Inside Energy (https://insideenergy.org/tag/wind/)
Wyoming has the sixth highest wind capacity potential in the country, but it sits at 15th in actual production. With new transmission lines and soon-to-end federal subsidies, now could be the time for Wyoming to take a leap forward in wind investment. But several barriers block the western state’s way from becoming a leader in this renewable energy.
Over eighty percent of new wind power last year went up in states that voted for President Donald Trump. It may sound strange when Trump’s aim is to bolster coal, not wind, but what red states usually promote is individual choice and a smart use of money. Inside Energy’s Madelyn Beck reports that wind power – both large and small – is literally changing Wyoming’s energy landscape.
The Interior Department is proposing changes to the 2015 Greater Sage Grouse Plans. Inside Energy looks at the impact these changes could have on the spirit of compromise across the west.
The wind energy industry is growing worldwide, and so is the global competition between turbine-makers. That battle is now playing out in Wyoming, a state with some of the best wind potential in the nation. To get an edge, a Chinese company is trying to win over some of the state’s scant pool of workers through free training to become a wind turbine technician.
Cleveland’s own Charles Brush created the world’s first electric wind turbine in the 1800’s. He used it to power his home. And since then, wind turbines have popped up all over the world — but never in the Great Lakes. That could change with Project Icebreaker, a six-turbine demonstration to be located eight to 10 miles off Cleveland’s shore. It could become the country’s second offshore wind farm; the first just started operating in Rhode Island’s waters.
The election of Donald Trump has raised questions about the future of federal funding for energy research and development. We dig into the numbers.
The future for Wyoming’s wind industry is finally looking up. There are few places in the country with more wind energy potential than Wyoming, but the state has seen almost no new wind turbines built in six years, even while wind has boomed in the rest of the country. Depending on who you ask, the challenges have been political, technical or both. But now, the outlook is improving on all fronts.
After hearing more than five hours of public testimony against it, the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Revenue Committee rejected a bill that would have increased the tax on wind energy production.
Legislators see the increase as a way to raise revenues in the face of a massive budget shortfall due to a drop in coal, oil and gas production. But wind developers say it’s a dangerous gamble for a state that has some of the best wind power potential in the nation.
