Editor's Note: This is a useful inventory of US wind plants as of 2005. A word of caution, however, regarding the column entitled 'Summer (July-September) Capacity Factor. The 'capacity factor' refers to average energy generation, not a plant's 'effective capacity' (a.ka. capacity value) which measures a plant's energy generation during periods of 'peak demand'. As peak demand normally occurs during the warmest/least windy days, a plant's 'effective capacity' is generally considerably lower than its 'average capacity'. This discrepancy, of course, has significant system wide capacity implications and belies the assertion that wind energy can replace conventional, reliable capacity.

Bowark Energy, LTD of Alberta Canada entered into agreements with landowners "in an around Letellier, St. Joseph and the rural municipalities of Montcalm and Rhineland to secure exclusive right-of way and easement across, over, under, through and above the Lands for purposes of constructing, operating and maintaining electrical power generating wind turbines, electrical powerlines and related facilities and for any other Project related purposes".

This document does not question whether we should be developing windfarms or should not be developing windfarms, or even whether they look good on a landscape or are a visual intrusion on the landscape. We are simply addressing the methodology used by the windfarm industry, who in our opinion, have been using misleading methods for the last 11 years whilst seeking to obtain planning permission.

Having had more than 15 years experience in producing visualisations for planning applications, both here and in other parts of the world, what we see happening throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK is a method of visual presentation which brings our profession into disrepute. After many years of fighting for fairer standards, something has to be done because of the growing public perception that photomontage is unreliable.

The contents of this report are the results of a survey of state fish and wildlife agencies as well as independent research. The results were made available for review by the States to verify the results and contents. All efforts were made to ensure the accuracy of the information and all information contained within is believed to be accurate as of April 11, 2007.

California is in the process of implementing a broad portfolio of policies and regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This paper summarizes the initiatives likely to impact the electricity generating sector. We present calculations showing that there is a substantial risk that two of the most prominent policies could simply result in a reshuffling, on paper, of the electricity generating resources within the West that are dedicated to serving California. This reshuffling is different from the conventional leakage problem as it involves no physical changes to the way electricity is generated across regulated and unregulated regions, but is instead driven by a contractual reshuffling of who buys power from whom. The problem is similar to an ineffective consumer boycott. The problem is still present but less severe if more Western states adopt carbon limitations. We also show that some of the least market-based initiatives, the renewable portfolio standards (RPS), are likely to have the biggest near-term impact on the carbon-intensity of electricity generation in the West. Thus the scale of RPS programs may be limiting the potential role of non-renewable options in reducing carbon emissions from the electricity sector.

Link to recent program aired in the UK