MORE NEWS, 5-6 (VOTERS WANT NEW ENERGY, RES; WIND DISASTER! TURBINE FAILS, ROAD CLOSED, AND THAT’S ALL; NEW SIEMENS WIND PLANT, NEW JOBS FOR KANSAS)

VOTERS WANT NEW ENERGY, RES
New Poll Shows Nationwide, Bipartisan Support For Renewable Electricity Standard
May 5, 2009 (American Wind Energy Association)

Key Findings From Recent National Survey On Renewable Energy Issues from Hart Research Associates is further verification of how much backing the voting public gives the Obama administration’s plan for New Energy.

A national sample of 801 likely voters quizzed between April 29 and May 1, 2009, shows “true bipartisan” as well as “broad and committed” support for a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES).

Overwhelming majority: 75% of voters are for an RES that would “…require electric utility companies across the nation to generate at least 25% of their electricity through renewable energy sources … by the year 2025…” 53% STRONGLY favor it. Only 16% oppose it.

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Bipartisan majority: 86% of Democrats favor the RES proposal. 71% of independents favor it and 62% of Republicans are for it.

National majority: 84% support it in the Northeast, 75% support it in the Midwest and West, and 71% support it in the South.

The poll also found voters have a good base of knowledge about New Energy, which is probably why their support for the RES is so strong.

70% of “soft” RES supporters volunteered a comment explaining their support. The pollsters described this as “…an extremely high level of awareness.”

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Respondents had concerns that the RES might raise electricity rates. The pollsters describe 2 findings relevant on this point: (1) Only 32% of voters thought increased rates was a "very" convincing argument against the RES, and (2) even “soft” RES supporters remain supporters when told the rate increase would be $2-to-$3 a month.

The most “impressive” finding to the pollsters was that even after they were given 4 “concerns” about the RES (and no arguments to support their pro-RES postion), 65% of the original 75% pro-RES voters continued to favor it and the anti-RES numbers only went up to 25%.

With such a huge pro-RES majority it hardly matters, but the poll had a margin of error of +3.5%.


WIND DISASTER! TURBINE FAILS, ROAD CLOSED, AND THAT’S ALL
CHP reopens Hwy. 58 after wind turbine scare
Tina Forde, May 4, 2009 (Tehachapi News)

"The California Highway Patrol re-opened Hwy. 58 at 11 p.m. Sunday night, May 3, following a meeting between representatives of the owners of an out-of-control wind turbine and the CHP commander….

"Smith said that apparently the phenomenon of a turbine spinning unchecked is not an uncommon occurrance, but in this case it was so close to the highway there was concern for motorist safety.

"It was not clear exactly how dangerous the turbine could be if it flew apart, or how far the pieces would go, but the mission of the CHP, Smith said, is to err on the side of safety…[O]wners apparently were not in agreement with [reports that chunks could fly as far as a mile]…"

At least the folks in Tehachapi KNOW what happened to their turbine. Consider these poor folks. From watnoudan888 via YouTube

"The CHP closed Hwy. 58 between Hwy. 14 and the Monolith-Tehachapi Summit exit at 3 p.m. Sunday after learning that the turbine [located 1,400 feet from the highway] was spinning out of control and had already thrown off its cowling…

"The turbine belongs to the AES company and is one of the older derrick models that was built 20 years ago by Vestas…[I]ts white blades frequently were spinning so fast they could not be seen …[T]he only way to stop such a runaway turbine is to wait for the wind to die down…

"A wind energy expert not connected to the company said such turbine failures – which could be caused by bad brakes or a gear box failure – are seen less and less today as the technology improves."


NEW SIEMENS WIND PLANT, NEW JOBS FOR KANSAS
Siemens to build wind turbine production facility in the U.S.; Additional capital investment in green technologies - 400 new jobs to be created
2009, May 5 (Siemens)

"Siemens intends to build a new production facility for wind turbines in the state of Kansas. Initially, 400 new jobs are expected to be created in the new wind turbine production facility in Hutchinson, Kansas. When production begins at this facility, Siemens will be able to even more effectively meet the strong demand for wind turbine equipment in North and South America in the future…

"…With revenues totaling EUR19 billion in fiscal year 2008 [around a quarter of Siemens’ total revenue], Siemens now has the world’s largest portfolio of environmental technologies."

Kansas made the Top 10 this year and is moving up. (click to enlarge)

"Construction of the 300,000-square-foot nacelle production facility is scheduled to begin in August 2009. A nacelle is mounted on top of the tower and supports the rotor. It houses a wind turbine’s major components for electric power generation, including the gearbox, the drive train and the control electronics.

"The nacelles to be produced in Kansas will weigh 90 tons and the first nacelle is expected to be shipped in December 2010. All nacelles produced in Hutchinson will be used in the company’s reliable 2.3-MW wind turbine product family. Initially, the factory’s planned annual output is approximately 650 nacelles – or 1,500 megawatts (MW)…"

The nacelle. (click to enlarge)

"Hutchinson is near the geographic center of the continental United States and offers a viable workforce and excellent transportation logistics. The factory will include direct loading onto rail, which will provide easy access to project locations throughout the Unites States and Canada. Shipments can also be made utilizing the barge facilities at the port of Catoosa, located 250 miles from the plant. Kansas also has excellent wind conditions. In terms of wind energy potential, this centrally located state ranks third in the U.S.

"Since entering the wind industry in 2004, Siemens has greatly expanded its worldwide manufacturing network…[with] wind turbine blade manufacturing facilities in Fort Madison, Iowa, USA, and Engesvang, [Brande and Aalborg] Denmark…and a new R&D center in Boulder, USA…Siemens’ global wind power business has grown from approximately 800 employees in 2004 to more than 5,500 today, which equals an increase of approximately 650 percent…"