October 6, 2004: Headlines: COS - Tunisia: Politics: Energy: Renewable Energy: Wind Power: The Capital Times: Gov. Jim Doyle has set a goal of generating 10 percent of total state power from renewable sources by 2015

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Tunisia: Special Report: RPCV Jim Doyle, Governor of Wisconsin: Special Report: Governor and Tunisa RPCV Jim Doyle: October 6, 2004: Headlines: COS - Tunisia: Politics: Energy: Renewable Energy: Wind Power: The Capital Times: Gov. Jim Doyle has set a goal of generating 10 percent of total state power from renewable sources by 2015

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-141-157-9-111.balt.east.verizon.net - 141.157.9.111) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 12:30 am: Edit Post

Gov. Jim Doyle has set a goal of generating 10 percent of total state power from renewable sources by 2015

Gov. Jim Doyle has set a goal of generating 10 percent of total state power from renewable sources by 2015

Gov. Jim Doyle has set a goal of generating 10 percent of total state power from renewable sources by 2015

State wind power moves forward

By Jeff Richgels
October 6, 2004

Caption: Alliant Energy, which gets 30 megawatts from this wind farm in Iowa County, will add 230 megawatts of wind generation with a boost from new tax credits. (FILE PHOTO)

Wind power received a big boost Monday when President Bush signed a tax bill that includes restoration and extension of renewable energy production tax credits.

The credits, which are popular on both sides of the political aisle, expired at the end of last year after the overall energy bill failed to pass Congress. After a variety of efforts, supporters finally ended up attaching them to the family tax cut bill.

The tax credits, which were restored retroactive to Jan. 1 and through the end of 2005, put wind power on a "level playing field" with other energy resources and have helped foster development of wind power technology, said Frank Greb, Alliant Energy general manager of wind business development.

Madison-based Alliant said it now will move forward with plans to add 230 megawatts of wind generation that had been stalled by the demise of the credits. Alliant already gets 30 megawatts from the Montfort wind farm in Iowa County.

Alliant also hopes to benefit as other utilities move forward with wind projects, since Alliant's WindConnect division is a major designer, engineer and constructor of the electrical infrastructure for wind power facilities.
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"All of the state's utilities had a number of wind projects on the drawing board, and the story is the same across the country," Greb said. "I would say nearly all wind projects were at a standstill because this bill was languishing. I think uncertainty was worse than the bill not passing: business needs a certain degree of certainty to make investment decisions and people were waiting."

Greb said extending the credits another year or two beyond 2005 would provide an even stronger boost.

"I believe we'll see fairly robust growth in the wind industry through the end of 2005, but it would be a substantial benefit to extend another year or two," he said. "People are thrilled (the credits) finally made it through but another year or two would really bring wind into the forefront across the United States."

The Citizens Utility Board also welcomed the restoration and extension of the tax credits.

"Wind is a great hedge against rising fuel costs," said CUB executive director Charlie Higley.

Higley said CUB won't take a position on Alliant's wind power plans until it gets more details.

"We're very supportive of wind but we still want to know how much, where and why," Higley said. "They may not be building enough wind. They could do more wind and less coal. We want more information on all their proposals so we can determine what the best mix is."

Alliant announced earlier this year that it was requesting proposals for 100 megawatts of wind power in Wisconsin and 130 in Iowa.

"We're very confident that when announcements are made (CUB) should be pleased," Greb said. "The projects will be cost effective and environmentally responsible."

The 230 megawatts of wind power were part of Alliant's overall plans to add 1,600 megawatts of generation.

At the end of 2003, Alliant already was providing its customers with nearly seven percent of the total wind capacity in the United States.

Madison Gas and Electric Co. also welcomed the extension of the tax credits.

MGE earlier this year announced a 20-year power purchase agreement for 40 megawatts of wind energy to be located near Waupun in Dodge County, increasing MGE's wind power portfolio by nearly 500 percent.

The project, which could be on line next year, will provide enough electricity to supply about 14,000 homes annually. And it means nearly 5 percent of MGE's annual energy demand can be met with Wisconsin-based renewable energy sources.

MGE already operates an 11-megawatt wind farm in Kewaunee County. And it generates power from solar, landfill gas, and clean-burning coal alternatives.

An affiliate of Chicago-based Invenergy Wind LLC will build and operate the proposed Dodge County facility, which also would supply 20 megawatts to Wisconsin Public Power Inc. of Sun Prairie.

MGE made the deal independent of the fate of the tax credits, but the company said tax credits reduce the cost of the power by nearly one-third.

"The credits will encourage more wind generation and keep the clean, renewable energy competitive with other traditional sources of power," said Greg Bollom, MGE assistant vice president of energy planning. "Additionally, our representatives in Washington have shown a strong commitment to the environment and the future of alternative energy projects."

Gov. Jim Doyle has set a goal of generating 10 percent of total state power from renewable sources by 2015. About 2 percent of the state's electricity currently comes from renewable sources.

E-mail: jrichgels@madison.com





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Story Source: The Capital Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Tunisia; Politics; Energy; Renewable Energy; Wind Power

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