What’s Up with Wind Power: The Good and Not-So-Good

- The Department of Energy (DOE) just released the first “Annual Report on US Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006”.

- Wind power currently accounts for only 1% of all electricity produced in the US.
- The DOE predicts an increase in wind power generated electricity to reach 7% by 2022. If this goal is to be reached, 36,000 wind turbines will need to be built.

- The top 10 states according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) producing the most kilowatt hours of electricity are:
1. Texas
2. California
3. Iowa
4. Minnesota
5. Washington
6. Oklahoma
7. New Mexico
8. Oregon
9. New York
10. Kansas

- The EPA estimates that a 25-MW wind facility could cover up to 1,500 acres, equal to 60 acres per megawatt.

- 1 MW of power produced by a wind turbine would produce enough electricity for approximately 175 to 300 homes annually (depending on the source of the information). As of March 2007, our national wind energy capacity is 11,699 MW. In comparison, the average size of one US power plant is 213 MW.

- According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, if all US electric power plants were operating at full capacity in 1990, they would have produced 690,000 MW of electricity.

- According to the American Wind Energy Association, 1,700 MW of wind generated power will displace 3 million tons of CO2 emissions each year.

See the Source:
Annual Report on US Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006
A Problem With Wind Power
Wind Energy Projects

environment
energy

Blowin’ In the Wind

General Electric Wind has purchased 276 MW wind turbines from EDF Energies Nouvelles. Due to the recent renewal of the production tax credit in effect until the end of 2008, a demand has been created for turbines in order to continue U.S. expansion into this market.

“The availability of turbines is of major importance for wind power operators to expand in the United States. Extension of the renewable energy production tax credit until the end of 2008 will not fail to stimulate the wind power market and demand for turbines. We are pleased to have a long-established collaboration with GE Wind. Signing this new contract forms part of our ambitious expansion plan in the fast-growing US market,” says David Corchia, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Energies Nouvelles.

About EDF Energies Nouvelles
Founded in 1990, EDF Energies Nouvelles is a world-class player in the green electricity generation market, with gross installed capacity of 1,037 MW worldwide at 31 December 2006, plus 615 MW in gross capacity under construction. With a presence in 9 European countries and in the United States, EDF Energies Nouvelles operates in four renewable energy segments: wind, hydro, biomass and solar.

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EDF Energies Nouvelles

Green Mountain Power Generating Sources Among Lowest in Emissions

COLCHESTER, Vt.-- Green Mountain Power Corporation (NYSE:GMP) announced today that only two percent of its fuel mix for 2006 was from carbon dioxide emitting sources, compared to a national average of nearly 70 percent from emitting sources, according to the Energy Information Administration. More than half of Green Mountain Power’s sources came from water, wood or wind.

“We have consistently worked to reduce emissions at Green Mountain Power, both in our operations and in the fuels we use to supply our customers with electricity,” said Christopher L. Dutton, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power. “In 2006, we achieved the lowest proportion of emission-producing fuels that we’ve had in decades. We were able to take advantage of additional hydro power resources from Hydro Quebec and we experienced near record-breaking production at our own hydro facilities, which helped reduce the use of fossil fuels,” he added. Green Mountain Power uses no coal and in 2006 sold more power into the New England market than it purchased.

Green Mountain Power owns and operates eight hydroelectric plants in Vermont. Hydro generation in 2006 was 30 percent greater than the 20-year average, with several plants recording the highest annual generation in 31 years of record. Overall production was the third highest total in 31 years of record, producing 161,937 megawatt hours. At a 2006 cost of 3.6 cents per kilowatt hour, Green Mountain Power’s own hydro generation is its second lowest cost source. Power generated at Green Mountain Power’s wind generating station is its lowest cost source, at 3.1 cents per kilowatt hour.

“With the world focused on how to combat global climate change, we are proud that this year our carbon footprint is so small,” said Mr. Dutton. “Our challenge in the future will be how to keep our emissions low as we replace the contracts for power from Vermont Yankee and Hydro Quebec, which expire in 2012 and 2015, respectively.”

The complete breakdown of Green Mountain Power’s fuel mix in 2006 is: hydro 50.4%, nuclear 43%, wood 4.3%, oil/natural gas 2.2%, and wind 0.1%. Water, wood and wind together produced 55 percent of the total. (Renewable Energy Credits, or RECs, were sold for a portion of the energy generated at Green Mountain Power’s wind facility in Searsburg. Energy associated with the RECs sold is not claimed as wind and is 0.5% of the total energy in 2006.)

