June 7, 2006—The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) recently reported steps that three states are taking to encourage small wind power development.
Pennsylvania awarded a $193,000 grant to Southwest Windpower to place 15 small, advanced technology wind turbines in highly visible locations across the state, and invited municipalities, public authorities, and school districts to apply to the state to host the wind turbines. The state also unveiled a model ordinance that will help Pennsylvania’s local governments decide how to direct the location and development of wind turbines within municipal borders.
In Minnesota, Xcel Energy has committed to developing 500 megawatts of community-based wind power by 2010. The utility is already developing projects that should yield 300 megawatts of community-based wind power by 2007.
In Iowa, MidAmerican Energy has agreed to buy 40 megawatts of wind power from community wind projects under an agreement with the Iowa Farmers Union
To help such state efforts, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Powering America program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have issued a series of Small Wind Electric Systems Consumer’s Guides, including guides specifically crafted for 35 states. To download the guides, scroll down to the “Publications” heading on Small Wind Web page of the Wind Powering America Web site.
