WIND PROJECT IS WIN-WIN-WIN FOR CHINA, TEXAS AND THE CLIMATE

Shining some light on the Chinese wind farm deal
Tom Gray, November 7, 2009 (Reve)

"...[T]here has been much debate over the announcement by a Chinese firm and a Texas wind developer that the two intend to cooperate on a 600-MW wind farm with turbines to be manufactured in China. [See CHINA TO BUILD TEXAS WIND]

"Concern about...the green manufacturing jobs it might create in China, is understandable. Still, the larger picture of wind energy and foreign imports into the U.S. tells a very different story...In 2008, China accounted for less than 5% of the imported value of wind turbine components for the U.S. ...[T]he trend has been towards more domestically manufactured components and wind turbines in the U.S. Overall, about 50% of the value of turbine components was made in the U.S. in 2008, up from less than 30% in 2005...[In those] three years, the U.S. increased its domestic manufacturing 12-fold, from producing $450 million worth of components in America to $5.6 billion in 2008."

What's good for China is good for the U.S.: Manufacturing and jobs, from one end of the nation to the other. (click to enlarge)

"...Leading global wind turbine manufacturers like Vestas (1 globally) and Gamesa (3 globally) have opened major manufacturing facilities here in the U.S.; Mitsubishi just recently announced [another]...[A]s of October 2009, there are nine original equipment wind turbine manufacturers (OEM)s (Acciona, Clipper, Dewind, Gamesa, GE, Nordic, Siemens, Suzlon, and Vestas) now operating U.S. manufacturing facilities, with Siemens and Vestas also investing...An additional six turbine manufacturers (Continental, EWT, Fuhrlander, Global Wind Systems, Mitsubishi, Nordex) have announced plans...This welcome trend toward investment...which creates local jobs, needs to be nurtured.

"...The reality is that we need to catch up after decades of energy policy neglect...The wind energy market is global, and leading companies such as Vestas, GE, Gamesa, Suzlon and many others operate on a global scale. These companies will direct their investments to where markets are certain...where there is a firm renewable energy policy..."

There's an unprecedented level of foreign and domestic investment in wind manufacturing and job creation. (click to enlarge)

"...A strong national Renewable Electricity Standard will provide the market and policy certainty that is still needed in the U.S...[to attract investment and build] its manufacturing base...[C]omprehensive climate and energy legislation including a meaningful RES will give us the means to... compete with other strategic markets like Europe and China, avoid carbon, and create jobs.

"... American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic stimulus funding [is]...allocated on the basis of projects built here... These projects create construction, engineering, operation and maintenance, and a host of other jobs here...[It] is NOT a zero-sum game—if a company is awarded a grant for a project, it does not mean that another company won’t get funding...A healthy mix of global (Iberdrola, EDP Renewables) and U.S. (NextEra, AES, First Wind) companies are receiving ARRA grants or have announced their intention to apply... Nothing is keeping more U.S. utilities and companies from applying...The economic stimulus legislation is providing the short-term support needed to keep the U.S. wind energy market alive. A strong Renewable Electricity Standard would build upon that short-term base and ensure American clean renewable energy job growth into the future."