Green Mountain Power Corporation is a Vermont-based energy services company serving 90,000 electric customers.

See the Source:
Green Mountain Power Corporation

Large-Scale Wind Power Plant to be Built in France

Paris -- EDF Energies Nouvelles (Paris:EEN) has ordered 26 turbines for its Chemin d'Ablis wind farm from German company REpower. Construction of this large-scale wind power plant, which will have 52 MW in installed capacity, is due to commence in 2007.

The Chemin d'Ablis wind farm, located in the Eure-et-Loir department, will boast 26 windmills, each capable of generating 2 MW, located alongside a 13km stretch of the A10 motorway. It represents a total investment of €75 million.

Work is set to begin in spring 2007, with the taking over of the wind farm scheduled during the first half of 2008.

The windmills are to be supplied by REpower, a major European turbine manufacturer, under an agreement with the manufacturer covering a total order of 46 turbines: 26 windmills for Chemin d'Ablis, plus 20 for the Biker (26 MW) and Walkway (14 MW) wind farms in the UK.

This order falls within the scope of the framework agreements signed by EDF Energies Nouvelles with the world's leading manufacturers to secure its supply of turbines around the world.

The start-up of construction work at the Chemin d'Ablis project will bolster EDF Energies Nouvelles' position in its home market. To date, EDF EN has developed and built 140 MW in capacity in France, including 60 MW for its own account. Construction of six new wind farms in France representing an additional 160 MW in installed capacity is planned, with start-up dates during 2007 and 2008.

About EDF Energies Nouvelles
Founded in 1990, EDF Energies Nouvelles is a world-class player in the green electricity generation market. With a presence in 9 European countries and in the United States, EDF Energies Nouvelles operates in four renewable energy segments (wind, hydro, biomass and solar). Wind energy currently accounts for nearly 80% of its installed capacity.

See the Source:
EDF Energies Nouvelles

More Wind Power Coming to Ontario

Schneider Power Launches $90 Million Four Wind Farm Development

TORONTO -- February 27, 2007 -- Schneider Power Inc., a leading Canadian owner and builder of renewable energy generation projects, announced today that it has launched the development and expansion of four new wind farms across the Province for a total capital cost of $90 million dollars.

Schneider Power intends to develop and construct three new 10 Megawatt, low-impact wind farms across the Province, one adjacent to Highway 400 near the Town of Innisfil, "The Highway 400 Wind Farm," one near the Town of Arthur, "The Arthur Wind Farm," and one near the Town of Trout Creek, "The Trout Creek Wind Farm." In addition to this Schneider Power also intends to expand the Providence Bay/Spring Bay Wind Farm to its full 11.6 MW capacity by end of 2008. Collectively these wind farms represent a total of 41.6 MW of installed capacity and will produce 8.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power an equivalent of 11,000 homes.

In 2006 Schneider Power successfully established its presence in Ontario with the construction of The Providence Bay/Spring Bay Wind Farm, on Manitoulin Island. It is Canada's most technologically advanced small-scale wind power generation project and one of the first Wind Farms in Ontario to be built solely with wind turbine generators from German manufacturer Enercon GmbH.

"Today's announcement by the Province has given us the confidence to continue to make a strong commitment to Renewable Energy in Ontario," said Thomas Schneider, CEO, Schneider Power Inc. "This is the next step in building on a proven growth strategy for our Company and it brings us closer to our goal of 500 MW installed across Canada by 2010 -- more than double our previous production capacity," he said.

The accelerating demand for clean electricity has allowed Schneider Power to grow rapidly in the past three years. With developments of power projects in Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario totaling in excess of 500 MW, the Company hopes to establish itself as one Canada's leading green electricity generators. Headed by the Chairman, Bernd Schneider, the Schneider family has over 115 years of experience in developing clean, renewable energy. Schneider Power is a leader in applying new environmentally friendly technologies and is a member of the United Nations Global Compact.

About Schneider Power Inc.
Schneider Power Inc. is a 100 percent green electricity generator with facilities in Canada and Germany that generate electricity exclusively from small-scale, low-impact wind power projects who meet or exceed the federal government's EcoLogo standard for renewable energy. Schneider Power intends to invest heavily over the next three years to increase its presence in Ontario by increasing the nameplate capacity of its planned Ontario developments to more than 41.6 Megawatts, with plans for a further 500 MW of green electricity generation installed across Canada by 2010.

See the Source:
Schneider Power