| News for wind power professionals and advocates |  |
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- AWEA's Gramlich: RPS, other factors fuel Ill. wind power boom
Despite being ranked just 14th nationally in terms of wind quality, Illinois has the fourth biggest wind power generating capacity in the U.S., thanks to the state's renewable portfolio standard and a "great balance of proximity to load, wind resources and developable areas," according to Rob Gramlich, interim CEO of the American Wind Energy Association. The group's WINDPOWER conference will take place in Chicago May 5 to 8. "Illinois's gone from zero to more than 3,500 MW (since its first installation in 2003)," Gramlich said. Midwest Energy News
(3/7)     
- BPA: Less chance of wind power curtailment this year
There is just a 50% chance of oversupply issues occurring this spring in the Pacific Northwest, down from 65% last year, according to the Bonneville Power Administration. Data from the Northwest River Forecast Center indicate that the region's water supply from January through July will be 86% of the usual level, reducing the likelihood, and potential cost, of wind power curtailment, BPA said. North American Windpower online
(3/8)
| Project Focus | | |
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- Mass. town residents OK $400,000 funding for wind project
The majority of voters in Otis, Mass., approved a plan to set aside $400,000 from the town's stabilization fund for a proposed wind turbine project. A full 95% of the $400,000 could be reimbursed if the project secures a grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, said a town official. Before the project can proceed, the town's residents must vote again, at the annual town meeting in May, on a proposed $6 million bond for the project. The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Mass.)
(3/7)
| Economy, Energy & Trends | | |
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- Sequestration will slash funds for some renewables programs
Federal spending cuts triggered by sequestration will affect the budgets of a slew of renewable-energy programs, potentially slowing down the permitting process for some projects, observers say. The sequestration will cut the Department of the Interior's budget by $883 million for the rest of the fiscal year and may also lead to workforce reductions at the agency. The Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's budget will also be trimmed by $91 million, while the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy's budget will take a $14 million cut. North American Windpower online
(3/8)
| Policy Watch | | |
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- Bipartisan group of lawmakers urges IRS to clarify PTC rules soon
A group of lawmakers led by Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., wrote a letter to the Internal Revenue Service, asking it to issue its guidance on the amended language of the wind-energy Production Tax Credit "as soon as possible." The absence of "clear IRS guidance ... may soon result in uncertainty among potential investors," the lawmakers wrote in the letter. "AWEA and our member companies appreciate the leadership taken by Senators Bennet and Moran and the support from other senators to urge the IRS to issue guidance regarding the new eligibility requirement for the PTC," interim CEO Rob Gramlich said. SNL Financial (free content)
(3/6)
| AWEA News | | |
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Wind Co-op of the Year Awards Showcase Co-op Ethos
Co-op awards highlight how this segment of utilities uses wind to put customers first. Read more.
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WINDPOWER 2013 Means Value
Wind energy business solutions can be found in the people and educational programming at AWEA WINDPOWER 2013 in Chicago. Hear the answers you need, meet the contacts you want to meet and identify the solutions that will build your success. WINDPOWER offers AWEA Committees and Working Groups a venue to convene on important issues and mingle with other industry leaders that are shaping change. Find out about the AWEA member-only early discount.
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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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