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- Vestas' CEO to stay; U.S. layoffs expected if PTC is not renewed
Vestas Wind Systems President and CEO Ditlev Engel said he will remain in his position as head of the company amid the selection of a new chairman of the board. He said he believes he can carry out strategic business decisions for the company despite some performance glitches in past months. Separately, Engel also said that Vestas has laid off about 1,000 employees, and more layoffs in the U.S. will come if the renewable energy Production Tax Credit is not renewed. Reuters
(3/29), Reuters
(3/29)
- Analyst: Global wind market would be affected by PTC expiration
The global market for wind energy would be affected next year if the renewable-energy Production Tax Credit in the U.S. is not extended, writes columnist Gerard Wynn. Efforts to extend the PTC, which would expire on Dec. 31, have been slowed because its extension has been linked with a number of other expiring or expired tax incentives in legislation, Wynn writes. Reuters
(3/29)     
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- N.J. steps up efforts to construct first U.S. offshore wind farm
New Jersey's offshore wind farm demonstration project is falling behind Virginia after studies questioned the costs and benefits of the project to taxpayers and consumers. Fishermen's Energy plan to construct six offshore turbines needs the approval of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "The first one will get more national attention. There might be some bragging rights. But there is more interest in getting it right than getting it first," said Jim Lanard, president of the Offshore Wind Development Coalition. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.)
(3/30)
- Siem secures contract for North Sea offshore-wind project
Amrumbank West, a unit of E.ON Climate & Renewables, awarded Siem Offshore Contractors an installation contract for the Amrumbank West Offshore Wind Farm located in the German Bight sector of the North Sea. The company will provide submarine cable installation and other connected services to the project, which will operate eighty 3.6-megawatt wind turbines. Fox Business/Dow Jones Newswires
(3/29)
| Economy, Energy & Trends | | |
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- Japan seeks to curb nuclear energy reliance with floating turbines
Japanese firms Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Marubeni and Nippon Steel are working on a 16-megawatt offshore-wind pilot project near Fukushima that uses floating wind turbines, in an effort to curb the country's dependence on nuclear power. Erecting offshore wind turbines attached to the seabed is costly and challenging because "Japan is surrounded by deep oceans," said Katsuhiko Yokomitsu, Japan's senior vice environment minister. "We are eager for floating offshore wind to become a viable technology," he added. Bloomberg Businessweek
(3/30)
- Analysis: Siemens' tech can help Germany achieve energy goals
Germany can use Siemens' electrolyzer technology to achieve its goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to one-third by 2020 and 80% by 2050, according to this analysis. The company's electrolyzer plants will enable Germany to use hydrogen to produce electricity as well as store large quantities of power, the analysis says. The technology is also designed to run on variable power from wind turbines, the analysis adds. MIT Technology Review online
(3/29)
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- Oil, gas tax-repeal legislation fails in the Senate
Legislation introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., that would have eliminated billions in tax incentives for major oil and natural gas companies came up short of the needed votes for it to advance in the Senate. The failure comes after President Barack Obama urged senators to repeal the tax incentives. "They can either vote to spend billions of dollars on oil subsidies that keep us trapped in the past, or they can vote to end these taxpayer subsidies that aren't needed for oil production so that we can invest in the future," Obama said. FuelFix.com
(3/29), The Hill/E2 Wire blog
(3/29)
- Md. lawmakers start debate on offshore-wind-energy bill
A debate in the Maryland House of Delegates added uncertainty to the future of an offshore-wind-energy bill, as Republicans and some Democrats expressed concern about the legislation's effect on energy prices. Although the proposal would limit price hikes to $1.50 a month for household bills and 1.5% for commercial bills, opponents say it is unacceptable given that taxes continue to go up. However, wind power costs will soon align with nonrenewables once the initiative gains traction, said state House Economic Matters Committee Chairman Dereck Davis. The Washington Times
(3/29)
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These stories were selected and summarized by independent editors at SmartBrief Inc., not by AWEA's staff, and do not represent AWEA positions. They reflect the variety of daily coverage of American wind power.
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