House Passes Wind Energy Bill

[sfc_oliver]

The House has been passing a lot of wind recently. This one isn't so bad depending on restrictions that may or may not apply. Still this should be run by scientists not politicians.

[Why?Town]

Help if you are able.

[Rick Rowlands]

This is the type of alternative energy legislation that I can support.  No punitive taxes, no carbon trading scams, just support for R&D for wind energy.   

[Towntalk]

Not that it matters, but this bill passed the house by voice vote rather than roll call, so we have no idea just how our Congressman stood.

How many were on the floor for this vote?

By the way, the time alloted for debate on this bill was 40 minutes -- 20 minutes for each side.

Congressional Research Service Summary

Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to carry out a research and development program to: (1) improve the energy efficiency, reliability, and capacity of wind turbines; (2) optimize the design and adaptability of wind energy systems to the broadest practical range of atmospheric conditions; and (3) reduce the cost of construction, generation, and maintenance of wind energy systems.
Requires the program to focus on research and development of specified areas, including: (1) new materials and designs to make larger, lighter, less expensive, and more reliable rotor blades; (2) technologies to improve gearbox performance and reliability; (3) automation, materials, and assembly of large-scale components to reduce manufacturing costs; (4) advanced generators; (5) wind technology for offshore applications; (6) methods to assess and mitigate the effects of wind energy systems on radar and electromagnetic fields; and (7) wind turbines with a maximum electric power production capacity of 100 kilowatts or less.
Directs the Secretary to conduct a wind energy demonstration program that: (1) is of sufficient size to measure wind energy system performance under the full productive range of wind conditions in the United States; and (2) includes demonstration projects conducted in collaboration with industry that yield data that is useful for the research and development program. Requires the Secretary to carry out such demonstration program in compliance with provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 regarding cost sharing and merit review of proposals.

CBO Cost Estimate

http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/105xx/doc10534/hr3165.pdf

[irishbobcat]

House Passes Wind Energy Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that will authorize a comprehensive program to improve the efficiency, reliability and cost-effectiveness of U.S. wind energy systems, reports North American Wind Power.
The Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009, H.R.3165, was sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko, D, N.Y.
The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of research and development to improve the energy efficiency, reliability and capacity of wind turbines; optimize the design and adaptability of wind energy systems; and reduce the cost of construction, generation and maintenance of wind energy systems, according to the press release.
The bill would also create a demonstration program to measure wind energy performance including a full range of wind conditions across the country, and requires that the demonstration programs be conducted in collaboration with private industry.
The bill authorizes $200 million per year from 2010 through 2014 for these programs.
In light of the new legislation, Bolton Valley Resort in Vermont has announced that its wind turbine project is underway, and will be operational in late autumn. The wind turbine is designed to produce in excess of 300,000 kilowatts of power annually, the equivalent of electricity consumed by 40 to 45 Vermont households. It will be located near the top of the resort's Vista Quad lift in an existing clearing adjacent to the ski patrol hut.
The turbine, a Northwind 100 manufactured by Northern Power Systems of Barre, Vt., measures 121 feet in height from the ground to the top of the tower. The turbine will feed excess power that is not consumed by Bolton Valley into the grid through the Vermont net metering program. It is the first turbine at a Vermont ski area, the second at a New England area and the third at a ski area in the United States.
Green Jobs are coming to America. Will they come to Ohio?
Dennis Spisak
Mahoning Valley Green Party
Ohio Green Party
www.ohiogreens.org
www.votespisak.org/thinkgreen/