On a MW output comparative basis however, many US States produce more...
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - June 29, 2009
Wind Farm in Ontario driving renewable electricity production to the highest level ever!
Toronto, Ontario, Canada was hailed as North America's wind energy leader recently at an international conference in South Korea, where George Smitherman, Ontario's Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, accepted the 2009 World Wind Energy Award.
The World Wind Energy Association presented its annual award to Minister Smitherman for his "outstanding achievements in making Ontario the leading wind energy jurisdiction in North America." The international association also recognized the Minister's role in championing Ontario's Green Energy and Green Economy Act, calling the recently adopted legislation a decisive step toward establishing a strong domestic wind industry in the province and making it a worldwide green leader.
The World Wind Energy Award has been handed out annually since 2002 to international leaders who have made extraordinary contributions in the development of wind energy worldwide. Minister Smitherman is the first Canadian recipient of the award. He joins past recipients from Brazil, China, Denmark, Egypt, Germany and India.
Wind in Ontario
Ontario is the leading wind capacity jurisdiction in Canada, with almost 1,000 megawatts of wind capacity, equivalent to the consumption of about a quarter of a million average Ontario households.
Ontario's Green Energy Act is expected to create more than 50,000 direct and indirect jobs by the end of 2012, and see the investment of at least CAD$5 billion in infrastructure and expenditure on renewable generation and conservation.
"Ontario has worked very hard to become a leader in the use of clean, renewable wind power. By supporting innovative green energy programs, we're attracting investment, creating jobs and securing a healthier future for all Ontarians," said Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario.
"The first major event I spoke at as Ontario's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure was before this group last year, at the 2008 World Wind Energy Conference. I said then that Ontario was poised to move quickly to make a difference in greening our society and I am pleased to say that today - one year later - we are well on our way," said Minister Smitherman.
"Under your political responsibility and leadership in the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the Green Energy Act was initiated and adopted as a decisive step in establishing a strong domestic wind industry in Ontario and making the province a green leader in North America and worldwide," said Dr. Anil Kane, President, World Wind Energy Association.
Wind in the US
According to the AWEA (
American Wind Energy Association), U.S. Wind energy industry installed over 2,800 MW in the first quarter of 2009 with new projects completed in 15 states and powering the equivalent of 816,000 homes.
“These brand new wind projects shine a ray of hope on our economy today, creating good jobs and powering homes with a clean, inexhaustible source of energy,” said AWEA’s CEO Denise Bode. “But the nation still lacks the long-term signal that is needed to build up renewable energy on large scale. The time is now for a national renewable electricity standard (RES), a policy that over 80% of Americans favor and for which they voted: President Obama’s campaign position of generating 25% of our electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025 will help revitalize our economy and protect consumers when they need it the most: when the price of the fuels used for electricity generation goes up.”
The new wind power projects add up to 2,836 MW, according to initial AWEA estimates while total wind power generating capacity in operation in the U.S. is now 28,206 MW. This is enough to serve over 8 million homes and avoid the emissions of 52 million tons of carbon dioxide annually—the equivalent of removing 8.8 million cars from the road.
In state news, Kansas and New York now have over 1,000 MW of wind power generating capacity – boosting the wind power “gigawatt” state club to nine:
- Texas 7,907 MW
- Iowa 2,883 MW
- California 2,653 MW
- Minnesota 1,804 MW
- Washington 1,479 MW
- Oregon 1,363 MW
- New York 1,261 MW
- Colorado 1,068 MW
- Kansas 1,014 MW
In Texas, the portion of the large Roscoe project was completed, bringing the project up to 584.5 MW. The next 197-MW section of the project is slated to be completed soon, which will take it to the top of the list of the nation’s largest operating wind power projects.
Indiana keeps its title as fastest growing state with the large 400.3-MW project that was brought online. States tallying the most rapid growth in wind capacity in the first quarter include:
- Indiana 75%
- Maine 55%
- Nebraska 53%
- Idaho 49%
- New York 34%
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