The Wind Energy Supply Chain Initiative (WESCI), a new wind energy initiative, will create jobs, grow Pennsylvania's manufacturing base and produce environmentally friendly, home-grown energy, says Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky.
"Pennsylvania has a growing base of wind energy providers already here," Yablonsky says. "Companies like Gamesa in Cambria and Bucks counties; GE Wind in Erie; and Iberdrola, with operations in Somerset, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties, already have a significant presence in Pennsylvania, and they need hundreds of manufactured components to build, maintain and expand their operations. Wind and alternative energy providers need suppliers, and this initiative will help providers and suppliers find and connect with one another. WESCI will help attract wind energy providers and help more Pennsylvania manufacturers to transition and enter the growing alternative energy market."
As examples of wind industry supply needs, Yablonsky cited electrical equipment, power transmission devices, turbine generators, fabricated parts, gearboxes and bearings.
Key to the WESCI initiative will be the commonwealth's industrial resource center network - seven regional centers that provide comprehensive process improvement and strategic consulting services to Pennsylvania's small- and medium-sized manufacturers. Under the WESCI initiative, the centers will help identify supply chain gaps, gather provider requirements and find qualified suppliers.
SOURCE: Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
20,000 MW Baby!
The U.S. wind industry has raced past the 20,000 MW installed capacity milestone, achieving in two years what had previously taken more than two decades, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports.
Wind now provides 20,152 MW of electricity generating capacity in the U.S. But a delay in extending the production tax credit (PTC) could place 2009 projects on hold and discourage manufacturing investment, according to AWEA. The PTC is currently set to expire at the end of the year.
"Wind energy installations are well ahead of the curve for contributing 20% of the U.S. electric power supply by 2030 as envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy," says Randall Swisher, executive director of AWEA. "However, the looming expiration of the federal renewable energy PTC less than four months from now threatens this spectacular progress. The PTC has been a critical factor in wind's very rapid growth as a part of the nation's power portfolio."
While Germany has more generating capacity installed - about 23,000 MW- the U.S. is producing more electricity from wind because of its much stronger winds. AWEA expects over 7,500 MW of new wind capacity to be added this year, expanding the U.S.'s wind energy fleet by 45% and bringing total capacity to 24,300 MW.
SOURCE: American Wind Energy Association
Wind now provides 20,152 MW of electricity generating capacity in the U.S. But a delay in extending the production tax credit (PTC) could place 2009 projects on hold and discourage manufacturing investment, according to AWEA. The PTC is currently set to expire at the end of the year.
"Wind energy installations are well ahead of the curve for contributing 20% of the U.S. electric power supply by 2030 as envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy," says Randall Swisher, executive director of AWEA. "However, the looming expiration of the federal renewable energy PTC less than four months from now threatens this spectacular progress. The PTC has been a critical factor in wind's very rapid growth as a part of the nation's power portfolio."
While Germany has more generating capacity installed - about 23,000 MW- the U.S. is producing more electricity from wind because of its much stronger winds. AWEA expects over 7,500 MW of new wind capacity to be added this year, expanding the U.S.'s wind energy fleet by 45% and bringing total capacity to 24,300 MW.
SOURCE: American Wind Energy Association
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Bats Death near Wind Towers
The mystery of why large numbers of migratory bats are killed by certain turbines of southern Alberta’s wind farms every year may have been solved by a comprehensive University of Calgary research project that has yielded answers to the problem.
A bat mortality study supervised by U of C biology professor Robert Barclay that began in 2006 has determined that the vast majority of bats found dead below turbines near Pincher Creek suffered severe injuries to their respiratory systems consistent with a sudden drop in air pressure – called barotrauma – that occurs when the animals get close to turbine blades. The results will be published in the August 26 online edition of Current Biology. The study shows that 90 per cent the bats examined after death showed signs of internal hemorrhaging consistent with barotraumas while only about half of the bats showed any evidence of direct contact with the blades.
"Because bats can detect objects with echolocation, they seldom collide with man-made structures," said PhD candidate and project leader Erin Baerwald. "An atmospheric-pressure drop at wind-turbine blades is an undetectable—and potentially unforeseeable—hazard for bats, thus partially explaining the large number of bat fatalities at these specific structures,” Baerwald explains. "Given that bats are more susceptible to barotrauma than birds, and that bat fatalities at wind turbines far outnumber bird fatalities at most sites, wildlife fatalities at wind turbines are now a bat issue, not a bird issue."
The respiratory systems of bats and birds differ in important ways, in terms of both their structure and their function. Bats' lungs, like those of other mammals, are balloon-like, with two-way airflow ending in thin flexible sacs surrounded by capillaries, the researchers explained. When outside pressure drops, those sacs can over-expand, bursting the capillaries around them. Bird lungs, on the other hand, are more rigid and tube-like, with one-way circular airflow passing over and around capillaries. That rigid system can better withstand sudden drops in air pressure.
Nine species of bats are found in Alberta, three of which migrate through the province each year. The majority of bats killed at wind turbines are the migratory bats that roost in trees, including hoary bats, eastern red bats, and silver-haired bats. While little is known about their population sizes, the researchers said their deaths could have far-reaching consequences. Bats typically live for many years, in some cases reaching ages of 30 or more. Most also have just one or two pups at a time, and not necessarily every year.
"Slow reproductive rates can limit a population's ability to recover from crashes and thereby increase the risk of endangerment or extinction," said Barclay, noting that migrating animals tend to be more vulnerable in the first place.
All three species of migratory bats killed by wind turbines fly at night, eating thousands of insects—including many crop pests—per day as they go. Therefore, bat losses in one area could have very real effects on ecosystems miles away, along the bats' migration routes.
