Idaho Power, a utility in the State of Idaho, is raising concerns over the impacts of wind generation on electricity costs and grid reliability. The utility ran this advertisement recently in an effort to educate the public on how integration of too much wind can degrade the power system and raise costs.

Unprecedented numbers of migratory bats are found dead beneath industrial-scale wind turbines during late summer and autumn in both North America and Europe. This paper by Paul Cryan discusses how conservation laws are inadequate for protecting bats.

The Hamilton Project examines the cost of energy by fuel type.

Wind power has the potential to reduce emissions associated with conventional electricity generation. Using detailed, systemic hourly data of wind generation and emissions from plants in ERCOT (Texas), CAISO (California), and MISO (Upper Midwest), we estimate the SO2, NOx and CO2 emissions offset by wind generation in those territories. Our estimation strategy implicitly captures both the marginal unit of generation displaced by wind on the electrical grid, and the marginal emissions reduction from that displaced unit. Our results reveal substantial variation in emissions reduction by territory, which appear to be strongly driven by differences in the existing generation mix. While the environmental benefits from emissions reductions in the Upper Midwest roughly cover government subsidies for wind generation, environmental benefits in Texas and California fall short. Finally, we provide back-of-the-envelope calculations for the average national reductions in emissions per megawatt-hour of wind energy.

Stuart Young Consulting, with support from the John Muir Trust, has released a report studying the ability of wind power to make a significant contribution to the UK's energy supply. It concludes that the average power output of wind turbines across Scotland is well below the rates often claimed by industry and government. The executive summary of the report is provided below. The full report can be accessed by clicking on the link(s) at the bottom of this page.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) and the increased development of wind-power facilities are threatening populations of insectivorous bats in North America. This important paper presents analyses suggesting that loss of bats in North America could lead to agricultural losses estimated at more than $3.7 billion/year. An excerpt of the paper is provided below. The full paper can be downloaded by clicking on the link(s) below.

Invenergy LLC filed this letter with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission stating its withdrawal of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity application for the Ledge Wind Energy center, a 100 turbine facility proposed for Brown County. The full letter can be accessed through the links at the bottom of this page.

This important document examines the possible impact of turbine noise on wildlife. The entire report, with references, can be downloaded by clicking on the link(s) at the bottom of this page.

The Idaho House of Representatives is considering a bill that places a moratorium on "certain industrial wind farms and wind turbines for a time certain and to provide for an update to the Idaho Energy Plan". The full bill can be accessed by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.