in a smoother production cycle; instead of most of the project commissionings being packed into the last quarter, AWEA expects to see more large projects commissioned by the middle of the year, which will ease the time crunch that transportation and construction companies have experienced in the past.

Here's a look at how the project picture is unfolding this year across the country.

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