UTILITY BUILDS NEW ENERGY WHERE THE RES IS

Duke Energy harnesses winds of the West
Bruce Henderson, April 16, 2009 (Charlotte Observer)

"… Duke Energy works to meet North Carolina's recent [Renewable Electricity Standard, RES, while]… Duke Energy Generation Services develops, owns and operates power plants for large users such as utilities, municipalities and industries in 18 states…[and is] harnessing the winds of the West.

"Two years after its first wind acquisition, Duke operates 500 megawatts. Its customers include Wal-Mart's Texas operations. It's developing up to 5,000 megawatts more – the capacity of more than four of Duke's nuclear reactors – in a dozen states…"

It's the way all utilities will go in the next 2 decades. (click to enlarge)

"Drawing power from the wind, sun, waves or organic wastes means going to the resource. While the N.C. coast and mountains show some promise, neither can match the wind belt stretching from Texas to the Dakotas.

"The energy potential out West is so strong that Duke has invested $1 billion in western wind projects, and hopes to grow that investment to $3 billion by 2013…

"Duke has its eye on another renewable fuel that North Carolina has in abundance – the farm and forest wastes called biomass. Last year Duke and Areva, a multinational company best known for nuclear power, launched a joint biopower venture called Adage...But wind dominates…Walls are being rebuilt for a control center where technicians will monitor wind data around the clock…Wind power accounted for 42 percent of the nation's new electric generation in 2008…"

It's the way all utilities will go in the next 2 decades. (click to enlarge)

"By requiring utilities to sell power made from renewable sources, [Renewable Electricity Standards, RESs,] create new markets for those energy sectors. Federal tax credits and favorable depreciation rules also help.

"If Congress sets the nation's first limits on carbon dioxide emissions…wind assets will look even better compared to fossil-fueled plants that produce the greenhouse gas…Tough obstacles stand in the way of expanding the sector. The biggest of those: a lack of transmission lines to connect the often-remote places where the wind blows hardest to energy-hungry cities…"