DOE Maps Plan for 20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030

Unprecedented investment in alternative energy technologies and growing awareness about the need for clean and renewable energy production have driven many states to initiate strategies to promote alternative forms of power generation, such as solar, hydroelectric, geothermal and wind power. Most current government strategies, however, fall short of what will be needed to build a truly reliable, affordable and clean energy portfolio in the U.S., according to a new study from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The key to creating portfolios that accomplish all of these goals will be diversity. No one source of power will be able to support the nation's need for electricity, but a diverse portfolio of many power sources may be able to provide a flexible and sufficient power supply.
 
Wind has emerged as one of the more affordable and common alternative sources of power. The cost of drawing power from wind has fallen 90 percent over the past 20 years, making wind power an increasingly viable alternative for regions with the necessary geographic attributes and which have the infrastructure to accommodate wind farms (see the Oct. 23, 2006 special issue of the Digest). The DOE report examines the necessary steps and outcomes of building a larger wind infrastructure, one that could provide 20 percent of the nation's power by 2030.
 
One of the most pressing changes required to make this 20 percent scenario possible is the expansion of the U.S. power transmission grid. The current grid is already taxed by congestion and in need of an overhaul, but increasing the availability of wind power would require even greater changes. Capacity would have to be increased in regions that are geographically favorable to the production of wind power. The pace of construction for new wind installations also would have to increase substantially. Currently, wind power generation is increasing at roughly 3 gigawatts (GW) a year, a number that would have to grow to 16 GW by 2018 and continue growing at that pace through 2030. This would bring the pace of wind installations in line with the current increase in natural gas units.
 
The report outlines many of the benefits that the increase in wind power production would have for the country. Most importantly, it would diversify U.S. power generation, keeping prices stable and helping to increase the amount of available power without the country becoming more dependent on coal and other polluting sources of energy. The 20 percent scenario would also:

• Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent;
• Reduce the amount of water consumed through electricity generation;
• Potentially increase annual revenues in communities involved with wind power generation to $1.5 billion by 2030; and,
• Potentially employ up to 500,000 jobs in the U.S., with 150,000 employed directly in the wind industry.

Still, the transition to wind will involve substantial investment, mostly tied up in incremental costs associated with initial capital investments. Though wind farms and plants offer lower ongoing costs than other traditional means of power generation, the initial investment is substantially higher. The report downplays these costs, noting that the energy investment in the 20 percent scenario would amount only $43 billion more than an alternative scenario in which no increase in wind power occurs.
 
Though the report does not go into detail about what role state governments would play in supporting wind power, many states have already taken an active role in building a stronger wind industry. Since 2001, 21 states have introduced renewable portfolio standards, all of which call for some increase in the percent of energy drawn from wind. None of the initiatives, the report notes, are as long-term as the scenario sketched out by DOE and only California, Nevada and New York call for wind energy to represent as much as 20 percent of the total power sourcing.
 
Many universities have also increased their focus on wind energy. Recently, the University of Wyoming announced their plans for a UW Wind Energy Research Center. BP America Inc. has provided $2 million for the center, which may be eligible for matching funds from the state legislature. The funds will be used to begin construction of a building for the center, which will include a large, closed-loop wind tunnel. Texas Christian University also recently announced a five-year partnership with Oxford University Environmental Change Institute and FPL Energy LLC to examine the socio-economic and environment impacts of wind power. The partners hope to use their research to mitigate some of the negative consequences of wind power on animals and animal habitats and the impact on local communities.
 
Download the DOE report 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply at: http://www.20percentwind.org/20percent_wind_energy_report_05-11-08_wk.pdf