A Post of Facts

Traditionally, I have tried to post a wind fact within my Wind News blog entries. Well, since I have added a shared news links to our Web site (if you haven't checked it out yet you can find it at on the News/Links page of our site) I don't think its necessary for me to share the same links on our blog. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I missed digging for those little nuggets of information that seem to help give insight into an industry that seemed to be ever changing. So, if you have missed them as much as I have then you should enjoy this post. Here are a few wind industry tidbits, enjoy!

WIND FACTS

In 2007 and 2008 more than 50 new wind industry manufacturing facilities were announced, opened or expanded in the U.S.
Source: AWEA 2009 Calendar

Wind is a fuel-free resource and its capitol costs are offset by major fuel cost savings over time.
Source: AWEA 2009 Calendar

An ERCOT study found that consumers would save money over the cost of investing in new transmission lines when new wind capacity is built in the state.
Source: AWEA 2009 Calendar

AWEA has determined that two-thirds of the predicted growth of wind energy generation in the U.S. will occur in Texas.
Source: State Energy Conservation Office

Wind power development in Texas has more than quadrupled since the renewable portfolio standard was established in 1999.
Source: State Energy Conservation Office

The wind industry is creating thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in royalty income for landowners, for communities and for the Texas Permanent School Fund
Source: State Energy Conservation Office

For landowners with wind turbines on their property, some wind leases provide bonuses and installation payments, but the primary form of payment is in the form of royalties, also called rent, operating fees or monthly production payments, usually paid to the landowner quarterly.
Source: The Energy Report 2008

While wind farms may extend over thousands of acres, the wind turbines themselves occupy only a small percentage of the land – generally 3 to 8 percent (one to two acres per turbine, mostly for the unit itself and associated service roads). This allows farmers and ranchers to use most of the land for other activities
Source: The Energy Report 2008

Most wind turbines currently planned for installation in West Texas wind farms are 1 MW to 2.3 MW units. Again, a 1 MW wind turbine can generate electricity for about 230 Texas households.
Source: The Energy Report 2008

I think that's probably enough to take in for today! Check back for more wind fact posts. I think for a future post I will work on a "what people in the wind industry are saying" post about wind quotes. Submit a quote about wind and I just might include it in the entry. And as always, if you have a suggestions for a blog entry please post it as a comment.

Until next time...