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Military Orders The new series of novels from Martin Roth In the Middle Ages, military orders like the Templars defended Christians and fought for justice. Now, in Martin Roth's latest series of novels, a church has established a clandestine new military order, to fight for today's persecuted Christians.... |
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Wind Energy - A Looming Boom
Wind energy projects accounted for more than a third of all new power generating capacity in the US in 2007. It is shaping up as a boom.
The new report from US Department of Energy, "20% Wind Energy by 2030", simply emphasizes that the United States is the big new wind power market - and the big new wind power investment opportunity.
The report presents a scenario whereby wind energy could provide 20 per cent of US electricity by 2030. Such a scenario "while ambitious could be feasible if the significant challenges identified in this report are overcome."
In essence, wind power capacity in the US would need to grow from 11.6 gigawatts at present to more than 300 GW, at a cost of well over $2 trillion.
Some other signs that wind energy might be about to boom in the US:
* An April 2008 survey from Germany's DEWI wind energy institute noted that America has become the world's fastest-growing wind power market, and was expected to remain so. In 2007 the US installed 5,249 MW of new capacity, more than a quarter of the global total. Spain followed with 3,515 MW, and then China with 3,449 MW. Wind projects accounted for more than a third of all new power generating capacity added in the US in 2007.
* In May 2008 Spanish utility Iberdrola, the world's largest operator of wind farms, announced plans for its renewable energy business to spend $8 billion over two years to expand in the US. It also announced the $670 million purchase of 200 wind turbines from General Electric for US projects.
* Oilman T. Boone Pickens plans a massive wind farm in Texas, costing $10 billion to $12 billion, to be completed by 2014, and capable of supplying power to more than 1.3 million homes.
* In January-March 2008 a further 1,400 MW of wind power capacity was installed in the US, with General Electric supplying turbines for 442.5 MW.
* Learn more on the attractions of the US wind sector in the ebook Investing in US Wind Energy.
May 27th, 2008