Actions, circumstances pushing wind development

Over the last decade wind has been the world's fastest-growing energy source. Rising from 4,800 megawatts of generating capacity in 1995 to 31,100 megawatts in 2002, it increased sixfold. Ten Steps can help more land owners become wind farmers.

Many aspects are propelling wind development, including--greater awareness of the effects of fossil-fuel combustion pollution

• states' Renewables Portfolio Standards (RPS) is law in 26 states mandating that renewable energy sources provide a percentage of overall electricity generation. For example

California- accelerated this goal of 20% renewables to 2010 and set the state's 2020 goal at 33%.

New York- increased the amount of electricity generated from renewable resources to at least 25% of the state's supply by the end of 2013, with procurement of energy from additional resources.

• consistent price increases of crude oil, natural gas, and coal
• continued increased consumption of electricity (clearly highlighting the failure of energy conservation programs- but that's a topic which includes gasoline- for a later day)
• current (2007) drought conditions have significantly reduced hydropower generation and
• electricity "wheeling" which distributes power generated in the most windy states to metro areas having the greatest demand for electricity.

Ten Steps to Windfarming is a methodical way for every potential windfarmer (or windfarming group) to develop a winning business plan. Ten Steps will serve as both a "roadmap" and a completion checklist to prevent lost time and money.

The U.S. Department of Energy has state wind resource maps at its Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy web site. Some of the maps surpass even a Jackson Pollack abstract for their areas and patterns of color.

Click here for state Wind Resource maps .

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'Til next time, Best Wind.