USA is now number one in Wind Power Installations
During 2008, the United States surpassed Germany in the number of wind power installations. Along with this, global wind energy capacity grew by 28.8% in 2008. Over 27 GW of new wind-generated power came on line during the past year. Europe, North America and Asia dominate the wind energy production at the current time.
This is welcome news in the sustainability area, as wind power generation in emissions-free, and can be installed virtually anywhere there is proper space. An article published on February 2 of this year, by the Global Wind Energy Council gave these facts, and goes on to mention that wind generated power is the only way that we can make the needed cuts in CO2 emissions by the year 2020 to avoid permanent damage to the global climate. It has been expected that CO2 emissions will peak by that time, even with the current efforts to reduce them.
Steve Sawyer of Global Wind Energy Council says that the 120 GW of global wind power already in place is saving 158 million tons of CO2 emissions EACH year.
Wind generated power is attractive for another reason -- energy security. As we all well remember during July, 2008, the price of oil at nearly $150 a barrel. As wind power is generated on-site, it avoids the need for energy importation, eliminating the threat of a 1973 style Oil Embargo, which caused a major recession at that time.
In addition, wind energy is seen to be producing jobs as an emerging industry of its own, as estimates run as high as 400,000 jobs, either directly or indirectly tied to it at the present. The article did not specify as to whether this figure is global, but did say that 35,000 jobs were created in the USA alone last year, bringing the total jobs to 85,000.
Asia is catching on rapidly, accounting for over 30% of new installations during the past year alone, with China leading the way, bu doubling its installed capacity during 2008. At this rate, China will probably overtake Germany and Spain to become second in terms of total wind energy production. At this rate, China will have met the 2020 goal of producing 30 GW, ten years ahead of time.
The emphasis is also very strong in Europe as well, as 8.9 GW of new wind power came on line in 2008, which brings their total to over 65 GW.
Steve Sawyer says that we are well on the way of meeting the goal of saving 1.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year by 2020. This is dependent on governments and society as whole to embrace the move to clean, indigenous renewable power, as opposed to continuing to rely on dirty fossil fuels.
In terms of LEED credits for a project certification, wind power easily meets the renewable energy. Up three points are available under LEED N/C Version 2.2, if a project can generate 12.5% of renewable energy on site.
This is welcome news in the sustainability area, as wind power generation in emissions-free, and can be installed virtually anywhere there is proper space. An article published on February 2 of this year, by the Global Wind Energy Council gave these facts, and goes on to mention that wind generated power is the only way that we can make the needed cuts in CO2 emissions by the year 2020 to avoid permanent damage to the global climate. It has been expected that CO2 emissions will peak by that time, even with the current efforts to reduce them.
Steve Sawyer of Global Wind Energy Council says that the 120 GW of global wind power already in place is saving 158 million tons of CO2 emissions EACH year.
Wind generated power is attractive for another reason -- energy security. As we all well remember during July, 2008, the price of oil at nearly $150 a barrel. As wind power is generated on-site, it avoids the need for energy importation, eliminating the threat of a 1973 style Oil Embargo, which caused a major recession at that time.
In addition, wind energy is seen to be producing jobs as an emerging industry of its own, as estimates run as high as 400,000 jobs, either directly or indirectly tied to it at the present. The article did not specify as to whether this figure is global, but did say that 35,000 jobs were created in the USA alone last year, bringing the total jobs to 85,000.
Asia is catching on rapidly, accounting for over 30% of new installations during the past year alone, with China leading the way, bu doubling its installed capacity during 2008. At this rate, China will probably overtake Germany and Spain to become second in terms of total wind energy production. At this rate, China will have met the 2020 goal of producing 30 GW, ten years ahead of time.
The emphasis is also very strong in Europe as well, as 8.9 GW of new wind power came on line in 2008, which brings their total to over 65 GW.
Steve Sawyer says that we are well on the way of meeting the goal of saving 1.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year by 2020. This is dependent on governments and society as whole to embrace the move to clean, indigenous renewable power, as opposed to continuing to rely on dirty fossil fuels.
In terms of LEED credits for a project certification, wind power easily meets the renewable energy. Up three points are available under LEED N/C Version 2.2, if a project can generate 12.5% of renewable energy on site.
Posted by Alan L. Englander at 2/19/2009 8:15 PM 
Categories: Energy Security, CO2 Reduction, Wind Power, Greenhouse Gases, Renewable Energy
Categories: Energy Security, CO2 Reduction, Wind Power, Greenhouse Gases, Renewable Energy
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