EUROPE SEES NEW ENERGY IN INDIANA

European clean-energy developers eye Indiana
December 18, 2009 (AP via Chicago Tribune)

"European renewable-energy companies have taken an interest in east-central Indiana, where several wind farms or factories that produce wind turbines and solar-powered products are either in place or in the works.

"Companies with roots in Italy and Germany that make parts for wind turbines have already moved to the area. And wind farm developers based in Portugal and Germany could be up next…Land owners…recently met with representatives of E.ON Climate & Renewables North America [headquartered in Chicago and a subsidiary of E.ON AG, one of the world's largest energy companies] to discuss a proposed $300 million to $400 million wind farm…"

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[Christine Real de Azua, spokeswoman, American Wind Energy Association:] "It's a global economy, and the Europeans have a strong position because they have had a strong renewable energy policy in place for many years…[The U.S. has] lost a lot of time because we still don't have a long-term renewable energy policy…We are in a global foot race at this point, and not only with the Europeans."

"She said European companies' long-running expertise in developing renewable energy has allowed them to build a manufacturing base and expansive wind projects…[and China has accelerated its pace and is racing ahead to develop clean energy, which the Chinese see a big market driver for the economy and job creation]…"

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"American firms lag behind because the nation lacks a federal Renewable Electricity Standard [RES] that [would require utilities to generate a certain percent of their electricity from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources]…The concept is similar to the Renewable Fuel Standard, which increased the number of U.S. ethanol plants from 50 to 170 between January 1999 and January 2009.

"…[O]ther clean-energy developments proposed or in the works [in Indiana] include a proposed Portuguese wind farm…a second wind farm… proposed by an American firm…[and a wind project] proposed by Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power… Brevini, an Italian manufacturer of gearboxes for wind turbines, has located in [Indiana]…[and the state] has also attracted VAT-Energies and VAT-Serive -- two subsidiaries of a German company that service wind turbines and manufacture solar- and wind-powered street lights and wind turbines."