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Wind Power Generation Beating Natural Gas in U.S. in 2012

Bloomberg -- Wind-turbine installations are exceeding natural gas plants in the U.S. for the first time this year as developers rush to complete projects before the expiration of a tax credit for renewable energy.

New wind capacity reached 6,519 megawatts by Nov. 30, beating the 6,335 megawatts of natural gas additions and more than double those of coal, according to data from Ventyx Inc., which is owned by the Swiss power transmission equipment maker ABB Ltd. (ABBN) The company plans to release final tallies in January.

“Wind will very likely beat gas, but it may be close,” said Amy Grace, who leads North American wind industry analysis for Bloomberg New Energy Finance in New York. “I think it’s very likely that we get over 8 gigawatts for 2012.”

Congress hasn’t renewed the production tax credit, w

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Submitted Dec 22, 2012 By: skb69sa

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,590 Points:1,606,595 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 27, 2012 3:10:25 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse jrs: I'm with you on the renewables.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,953 Points:2,114,690 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 9:06:25 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse So? Wind has had a BIG head start.
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,743 Points:588,820 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 24, 2012 7:19:53 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Renewable verses finite. I will go with renewable.
niceguytx Champion Author Houston Posts:13,685 Points:2,710,810 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:30:06 PM Ignore niceguytx Report Abuse Surprising.
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,340 Points:1,240,400 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 11:55:16 AM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Next year will be a different story.
rrs517 All-Star Author Colorado Posts:913 Points:341,780 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 9:08:29 AM Ignore rrs517 Report Abuse Take away the huge subsidies that end 12-31 and wind energy will stop like it hit a brick wall. Happened 3 times before.
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:7,765 Points:1,543,925 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 8:50:47 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse Still don't want any windmill's in my yard.
ClarkSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,063 Points:1,008,480 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 7:40:44 AM Ignore ClarkSC Report Abuse Doubt it.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:32,934 Points:2,342,585 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 6:35:29 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Wind Power Generation Beating Natural Gas in U.S. in 2012? Yesterday an article said that natural gas was the way to go, now its wind power. Tomorrow solar power will be the favorite. ALL power sources have their benefits, some more than others. Renewable energy needs a way to store the electrical energy for future demand when the sun isn't shining, the wind isn't blowing, etc. etc. etc. Some wind frarms have not done very well and some were closed because the maintenance was too expensive. Now those wind farms are rusting away to nothing. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, vehicle manufactures Produce and the population ‘Drives’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII! - The Day After.....
DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:7,059 Points:1,624,400 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 3:16:37 AM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse Hollow victory. Game over for wind
cwashi3324 Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,786 Points:570,265 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:31:21 AM Ignore cwashi3324 Report Abuse Awesome news!
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:24:38 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse You're right, @jrsva. No coal plant has ever been idled by a wind farm but coal plants have been replaced by natural gas plants that can be throttled up and back down as demand changes. I'd consider that a positive. And those natural gas plants only need to run when the wind isn't blowing. When it is blowing, those plants don't burn any fuel.
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:553,980 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:21:22 AM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse What happens when there is no wind, Nothing!
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:20:09 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Tell me, @Number43. How much does it cost to drill thousands and thousands of fracking wells? It sure isn't free.
leeac Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,581 Points:430,980 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:15:34 AM Ignore leeac Report Abuse The teabagger Republicans are killing clean and green energy.
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,681 Points:1,635,245 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:13:48 AM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse So what. Wind power costs too much. Gas is plentiful and cheap to use. Why this nutty happiness over paying more. Liberal fools trying to distort the issue. Do you want to pay more for energy? if yes then why are you coming to this web site? We want to pay less !
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,835 Points:1,610,075 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:13:05 AM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse “It shows that wind has firmly planted its foothold as a valuable energy source.” No, it shows that everyone knows the PTC is ending in 8 days so they had better get their tax farms up and running. Wind turbines can’t make it without the subsidies. Conventional power producers shouldn’t object to more turbines; they have to be running and on line at all times to pick up the load when the wind changes. Wind’s impact on carbon emissions? Zero. No coal-fired plant has ever been idled because of wind development.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,590 Points:1,606,595 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:10:48 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse AviatorRob: well said.
tutaw Champion Author Kentucky Posts:3,585 Points:839,820 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:09:41 AM Ignore tutaw Report Abuse nice
KrsnaDragon Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,392 Points:528,375 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:09:38 AM Ignore KrsnaDragon Report Abuse Old 'news'.
Robert44 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,567 Points:1,217,130 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:09:31 AM Ignore Robert44 Report Abuse Won't last.
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,451 Points:2,077,835 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:08:46 AM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse Nothing but hot air blowing
