First U.S. Wind Turbines to be Placed Off North Carolina’s Shores in Pilot Research Project

Pamlico Sound. Stock photo.

As the global movement toward seeking out more renewable energy technologies increases in momentum, the United States is taking its first steps to examining the potential viability of offshore wind power.

The University of North Carolina and Duke Energy have signed a contract to place up to three demonstration wind turbines in the state’s Pamlico Sound. This will be a pilot program designed to answer questions about the viability of developing a utility-scale wind energy production operation in the area.

“We are looking forward to working with UNC and residents of the Outer Banks to determine if and how we can use wind energy on a larger scale. Our company has experience developing land-based wind in other parts of the country, and we are excited about this pilot project and learning more about how we can use this renewable resource in our home state,” said Brett Carter, president of Duke Energy Carolinas.

In a community meeting on the Outer Banks, with representatives from UNC and Duke, Sen. Marc Basnight (D-N.C.) told attendees that, “This project is the critical step that will determine the future of wind power off the Outer Banks. It will allow for community feedback and collaboration, and it will be a very positive information-finding effort.”

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U.S. Renewable Energy Usage Trends Upward as Overall Power Usage Declines

Courtesy of the Energy Information Administration’s Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels.

Well it’s nice to know that real progress is happening in the renewable energy industry and not just a lot of speculative talk!

Consumer consumption grew by seven percent between 2007 and 2008, despite a two percent decline in total United States energy consumption, according to a newly released report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The total renewable energy consumption increased by 487 trillion Btu (British Thermal Unit) to 7, 301 trillion Btu.

The two biggest consumers of renewable energy were the electric power and industrial sectors, though the transportation sector is starting to take a bigger piece of the pie.

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Solar Joint Venture to Make a Footprint in the U.S. Southwest

An line-focusing parabolic trough collector. Photo from Solar Trust.

In the race for who will become the juggernaut of the emerging solar power market, two notable players in the industry have come together in a joint venture partnership to form Solar Trust of America, an integrated solar solutions company.

Parent companies, Solar Millennium and MAN Ferrostaal, jointly say that the new venture company will provide “a complete turnkey solution in connection with the development, construction, and financing of large-scale concentrated solar power plants in the southwestern region of the U. S.”

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Exploring the West- Seeking Out Top Places for Solar Energy Projects

Photo courtsy of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Surveying the West for suitable public lands to build utility-scale solar energy facilities is the latest initiative by the U.S. Department of the Interior in its efforts to move the country in the direction of renewable energy.

The initiative is part of the Obama administration’s New Energy Plan for America, which includes the goal to “ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.”

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, told a Las Vegas audience on Monday, “This environmentally-sensitive plan will identify appropriate Interior-managed lands that have excellent solar energy potential and limited conflict with wildlife, and other natural resources or land use. The two dozen areas we are evaluating could generate nearly 100,000 megawatts of solar electricity.”

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Proposal For Route 110 Corridor to Receive Smart Grid Upgrade

Smart grid model. Graphic courtesy of urbanecoist.com.

NEW YORK- The creation of Long Island’s first integrated Smart Energy Corridor is being proposed by the Long Island Power Authority in collaboration with Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College. Supporting the proposal are Gov. David A. Paterson and Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) .

LIPA will seek funding for the Smart Energy Corridor under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Locally, the initiative would assist all LIPA customers in monitoring and reducing energy usage as well as increasing reliability, according to a statement by the governor’s office.

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