QUICK NEWS, May 14: HUGE BUFFETT WIND BUY IN IOWA; THE VALUE OF ARIZONA’S SUN; MINNESOTA LOVES WIND

HUGE BUFFETT WIND BUY IN IOWA MidAmerican Energy will invest $1.9 billion in wind projects in Iowa

William Petroski, May 8, 2013 (Iowa Politics)

“…MidAmerican Energy will make a $1.9 billion investment in Iowa for wind energy projects that will be the biggest single economic investment ever in the state…MidAmerican officials said no sites have been selected yet…MidAmerican Energy Co. will add up to 1,050 megawatts of wind generation, consisting of up to 656 new wind turbines, in Iowa by year-end 2015…The wind expansion will enhance economic development and provide in excess of $360 million in additional property tax revenues over the next 30 years…Landowner payments totaling $3.2 million per year also are expected…

“…[T]he expansion is planned to be built at no net cost to the company’s customers and will help stabilize electric rates over the long term by providing a rate reduction totaling $10 million per year by 2017, commencing with a $3.3 million reduction in 2015, MidAmerican officials said…MidAmerican Energy began building wind projects in 2004. To date, 1,267 wind turbines [and 2,285 megawatts of wind generation capacity] have been installed in Iowa, representing a total investment of approximately $4 billion. [It is No. 1 in wind ownership among rate-regulated utilities] In light of the recent federal wind production tax credit extension, the company said it is asking to expand its wind generation capacity…”

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“MidAmerican Energy estimates that by January 2016, when all new wind generation is expected to be operating, it may be capable of generating approximately 39 percent of its retail generation output through wind generation during that month…If the expansion is approved by the Iowa Utilities Board, MidAmerican Energy will own and operate approximately 3,335 megawatts of wind generation capacity in Iowa by year-end 2015, officials said…

“…[C]ompanies such as Facebook and Google want clean energy, so the move also could attract new developments…[T]he project will keep Iowa on track to generate 10,000 megawatts of wind power by 2020, and will help support jobs at turbine-component businesses and blade manufacturers…The utility’s project will boost Iowa’s overall nameplate wind generation, from all sources, by 20 percent, to 6,000 megawatts from 5,000 megawatts currently…The U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that Iowa would have to produce 10,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2020, and 20,000 by 2030 to meet environmental groups’ goal to have the country produce 20 percent of its power from wind by 2030.”

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THE VALUE OF ARIZONA’S SUN New Study: Distributed Solar Energy Provides $34 Million in Benefits to Arizona Ratepayers

May 10, 2013 (Solar Energy Industries Association)

“…[D]istributed solar generation (DG) and net energy metering will provide Arizona Public Service (APS) customers with $34 million in annual benefits…[according to a study] by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)…Using data from APS’ 2012 Integrated Resource Plan and other APS data, the study examines the costs incurred and the benefits generated by distributed solar over the useful life of a distributed solar system -- 20 years. This is consistent with how APS approaches long-term resource planning.

“The study found that for each dollar of cost, DG provides $1.54 worth of benefits to APS customers. The net benefits for APS customers will amount to $34 million per year beginning in 2015. Benefits include savings on expensive and polluting conventional power and power plants; reduced investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure; reduced electricity lost during transportation over power lines, as distributed solar power is generated and consumer locally; and savings on the cost of meeting renewable energy requirements…”

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“Net metering is a popular consumer policy in place in 43 states that empowers homes, businesses, schools, and public agencies to install solar while helping the economy and other ratepayers. As a result of thousands of Arizonans’ choice to adopt rooftop solar, a competitive solar energy industry employs 9,800 Arizonans today…

“…Arizona boasts the most solar per capita of any state in the nation with 1,097 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity. Beyond making a smart energy choice, this study shows that these customers’ investments provide financial benefits to all APS customers. Overall, Arizona ranks 2nd in the country for most installed solar, with enough capacity to power 139,000 homes. In 2012 alone, $590 million was invested in Arizona to install solar on homes and businesses…”

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MINNESOTA LOVES WIND New Poll Finds Minnesota Power Customers Overwhelmingly Support Clean Energy And Energy Efficiency, Shift Away From Fossil Fuels In Minnesota; As Minnesota Power Sets Its Long-Term Energy Plan, More than 8-in-10 Customers Say “We Need to Fundamentally Change the Way We Get Our Energy”

May 1, 2013 (Sierra Club)

“…[A new poll] shows that voters in the Minnesota Power service area overwhelmingly favor using clean, renewable energy sources…as Minnesota’s long-term energy plan – otherwise known as its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) – is under review by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. As the utility plans the next 15 years ofits energy mix, more than 8-in-10 voters…[favor a fundamental change is needed in the way Minnesota gets energy] by modernizing the electric grid to maximize energy efficiency and wind and solar energy use…

“In February, Minnesota Power announced that it will stop burning coal in one unit at its Taconite Harbor plant, and convert units at its Syl Laskin coal plant to burn natural gas in the next few years. Rather than phasing out coal at unit 4 at its Boswell plant, the utility announced plans to invest more than $350 million to retrofit a unit at the plant to comply with modern pollution standards.”

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“According to the poll, three-in-four voters agree that ‘Minnesota utilities should reduce our need for coal and other fossil fuels by increasing energy efficiency and using more clean, renewable energy.’ Almost eight in ten voters (79 percent) support phasing out Minnesota’s oldest coal-burning power plants and replacing them with greater use of clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency…More than two-thirds of voters polled reported that they are concerned about the health risks…from Minnesota Power’s coal-fired power plants…[and 61 percent] are concerned about climate change…

“Aside from popular support for phasing out coal-fired power plants, the poll also found that voters in the Minnesota Power service area were in favor of setting clean energy goals and undertaking large-scale efficiency efforts to conserve energy and…[76 percent] support ensuring that electric utilities in Minnesota get at least 10 percent of their electricity from solar power by the year 2030…Eight in ten voters (83 percent) polled also support incentives for Minnesota’s largest energy users to become [20 percent] more energy efficient…”

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