Vestas V-47 turbines in operation at the Montezuma Wind Farm
Photo: Warren Gretz
While Vestas dominate the HAWT (Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine) market, this blog from New York State has lamented the lack of competitiveness from a certain American turbine manufacturer. However, there recently has been some good news from Renewable Energy Access
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently reported that General Electric was providing wind turbines representing more than 45% of this country’s new wind capacity in 2006.
With GE Energy’s wind turbine design, manufacturing and assembly facilities in Germany, Spain, China, Canada and the U.S., it is responsible for the development and/or installation of more than 7,500 wind turbines with a total rated output exceeding 9,800 MW.
Credit: General Electric Company
3.6-megawatt wind turbines installed off the coast of Ireland, is currently the largest GE Energy installtaion.
The leading U.S.-based wind technology supplier also is competing more vigorously for another segment of the North American wind energy market.
GE Energy will provide an additional 600 megawatts (MW) of wind turbines to Invenergy Wind LLC for its 2008 projects in the U.S. and Canada. This order, which brings the total to 1,200 MW of GE 1.5-MW wind turbines for Invenergy projects over the next two years, replicates Invenergy’s order last fall for projects planned for 2007.
Renewable Energy Access reports that GE Energy contracts now total 1,200 MW for wind projects in the U.S. & Canada. The North American wind energy market shows strong growth because of a highly developed, existing infrastructure and vast on- and off-shore wind energy resources in the United States and Canada that have yet to be tapped.
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Renewable Energy Access recently reported that Congressman Nick Rahall (D. WV) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that would burden wind power with sweeping new requirements never applied to other energy sectors.
H.R. 2337 is scheduled for action in early June at the House Resources Committee:
— Subtitle D of the bill would direct the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to review every existing and planned wind project, a mandate far beyond the agency’s resources and capabilities, and criminalize operation of wind energy facilities not formally certified by USFWS.
— Under the legislation, landowners and farmers with wind turbines on their property would be subject to invasive inspection requirements.
— Landowners and farmers could face jail time or a $50,000 penalty for putting a wind turbine, regardless of whether it is for personal use or of a commercial scale, on their property without certification by the USFWS director.
A hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled for May 23 on the bill. “This bill is an unprecedented threat to clean, renewable energy,” said Randall Swisher, Executive Director, American Wind Energy Association. “It would undermine an essential piece of the global warming solution. Wind energy is the one readily deployable, cost-effective option we have available to meet this challenge, and Rep. Rahall’s proposal would put a massive roadblock in its path.
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[...] this blog previously has noted, General Electric makes highly regarded turbines, yet Vestas remain the predominant choice among [...]