Baerwald said there is no obvious way to reduce the pressure drop at wind turbines without severely limiting their use. Because bats are more active when wind speeds are low, one strategy may be to increase the wind speed at which turbine blades begin to rotate during the bats' fall migration period.
The study was initiated by TransAlta after the company’s wind farm operators noticed bat carcasses below turbines and approached Barclay, an internationally-recognized bat expert, for advice.
“It was important for us to determine as much as we could about this issue,” said Jason Edworthy, Director, Stakeholder Relations for TransAlta. “Ultimately, it’s a situation we’re working hard to alleviate. Ongoing research with the University is seeing some real results in terms of mitigation of collisions.”
The paper “Barotrauma is a significant cause of bat fatalities at wind turbines” by Erin F. Baerwald, Genevieve H. D'Amours, Brandon J. Klug and Robert M.R. Barclay will be available online at: www.current-biology.com
A bat mortality study supervised by U of C biology professor Robert Barclay that began in 2006 has determined that the vast majority of bats found dead below turbines near Pincher Creek suffered severe injuries to their respiratory systems consistent with a sudden drop in air pressure – called barotrauma – that occurs when the animals get close to turbine blades. The results will be published in the August 26 online edition of Current Biology. The study shows that 90 per cent the bats examined after death showed signs of internal hemorrhaging consistent with barotraumas while only about half of the bats showed any evidence of direct contact with the blades.
"Because bats can detect objects with echolocation, they seldom collide with man-made structures," said PhD candidate and project leader Erin Baerwald. "An atmospheric-pressure drop at wind-turbine blades is an undetectable—and potentially unforeseeable—hazard for bats, thus partially explaining the large number of bat fatalities at these specific structures,” Baerwald explains. "Given that bats are more susceptible to barotrauma than birds, and that bat fatalities at wind turbines far outnumber bird fatalities at most sites, wildlife fatalities at wind turbines are now a bat issue, not a bird issue."
The respiratory systems of bats and birds differ in important ways, in terms of both their structure and their function. Bats' lungs, like those of other mammals, are balloon-like, with two-way airflow ending in thin flexible sacs surrounded by capillaries, the researchers explained. When outside pressure drops, those sacs can over-expand, bursting the capillaries around them. Bird lungs, on the other hand, are more rigid and tube-like, with one-way circular airflow passing over and around capillaries. That rigid system can better withstand sudden drops in air pressure.
Nine species of bats are found in Alberta, three of which migrate through the province each year. The majority of bats killed at wind turbines are the migratory bats that roost in trees, including hoary bats, eastern red bats, and silver-haired bats. While little is known about their population sizes, the researchers said their deaths could have far-reaching consequences. Bats typically live for many years, in some cases reaching ages of 30 or more. Most also have just one or two pups at a time, and not necessarily every year.
"Slow reproductive rates can limit a population's ability to recover from crashes and thereby increase the risk of endangerment or extinction," said Barclay, noting that migrating animals tend to be more vulnerable in the first place.
All three species of migratory bats killed by wind turbines fly at night, eating thousands of insects—including many crop pests—per day as they go. Therefore, bat losses in one area could have very real effects on ecosystems miles away, along the bats' migration routes.
Baerwald said there is no obvious way to reduce the pressure drop at wind turbines without severely limiting their use. Because bats are more active when wind speeds are low, one strategy may be to increase the wind speed at which turbine blades begin to rotate during the bats' fall migration period.
The study was initiated by TransAlta after the company’s wind farm operators noticed bat carcasses below turbines and approached Barclay, an internationally-recognized bat expert, for advice.
“It was important for us to determine as much as we could about this issue,” said Jason Edworthy, Director, Stakeholder Relations for TransAlta. “Ultimately, it’s a situation we’re working hard to alleviate. Ongoing research with the University is seeing some real results in terms of mitigation of collisions.”
The paper “Barotrauma is a significant cause of bat fatalities at wind turbines” by Erin F. Baerwald, Genevieve H. D'Amours, Brandon J. Klug and Robert M.R. Barclay will be available online at: www.current-biology.com
Monday, August 25, 2008
American Energy Act
http://www.govtrack.us/data/us/bills.text/110/h/h6566.pdf
Above you will find the link to the Bill that the Democratic party fears so much.
All the GOP wants is an up or down vote. So why is Nancy so worried about this bill?
Above you will find the link to the Bill that the Democratic party fears so much.
All the GOP wants is an up or down vote. So why is Nancy so worried about this bill?
The Time is now!
Myself I am done waiting for the right person and the right time to move renewable energy forward!
As the GOP has done on the floor of the House Deeds not words are the call!
They are fighting for the American Energy we must join the effort.
The call is out join this fight!
Yes I have been lax in keeping up this blog but that has changed as of now! I will be writing about two very exciting projects that myself and a handful of crew will be moving on.
These two project are just a sample of what is to come
As the GOP has done on the floor of the House Deeds not words are the call!
They are fighting for the American Energy we must join the effort.
The call is out join this fight!
Yes I have been lax in keeping up this blog but that has changed as of now! I will be writing about two very exciting projects that myself and a handful of crew will be moving on.
These two project are just a sample of what is to come
Friday, August 22, 2008
Check the web site out
http://www.alternativeenergy.com/
Check the site out it is a Ning site interesting what the owner did with it.
The Redhead on Girls Gone Green is great.
Check the site out it is a Ning site interesting what the owner did with it.
The Redhead on Girls Gone Green is great.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Interesting site
http://www.survivalblog.com/index.html
Any reading in the press will tell you that we need to be prepared to take care of ourself when events like flooding occur.
This site will help you prepare for those times.
Also everyone of us should have basic first aid training, do you?
Any reading in the press will tell you that we need to be prepared to take care of ourself when events like flooding occur.
This site will help you prepare for those times.
Also everyone of us should have basic first aid training, do you?
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