4warned Champion Author Michigan Posts:5,814 Points:2,160,335 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:08:32 AM Ignore 4warned Report Abuse They are both part of the energy equation. I hope they both continue to grow.
TheSicilian Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:5,364 Points:1,466,825 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:07:36 AM Ignore TheSicilian Report Abuse blow hards
VetteFan Champion Author Indiana Posts:9,724 Points:2,025,555 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:07:06 AM Ignore VetteFan Report Abuse CNG is on the rise.
I75at7AM Champion Author Dayton Posts:66,476 Points:2,430,420 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:07:05 AM Ignore I75at7AM Report Abuse "beating" gas plants? Yeah, but how much electricity is being produced by 1) gas-fired plants vs 2) Wind-generated plants ???
Dailyrun Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,967 Points:385,915 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:06:54 AM Ignore Dailyrun Report Abuse A positive step.
Tsunamiron Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,414 Points:554,800 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:05:40 AM Ignore Tsunamiron Report Abuse Glad to see this green energy. Keep it up.
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,555 Points:2,442,210 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:05:18 AM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse if we truly need an unlimited and free source of HOT AIR, just set up a turbine outside the halls of Congress.
jackson661 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,762 Points:1,474,170 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:05:16 AM Ignore jackson661 Report Abuse Wind turbine installations mean we really do have a energy plan in the USA.
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,703 Points:385,050 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:05:06 AM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse Need everything making energy.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:04:18 AM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Really, @Ebaz? Then bring some data to the dance.
crashintuc34 Champion Author Tucson Posts:4,037 Points:808,965 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:04:09 AM Ignore crashintuc34 Report Abuse Its all the wind coming from Washington.
AKmailman Champion Author Alaska Posts:5,618 Points:1,554,640 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:02:48 AM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse more govt money in wind than nat gas
cheaper0ON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:968 Points:395,130 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:02:05 AM Ignore cheaper0ON Report Abuse Sounds Great.
Ebaz Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:3,231 Points:712,385 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 23, 2012 12:01:23 AM Ignore Ebaz Report Abuse Throwing out junk statements about fracking...to talk smack about junk statements. Fail.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:59:03 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse To all those complaining that wind power is not reliable, we all understand that but the wind is always blowing somewhere in this country. Any place that has a surplus of energy sells it to a market that needs the energy. That's why high voltage transmission lines exist. It's a network. It's impossible to have a system that runs 100% from wind but we're nowhere close to 100%. We haven't even cracked single digits yet. The ones who are complaining are the fossil fuel powered electricity suppliers. They don't like competition from wind because they want to run their plants at 100% capacity, 24 hours per day. Anything less than that means less money for them.
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:553,980 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:57:38 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Hmm
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,653 Points:1,419,555 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:55:37 PM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse Sounds like a lot of hot air to me.
papakoca All-Star Author Texas Posts:649 Points:527,910 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:53:33 PM Ignore papakoca Report Abuse When the credits expire, we'll see how if the turbine industry can stay on their feet. Odds are, they won't.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:51:25 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Really @suzmar. How many barrels per day do the wells produce in your patch of Texas? The only reason the old wells have a second life is because of fracking. The frackers are basically scraping the sides of the ketchup bottle. How much longer do you think they can keep that up? It's been well documented that the lifespan of a fracked well is far less than a conventional oil or gas well.
darkknight1 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:4,320 Points:892,810 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:48:05 PM Ignore darkknight1 Report Abuse ok
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:47:57 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Nice thought about government ownership of renewable companies, @TheThorn. Now sit back and wait for all the hate mail to flood in from all the "too much Big Government is interfering in our lives" types. They're already none too happy about GM.
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,210 Points:869,225 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:47:38 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse Aviator Rob doesn't know about gas wells apparently. There are wells that are still producing after decades, I know because I live in an oil and gas producing area and see them.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:44:32 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse @TumaloDodge says "Each wind turbine has a four year life." Where are you getting that figure? P.S. What's the lifespan of a fracked well before it goes dry? The answer is a lot less than four years.
letmathe Champion Author Chicago Posts:14,306 Points:3,129,995 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:43:20 PM Ignore letmathe Report Abuse Aviator.Bob makes interesting points.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:42:24 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse @Dragnet, what are you talking about?
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,776 Points:410,615 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:41:48 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Let me ask you, @wayoung56. How are those beaches in Alabama doing? I ask only because the U.S. Circuit Court finalized BP's settlement today. Is everything back to normal over there? Don't worry. I'm sure you'll blame the President for that, too.
pacoinindy Veteran Author Indianapolis Posts:435 Points:249,550 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:40:50 PM Ignore pacoinindy Report Abuse If we put a politician in front of every wind turbine we will never have to worry about energy.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,048 Points:1,728,210 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Dec 22, 2012 11:40:31 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse those are tax payer dollars doing that