MEDIA / LINKS
Your one-stop shop for WOW press releases and a sampling of news stories from around the WOW footprint on key issues:
WOW Press Releases
Renewable Energy Saved Illinois Consumers Over $100 Million - April 4, 2012
Wind on the Wires Cheers the MISO Board’s Approval of the Multi-Value Projects Portfolio - Dec 8, 2011
FERC Approves Proposal on How to Pay for Needed New Midwest Transmission - Dec 16, 2010
Clean Energy Transmission Takes Big Step Forward in Michigan - Aug 20, 2010
Draft Transmission Costs Proposal Could Put Midwest Wind on Shaky Ground - May 19, 2010
Watch a video on wind energy and transmission featuring WOW Executive Director Beth Soholt, made by students at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
News Articles
Featured Stories
The National Governors Association has released a Brief and Whitepaper on State Strategies for Accelerating Transmission Development for Renewable Energy (Jan. 31, 2012)
Issue Brief: State Strategies for Accelerating Transmission Development for Renewable Energy
White Paper: State Strategies for Accelerating Transmission Development for Renewable Energy
NEW! Grid Operator Approves Major Midwest Transmission Plan
Midwest Energy News (Dec. 8, 2011)
The Midwest electricity grid is getting a big upgrade.
The Midwest’s regional electricity grid operator approved a long-term plan Thursday that calls for $6.5 billion in new transmission projects aimed at helping states meet their renewable energy mandates and spreading the cost of renewable transmission across the region.
“The Midwest has not seen this significant of a transmission expansion for decades,” Beth Soholt, executive director of the St. Paul-based advocacy group Wind on the Wires, said in a statement.
NEW! Wind Power Gets Boost From MISO Ruling
North American Windpower (Dec. 8, 2011)
Transmission projects - and renewable energy - in the Midwest got a big boost from the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator's (MISO) board of directors Thursday when it unanimously voted to approve its Transmission Expansion Plan 2011 (MTEP11), which includes what MISO calls multi-value projects (MVPs).
"We couldn't be more pleased by this action, which is a testament to MISO's commitment to constructing new transmission lines in the Midwest to, among other things, enable additional renewable energy to enter the market," Beth Soholt, executive director of WOW, stated in a press release. "The decision also allows many consumers to benefit from the low cost and clean energy that comes from wind development and a robust transmission grid that can deliver electricity back and forth across the region depending on where the power is needed."
NEW! Power Line Project to Dakota County Clears Last Hurdle
Pioneer Press (Dec. 8, 2011)
The operators of the Midwest's power grid on Thursday approved a $730 million high-voltage transmission line from Brookings, S.D., to the town of Hampton in Dakota County.
NEW! Indiana Feels the Power of Minnesota's Wind
Star Tribune (Nov. 20, 2011)
Wind farms that produce for export could become a growth industry.
"The wind industry has been a bright spot in the economy over the last three years or four years because there has been a policy in place to develop these resources," said Beth Soholt, director of Wind on the Wires, a Minnesota based nonprofit that advocates better grid access for wind power.
North Dakota Wind Power Set for Big Expansion
Bismarck Tribune (Oct. 8, 2011)
North Dakota's wind energy capacity will likely grow by more than a third in 2012, driven by renewable energy standards and the uncertain future of a federal incentive.
Wind advocates like Gackle want a long-term subsidy for wind power from Washington to avoid a boom-bust cycle in the industry.
With Tax Credit in Doubt, Wind Industry Ponders Future
Midwest Energy News (September 27, 2011)
The wind production tax credit -- seen as a key incentive to bringing new wind energy projects online -- nears its expiration date, expires without legislative action adn tehn comes barreling back, reviving the industry after a period of stagnation.
Are Renewable Standards Driving Up Utilitiy Rates?
Midwest Energy News (May 17, 2011)
The most comprehensive studies to date and the experience of utilities so far suggest that, by and large, renewable portfolio standards haven’t had a significant impact on customers’ bills.
Op-Eds/Commentary
New! Wind Energy Isn't Increasing Costs
Essentially, the reports filed by the utilities say the requirements are having little or no adverse impact on consumer rates, and will continue to have little impact over the coming 15-year period of the RES. The state’s largest utility, Xcel Energy reported that energy prices were 0.7 percent lower with wind than they would have been without wind.
Wind Energy is Not a Drag on our State
Star Tribune (Sept. 25, 2011)
This editorial responds to a previous opinion piece by radio talk show host Jason Lewis, "Right in Minnesota, a windfall of bad policy."
Other Articles
Wind Turbine Issue Turns Slowly
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Oct. 23, 2011)
Wind developers are hoping that a logjam can be broken, after recent conversations between the governor and several wind development firms.
