QUICK NEWS, 1-10: CAPE WIND WINS ANOTHER APPROVAL; MICH SET FOR 10% NEW ENERGY BY 2015; EV CHARGING A CHARGED TOPIC; VESTAS CLOSES 2010 BIG

CAPE WIND WINS ANOTHER APPROVAL
Cape Wind Gets Permit for Work in Fed Waters; Cape Wind gets US Army Corps of Engineers permit for work in federal waters
January 6, 2011 (ABC News)

"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted a long-sought permit to the nation's first offshore wind farm, moving it a step closer to starting construction.

"…[T]he permit was needed for Cape Wind to begin building a planned 130-turbine wind farm in Nantucket Sound. It clears Cape Wind to work in navigable federal waters and ensures it's complying with the Clean Water Act."

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"Cape Wind is still waiting for one more permit, from the U.S. Environmental Protection agency for air emissions during construction…[and is] they [will] receive it shortly.

"The company aims to start construction late this year and begin producing power by early 2013."


MICH SET FOR 10% NEW ENERGY BY 2015
Michigan utilities “on track” to meet 2015 clean energy goal
James Cartledge, January 6, 2011 (Brighter Energy)

"Michigan’s power utilities are “on track” in their efforts to meet the state’s 10% renewable energy portfolio standard by 2015, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission…[N]ew data [revealed] the progress of utilities in expanding their renewable energy supply portfolios.

"Electricity suppliers in the state reported figures to the Commission showing that 3.63% of Michigan’s electricity was produced by renewable energy projects in 2009, a rise on the 2.9% seen in 2007."

Michigan has the New Energy to do it. (click to enlarge)

"The amount was consistent with plans by Michigan’s electric utilities to reach the 10% target, the Commission said…Michigan’s two largest electric utilities…[are] Consumers Energy Company and The Detroit Edison Company…

"Consumers Energy has contracted for 396 MW of renewable energy: 8 MW already in commercial operation and 388 MW more in commercial operation by the end of 2012."

New Energy means new opportunity for Michigan. (click to enlarge)

"Detroit Edison has contracted for 252 MW of renewable energy: 44 MW already in commercial operation and 208 MW more in commercial operation by the end of 2011 .

"Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy have contracted for a combined total of 648 MW of renewable energy: 598 MW of wind energy, 45 MW of biomass energy, 4 MW of solar PV energy, and 1 MW of hydroelectric energy…"


EV CHARGING A CHARGED TOPIC
Ford says Focus gets charge in as few as four hours
Chris Woodyard, January 9, 2011 (USA Today)

"…[At] the nation's top auto…in Detroit, Ford Motor and other automakers are trying to find new boasts when it comes to their newfangled electric cars…Ford…isn't touting how far its new car will go on a single charge. Instead, it's saying the 2012 model can be recharged at home in half the time of a key competitor, the electric Nissan Leaf.

"The electric Focus can have its battery fully recharged at home with a 240-volt system in as little as four hours, Ford says. That's about half the time that it takes to fully recharge the battery of a Nissan Leaf, the first fully electric car to go on sale by a major automaker."

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"Not only will fast charging give customers more peace of mind if they need to recharge away from home, but equipping the car with a more powerful charger will help them take full advantage of lower electricity rates that are starting to be offered by utilities for electricity use in off-peak hours, says Nancy Gioia, Ford's director of global electrification.

"Nissan, which started delivering its electric Leafs last month, responded that Ford's claim doesn't really matter…[because] 80% of vehicle charging will happen at home overnight…[and finish] at 2 a.m. or 6 a.m…"

Fast chargers. (click to enlarge)

"Automakers are also pinning their hopes on development of powerful public charging stations at airports or shopping centers that could give an 80% charge to a car such as the Leaf in 30 minutes.

"The electric Focus will go into production later this year for sale initially in 19 metro areas, from Seattle to New York. Like most other electric cars…[it] will go up to 100 miles on a single charge…Ford hasn't announced a price yet for the electric Focus. Nissan is selling Leaf at a base price of $32,780, plus $820 destination charge, before federal and state tax credits."


VESTAS CLOSES 2010 BIG
Vestas Finishes 2010 With 15 Wind Turbine Deals
6 January 2011 (North American Windpower)

"Vestas finished 2010 with 15 wind turbine deals in North America, resulting in 1,883 MW and 871 wind turbines. This was the best sales performance for the region since Vestas entered the North American market in 1981…Vestas' previous sales record for North America was 1,554 MW in 2007.

"Vestas received 10 orders worth a total of 1,513 MW from U.S. customers and five orders worth a total of 370 MW from Canadian customers. The largest order for a single site was 190 V90-3.0 MW turbines for Terra-Gen's Alta Wind Energy Center in California…"

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"The strong order intake has kept Vestas' three Colorado manufacturing facilities busy and helped create more than 700 jobs in that state in 2010…

"Vestas plans to open an additional blade factory this year in Brighton, Colo., which is expected to employ at least 600 people when at full operating capacity. The Brighton blade factory will be equipped to manufacture blades for the new V112-3.0 MW, which was released for sale in 2010."