Wind Working Group Meeting

On Oct. 14, West Virginia University’s Wind Working Group held its annual fall meeting at Canaan Valley Lodge. OVEC staff member Carol Warren, who has been a member of the group since its inception five years ago, was present for the day’s activities.

The full schedule included updates on current wind projects being planned or in process, information about the effects of production tax credits, renewable portfolio standards, property tax considerations, siting issues, and West Virginia’s possible contributions to the "20 percent Wind Energy" national program.

Larry Flowers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory noted that it doesn’t really matter what people think about climate change at this point, since both presidential candidates believe it is real and man-made.

It seems certain that any new administration will enact policies intended to reduce carbon dioxide levels. These policies will increase the costs of burning coal, and are already making electricity producers very interested in wind (which is truly carbon neutral). He noted that there are five driving factors for wind power:

1) Customers want it;
2) Climate change considerations;
3) Diversification of power sources;
4) Price stability;
5) Big water savings.

He stated that the United States uses more water to cool our fossil-fired power plants than it uses for agriculture. Water is an increasingly precious resource in all parts of the country. Statistics show that wind power installations also generate more economic development than coal.

Hearing this information, one can only wonder why West Virginia is dragging its feet in adopting some kind of renewable portfolio standards to spur the development of alternative energies.

We are one of only a few states that have no green energy programs. If our state were to bring online 2,000 megawatts of new wind development, current projections indicate that 800 permanent new jobs would be created, along with $1.9 billion in related new economic development.

Manufacturing plants for components for wind generators are now being hotly sought after by many states, as European companies are investing in the U.S. because of the lower dollar value.

West Virginia could be taking advantage of many alternative energy options if the political will and leadership were present. Given our political climate, that leadership is up to concerned and informed citizens!