Wind Energy: New Hampshire Needs Every Kilowatt
- From: "lkgeo1" <lkgeo1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 3 Aug 2006 09:48:22 -0700
Wind Energy: New Hampshire Needs Every Kilowatt
by Farrell S. Seiler, New Hampshire Wind Energy Association
August 3, 2006
A turbine at work in rural Fenner, New York, is one of a 20-turbine
wind farm successfully operating since 2001. In 2005, this wind farm
generated 63 million kilowatt-hours.
The record-setting use of electricity in New England last month should
be a wake up call to anyone concerned about the adequacy of the
region's energy supply. Officials responsible for providing
electricity, like the rest of us, held their breath and hoped that
millions of New Englanders would use air conditioning sparingly as
temperatures spiked and demand peaked.
"New Hampshire's unexplored potential for wind energy is enormous."
-- Farrell S. Seiler is chairman of the New Hampshire Wind Energy
Association and president of Granite State Energy Consultants in
Littleton, New Hampshire. New England managed to dodge the bullet.
Thanks to global warming, cool summers in New England will soon become
a distant memory. Now there is the grimmer prospect that all of us
could be sweating (and freezing) in the dark very soon unless we start
building more electricity generating plants fast -- really fast.
By now we all know that wind energy doesn't pollute. The fuel is free.
Wind-generated electricity reduces demand for costly natural gas. And
wind power lessens reliance on politically unstable countries who
gleefully sell us expensive and polluting fossil fuels.
Even President Bush, an oilman to the core, now recognizes the
potential of this underutilized, strategic natural resource. He wants
wind energy to supply 20 percent of our nation's electricity.
What's more important, and oftentimes overlooked, is that a sizable
wind turbine project, called a wind farm, can be built quickly,
oftentimes within months.
Last year, 2,431 megawatts of wind energy projects using 1,650 wind
turbines worth more than $3 billion were built in 22 states. And many
of these wind farms were constructed in less than 12 months. During the
first half of this year alone, 822 megawatts of new wind power plants
were constructed in the United States.
Here in New Hampshire, Community Energy, a wind project developer, is
planning to erect 12 two-megawatt wind turbines on private land in
Lempster. The Community Energy project is the first serious wind energy
project to go forward in New Hampshire.
Though small by comparison to Seabrook, this 24 megawatt plant could be
operational by the end of next year. Community Energy plans to invest
$40 million to build the Lempster wind farm. The company is also
considering other windy sites in the state.
In 2001, a 20 wind turbine project in rural Fenner, N.Y., was built in
just 22 weeks. In 2005, this wind farm generated 63 million
kilowatt-hours.
Using fewer and more efficient wind turbines, the more powerful
Lempster wind project will be generating more than 70 million kilowatt
hours annually -- enough for more than 9,000 New Hampshire homes. The
Lempster wind turbines will be producing electricity when it is needed
most, too. Electricity generated by the project can help meet summer
peak demand, but also provide electricity throughout the year.
But there's more good news. New Hampshire's unexplored potential for
wind energy is enormous. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that
as little as 3 percent of New Hampshire land area may be suitable for
wind power development. That translates into five billion
kilowatt-hours produced each year.
One recent survey conservatively suggests that the commercial potential
for wind power in New Hampshire could be more than 500 megawatts.
Scores of Lempster-size wind farms of less than 30 megawatts could be
carefully built in the state.
Of course, the wind doesn't blow all the time and wind projects can't
meet all of New England's future energy needs by themselves. But wind
power can make a significant contribution to the region's energy
supply.
What's needed to get wind energy projects built in New Hampshire?
Developers of wind projects are relying on a regulatory approval
process that continues to be fair, flexible and fast.
The Lempster wind farm is currently under review by the state's Energy
Facility Site Evaluation Committee and by several state agencies. If
approved within the next few months, construction of the 24 MW Lempster
wind farm could start as early as next summer. By the end of 2007, the
Community Energy project could become operational and start generating
millions of kilowatts-hours of electricity. And not a kilowatt-hour too
soon.
Quick approval of the Lempster wind project will set a positive
precedent and send a clear message to others considering wind energy
projects in the state: New Hampshire wants sensible wind energy
development and is willing to make the regulatory process work swiftly
and smoothly.
Farrell S. Seiler (windinfo@xxxxxxxxxxx) )is chairman of the New
Hampshire Wind Energy Association (NHWEA, 134 Main Street, Littleton,
NH 03561-0693; (603) 568-4916 (cell); (802) 748-8060 (cell)) and
president of Granite State Energy Consultants in Littleton.
Reprinted with permission of the New Hampshire Wind Energy Association
(NHWEA)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: Wind Energy: New Hampshire Needs Every Kilowatt
- From: Charlie Perrin
- Re: Wind Energy: New Hampshire Needs Every Kilowatt
- Prev by Date: Re: Boy Was I Wrong !!
- Next by Date: Re: RAE--earnings?
- Previous by thread: Iran warns oil could reach $200 on sanctions
- Next by thread: Re: Wind Energy: New Hampshire Needs Every Kilowatt
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
