In its annual state-of-the-industry report, Outlook 2008, AWEA announced that last year's 45% growth rate is a record breaking milestone for the U.S. wind power industry.

New wind power installations comprised 30% of all new electricity generating capacity added in 2007. More than 5,200 MW of wind were added to the U.S. supply last year, which is enough to generate zero-emissions, renewable electricity for 1.5 million American homes. The report notes that new wind plants accounted for the largest portion of new generation of any type built in the U.S. over the year.

March 24, 2008

Dominion Resources is about to make a major investment in its pipeline infrastructure. Its Ohio subsidiary has filed an application with Ohio regulators to replace nearly 20 percent of its 21,000-mile pipeline system over 25 years at a current cost of $2.6 billion. Once approved, modernization will begin next year.

The utility's undertaking is not uncommon. Quite a bit of the infrastructure was laid in the 1950s and 1960s and over time, the lines have corroded. Moreover, the growth in natural gas-fired power plants has increased and put pressure on developers, who say they need greater access to gas-rich areas as well as more pipeline capacity.

WYANDOTTE -- Wilson Middle School will go green -- or at least greener -- next month with a solar-powered system designed to help deliver illumination during education.

Installation of the system began Tuesday through a program unique for a school district in the state. Paid for by a $50,000 state grant with another $50,000 kicked in by the city, the 10-kilowatt photovoltaic system will serve as a sort of hybrid energy conservation system and learning tool.

"Every student in Wyandotte goes through Wilson Middle School," said Melanie McCoy, general manager of the service that oversees water and electric providers. "And we, as the municipal service, can put information on our bills and on cable. It's a great mix and a great opportunity for information sharing."

March 21, 2008

Electricity reliability may not be top-of-mind with consumers but it is with technology wonks. Albany, N.Y. is now testing the use of the latest iteration of grid technologies that can carry 10 times the electrons of conventional copper wires.

The so-called high-temperature superconducting cable must actually be super-cooled. That will virtually eliminate the resistance to electricity flow, thereby greatly increasing the efficiency of the wire. The second-generation technology is one solution to the challenging task of providing sufficient electric power to densely populated areas. Burying cable and acquiring rights-of-way is prohibitively expensive, often representing three-quarters the cost of such projects. With their greater capacity, however, superconducting cables hold lots of promise.

March 19, 2008

The American economy may be in or near recession. But certain elements of the energy economy are poised to take off. Demand response technologies that allow grid operators to curtail electricity use during peak periods is one of those segments.

The sector is now in its early stages. But with the overall emphasis on energy conservation and air quality, the market for demand response is developing at a fast pace and a lot of players want to participate in that expected growth. The jockeying for position is well underway, with smaller privately-held enterprises trying to occupy market share along with better-established businesses such as General Electric, Comverge and EnerNOC.