Wind Power News: Colorado
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Pols push for wind power tax credit
Colorado’s congressional delegation sent a letter to House and Senate negotiators Tuesday urging them to include a federal production tax credit for wind power manufacturers in any compromise they craft that to extend the current payroll tax deduction for workers. Extending the payroll tax cut was a political pingpong ball in Congress last fall as House Republicans and Senate Democrats battled over federal spending. Lawmakers have until Feb. 29 to pass legislation to extend it or run the risk — . . .
Wind industry, conservationists forge best environmental practices for farm siting
Colorado’s Eastern Plains are a bit safer for prairie chickens — lesser and greater — and a spate of other animals and plants as the result of a unique partnership between conservation groups and the wind industry. The product of that collaboration is a set of voluntary “best-management practices” to be used in siting and building wind farms in Colorado. Over the past three years, five environmental groups and 10 wind developers, working as the Colorado Renewable & Conservation Collaborative, . . .
Power surge fades: Colorado’s future in renewable energy dims after years of growth
About 1,200 wind turbines are spinning on Colorado’s Eastern Plains, hundreds of acres of solar arrays are tilted skyward in the San Luis Valley and the roofs of more than 10,000 homes and businesses sport solar panels. Since voters in 2004 passed Amendment 37 — which set a state renewable-energy standard — Colorado has built or committed to about 2.5 gigawatts of renewable generation. That’s enough energy to power between 500,000 and 650,000 homes, based on estimates from the wind . . .
Utilities pursuing 50 megawatts of wind power
Colorado Springs Utilities has the wind at its back for its plan to add 50 megawatts of wind power by the end of the year. The Utilities board Wednesday gave John Romero, Utilities’ general manager, the go-ahead to pursue a contract for the wind energy. The contract would have to be approved by the board, likely in February, before the deal would be finalized. Utilities has been working on what would be its first large wind power deal for months, . . .
Wind farm work under way
WALSENBURG — Construction has begun on a small five-tower wind farm along Interstate 25 north of Walsenburg, a developer said Wednesday. The farm will supply power to San Isabel Electric. The $17 million project is separate from a larger wind farm planned by Black Hills Energy on Highway 10 east of Walsenburg. Black Hills, using Vestas wind towers, plans to begin erecting the first 15 of its site’s planned 50 wind turbines by spring, Huerfano County Administrator John Galusha said. . . .
For taller wind turbines, generating power is a breeze
The breezes are blowing stronger for the wind-power industry these days — so much so that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden had to redo its wind maps in Colorado and in states across the country. The reason isn’t meteorological, it’s technological as wind-turbine towers get taller and blades get longer. “The original maps were for 50-meter towers, but the industry standard is now 80 meters,” said Dennis Elliot, a principal scientist at NREL. And as the towers have . . .
Costly power
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has approved Black Hills Energy’s request to increase rates to pay for its new gas-fired generating plant near Pueblo Memorial Airport. The increase will allow the utility to raise an additional $10.1 million a year to pay for the new plant, which was necessitated by a decision by Xcel Energy to end its agreement to supply Black Hills with electricity from its Comanche Generating Station. The PUC’s approval this week will mean an increase of . . .
Woman hurt in collision with wind turbine blade truck
PLATTEVILLE, Colo. — A 70-year-old woman was injured on Monday after her car hit a semitrailer carrying a large wind turbine blade. The woman was driving her car south on Highway 85 in Platteville at 4 p.m. when she collided with the turbine truck as it was turning from northbound Highway 85 onto Highway 60, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The left turn was a little tighter than the truck driver thought, and the woman’s car slammed into the . . .
Federal regulators accept Flaming Gorge application
One proposed ‘‘pump storage’’ project associated with the pipeline calls for building a new reservoir on the side of Sheep Mountain, west of Laramie. Million said Thursday that water could drain from the proposed reservoir on Sheep Mountain down to nearby Lake Hattie to generate power while possibly using wind power to pump the water back uphill.
The pipeline would have to move water over the Continental Divide on its way to Colorado. Although Million said the project couldn’t produce more energy than it uses, he said the hydropower could provide a valuable offset to its operating costs.
Superior’s energy future blowing in the wind
SUPERIOR — Town leaders have set aside $3.5 million to buy what could be one of the largest municipally owned wind turbines in the state, but it’s money they may never spend for that purpose. Today, an energy consultant will brief the Superior Board of Trustees about various ways to increase the town’s renewable energy portfolio. And purchasing a 1.5 megawatt turbine will not be at the top of his list of suggestions. “Right now, it’s not a cost-effective solution,” . . .