Branstad: Wind Energy Key to Job Creation
Quad-City Times (September 13, 2011)
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad believes further growth in Iowa’s wind energy industry will figure heavily into meeting his job-creation goals over the next five years.
Wind turbine tower maker adds jobs in central Illinois
State Journal Register (January 28, 2011)
A wind turbine tower manufacturer called Trinity Structural Towers plans to boost production at its plant in Clinton and add up to 60 jobs.
Can uniform setbacks prevent local wind farm fights?
Midwest Energy News (January 6, 2011) - also picked up by Grist, an online ecojournalism site
Wisconsin is the first state in the region to apply statewide siting standards to small wind farms, potentially eliminating messy fights over city- and county-level regulation. Will other states follow suit?
Crops Benefit from Wind Turbines
Renewablesbiz (January 5, 2011)
For years the economic benefits of wind turbines on farms have been limited to discussions about lease payments. Now, a new study seems to indicate the presence of spinning blades has the added economic benefit of better crop yields.
Federal Regulators Approve 100 Percent Cost Sharing for New Transmission
Greentech Media (Dec 24, 2010)
A just-announced decision by federal regulators stating that all parties who benefit from new transmission in the Midwest must share in the cost of building it may go a long way toward determining the future of renewables.
FERC Approves Key Proposal To Jump-Start Needed Transmission In The Midwest
North American Windpower (Dec 21, 2010) - article from Wind on the Wires staff
Approval of a broad cost-allocation proposal for new regional multi-value projects (MVPs) is welcome news for the Midwest and for wind development, removing a significant barrier to building new transmission. The next step is getting new transmission projects moved forward into regional expansion plans for 2011.
Links
National Resources
American Wind Energy Association
Since 1974 the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has advocated the development of wind energy as a reliable, environmentally superior energy alternative in the United States and around the world.
DSIRE
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Energy Information Agency
Independent statistics and analysis on U.S. energy.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory -- the U.S. Department of Energy's premier laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, development and deployment. Go to "Data & Documents" and search for "Wind Powering America" fact sheets on the publications page for brief summaries of the wind potentials of several Midwestern states.
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Midwest Regional Resources
Midwest Independant System Operator
The Midwest ISO is an Independent Transmission System Operator that serves the electrical transmission needs of much of the Midwest. The Midwest ISO is committed to reliability, the nondiscriminatory operation of the bulk power transmission system, and to working with all stakeholders to create cost-effective and innovative solutions for our changing industry.
Midwest Governors Association-Energy
Governors and representatives of 10 states working together to secure the energy future of the Midwest.
Midwest Energy News
Midwest Energy News is a daily collection of the top energy stories of importance to the region. Our objective is to keep stakeholders, policymakers, and citizens informed of the important changes taking place as the Midwest shifts from fossil fuels to a clean energy system.
Iowa
Iowa State Energy Center
Follow this link to find information on Iowa wind case studies/projects, wind maps, wind assessment calculator, wind energy manual, and other information on how wind farms work.
Illinois
Illinois Commerce Commission
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic and Opportunity-Energy and Recycling
The Office of Energy and Recycling seeks to demonstrate the economic development benefits, including job creation, of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and recycling through a variety of programs and services
Illinois Wind Energy Association
The Illinois Wind Energy Association represents the needs of the growing wind energy industry in Illinois, working in policy, public outreach, and as network for the wind industry.
Indiana
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
Indiana Office of Energy and Defense Development, Wind Power
This webpage offers links to Indiana wind maps and reports, small wind installers and incentives, and other useful resources.
Michigan
Michigan Public Service Commission
Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
This webpage provides links to wind and solar energy resources for Michigan,
such as resource maps, programs, case studies, and publications.
Minnesota
Minnesota Public Utility Commission
Minnesota Office of Energy Security
Working to move Minnesota toward a sustainable energy future, managing energy assistance funds, advocating in the public interest on energy utility rates and facility siting.
Missouri
Missouri Public Service Commission
Missouri Division of Energy, Renewable Energy Page
Missouri Department of Natural Resource Wind Energy Resource site.
North Dakota
North Dakota Public Service Commission
North Dakota Department of Commerce, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Wind Power
The North Dakota Department of Commerce website has information on North Dakota wind resources, wind data (includes utility study), tax incentives, and other wind links.
South Dakota
South Dakota Public Service Commission
South Dakota Resource Assessment Network (WRAN)
This webpage includes information about WRAN, WRAN data and interpreting instructions, link to the Wind Application Center for Wind for Schools, and other wind information links.
South Dakota Wind Energy Association
SDWEA supports the development of wind energy as a sustainable economically and environmentally friendly resource for the state of South Dakota.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Public Service Commission
Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence
Wisconsin Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.