QUICK NEWS, December 13: WIND CITY, WYOMING; UPDATE ON SUN WAR WITH CHINA; FEDS RULE FOR WIND

WIND CITY, WYOMING
$750 million wind farm proposed for area
Josh Mitchell, December 10, 2011 (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)

"The city of Cheyenne stands to make more than $100 million [from leasing land and property taxes] and possibly draw a wind blade manufacturing facility…The Morley Company of Jackson Hole [with strong financial backing from a Dutch bank] is proposing building a 300-megawatt, $750 million wind farm composed of 120 towers on the west end of the city-owned Belvoir Ranch, which is six miles west of the city…

"The project would only consume a small portion of the 17,000 acres that the city owns at the Belvoir Ranch…[T]he city of Cheyenne only stands to gain from the plan…[It] won't be required to invest any money in the project…[but] could make between $72 million and $130 million by leasing the land to the company over 30 years…[though] it could be several years before the wind farm is actually developed…[if] Congress [is slow to] renew the federal tax credit for wind farms when it expires in a year…[Morley hopes] construction of the wind farm [can] start in three years."

click to enlarge

"The development of transmission lines in Wyoming to transmit the wind energy to market also could contribute to the timing…[S]ix transmission line projects [are] being developed in Wyoming…[by the] Wyoming Infrastructure Authority…Wyoming stands to make money by selling its wind energy to California, which is under governmental mandates to use increasing amounts of renewable energy…

"A new wind farm in the area also would increase the likelihood of drawing a manufacturing center…to build parts for the industry…[T]hree international companies are interested…[especially because there is] railroad access for shipping…A wind turbine manufacturer would be an estimated $500 million investment… and bring about 250 jobs…Prior to developing a wind farm at the Belvoir Ranch, there would have to be studies to ensure that wildlife and artifacts would not be harmed. This could take more than a year…Laramie County resident Paul Edner…said wind towers diminish the skyline."


UPDATE ON SUN WAR WITH CHINA
Solar Trade Complaint: Rumors, New Twists And Questions Answered
Jessica Lillian, 8 December 2011 (Solar Industry)

"…[The bipartisan] International Trade Commission (ITC)…voted 6-0 that there is a ‘reasonable indication’ that [Chinese solar cell and module trade practices] practices are detrimental to the U.S.' solar manufacturing industry…In response, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) - which has maintained a neutral position on the case - sought to [clarify and inform]…

"The ITC's task is to ascertain whether the practices of the Chinese government have caused injury to U.S.-based solar manufacturers…[I]ts preliminary investigation…[found] unanimously that injury has likely occurred…The [U.S. Dept. of Commerce (DOC)]'s concurrent investigation will focus on PV product pricing, in order to determine whether Chinese modules were sold at ‘unfairly’ low prices (i.e., dumped) and whether producers and exporters have benefited from ‘unfair’ government subsidies…"

click to enlarge

"The ITC will look at three factors - price, volume and impact - by collecting a wealth of quarterly pricing data…The initial complaint filed by SolarWorld and its partners in the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing specifically excluded thin-film PV modules from the investigation. Petition respondents, however, have said that they believe thin film should be defined as a 'like product' and, thus, covered in the investigation…

"The next date to watch is Jan. 12, when the DOC is expected to make its preliminary determination on the countervailing-duty portion of the case…A final determination is planned for March 27, when the department will also release its preliminary determination on the anti-dumping component of its investigation…From May through July, both the ITC and DOC will make a series of final determinations, with orders for the countervailing-duty case scheduled for May 18 and orders for the anti-dumping case scheduled for Aug. 1…The U.S. government, however, has in place a measure to stop [importers from rushing as much product as possible into the U.S.]…"


FEDS RULE FOR WIND
FERC Rules In Favor Of Wind Power In BPA Curtailment Case
Laura DiMugno, 8 December 2011 (North American Windpower)

"The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has ruled in favor of wind power in the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) highly contested decision to curtail wind and other forms of generation this spring during a period of hydropower oversupply.

"FERC ruled that BPA's actions unduly discriminated against wind energy and gave preferential treatment to hydropower when it opted to curtail 350 MW of wind generation instead of allowing water to spill over hydroelectric dams…"



"As a result of the ruling, BPA will no longer be allowed to use this policy, and must submit to FERC, within 90 days, a revised open-access transmission tariff that…provides transmission service that is ‘not unduly discriminatory or preferential’…[FERC also recognized in its ruling the wider issue of a lack of sufficient transmission capacity to integrate variable energy resources, especially wind power]…

"BPA expressed disappointment with FERC’s decision, and acknowledged that oversupply will continue to be a challenge in the region…At the time, BPA claimed its curtailment decision was necessary to protect salmon and steelhead, maintain the reliability of the power grid and avoid shifting costs to customers. However, a report issued this fall by salmon industry group Save Our wild Salmon (SOS) denies the validity of those claims…"