This report does not paint wind with silver bullet predictions. It is a fair assessment of the steps necessary and the challenges to expect in order for wind power to generate that 20% of U. S. electricity.

As you might expect, for example, NIMBY will no doubt continue to exert a significant challenge as projects spread across the landscape. And you can bet your bippy that resistors will use items in this report whenever they can to sway public opinion against your project based on issues listed on this site, and certainly more to follow.

With no doubt, there is a tough mountain to climb. Yet knowing now what to realistically expect as we make that climb can help keep the goal in focus no matter how energetic the effort or disheartening the response. And, being forewarned on what to expect can help both the public and wind advocates alike avoid becoming disenchanted with wind energy’s promise in the U. S. energy portfolio.

For an interesting and funny assessment on reading the DOE report in full, David Pace points you (by chapter and page) to some key items of interest in his “Want 20 Percent Wind Power by 2030, Get to Work!” available here.

And for the full report, click here.

In a crisp and color-filled Power Point format, everything you wanted to know about the State of the States’ Wind Power is available here in Larry Flowers’ Wind Powering America February 2008 Update. It will knock your socks off!

Using great photos and easy-to-understand charts and graphics, the state of commercial wind technology in the US is spread out there for everyone to follow.

The WPA 2008 Udate shows:

• The evolution of commerical wind technology in the US
• How wind capacity in megawatts has increased while costs have decreased
• How the US leads the world in annual wind capacity additions
• But, lags behind other countries for wind energy production as a percentage of electricity consumption
• How US installed wind capacity in 2007 compares to where we were in 1999

On the more nitty gritty issues, Larry answers:

• What are the drivers for wind power?
• What are the costs of energy production via wind, natural gas and coal?
• How does wind energy affect economic development?
• What are the environmental benefits of wind power?

Larry wraps it up with:

• Case studies and local ownership models
• Key issues for wind power

And hits home on the 20 percent wind-electricity vision including:

• Market challenges
• Job creation
• Water savings
• Carbon savings

In 2003-2004 I worked with WPA through the Montana Wind Working Group that Larry helped get started rolling. He is a passionate advocate – but with deep enough knowledge on the many issues that need to be considered.  If you are working on a wind agenda, make sure you spend a good bit of time at the Wind Powering America website. And, introduce your agenda and issues to Larry Flowers. I know he will do all he can to help you find the right information, people and equipment to make sure your project is a success.  

The 5 top windiest states in the US are (in order), North Dakota, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, and Montana. Yet, according to the American Wind Energy Association, at the end of 2005, the 5 top states in the US capturing wind to generate power were (in order at that time) California, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. (Note: Texas has likely surpassed California since the 2005 data.)

Of course there are a lot of reasons why the windiest states have not yet tapped their potential, while states with less potential are maximizing what they have. But in terms of your own project, no matter where you live you must be prepared to answer a key question everyone of your stakeholders, supporters and resistors will ask:

What’s the quality of the wind in your target location?
Wind Powering America’s State Wind Resource Maps, the Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States, and anemometer monitoring wind quality at the project site itself will give you enough information to answer anyone who questions your project location. And, doing this homework to prepare for meetings with stakeholders, potential allies and resistors will give you the confidence to know that the site you have chosen really does have enough wind to warrant pushing forward.

There are three ways to tap the wind that blows across your landscape:

Each model has different issues, requirements, pros, cons, and paybacks. If you are just getting started and do not know which model is best for you or your group, check out Windustry’s Know Your Options to help you make a decision.

There are so many issues related to any particular wind project, you must first select your project model and then study every piece of information you can find to prepare to meet potential stakeholders, allies and resistors.

Take time to immerse yourselves in the whole A to Z of issues, requirements, incentives, etc., surrounding the type of project you are planning to install

There are many resources on line to help you but the two that will probably answer most of your basic questions by visiting their respective websites are Windustry and Wind Powering America.

Windustry offers a very easy to access, user friendly website that lays out in plain English and not too technical language all of the basic information in easily digestible chunks.

Wind Powering America is the whole enchilada.

Both sites should be bookmarked in your Wind Project Community Organizing browser folder. You will come back to them again and again, as the go-to websites for everything you need to know.