QUICK NEWS, September 4: TX COUNTY RAISES SALARIES ON WIND INCOME; ARMY PUTS $7BIL INTO SUN; DOE BUYS INTO WAVE, TIDAL ENERGY

TX COUNTY RAISES SALARIES ON WIND INCOME Willacy reaps wind farm windfall; Turbines to fuel county pay raises

Fernando Del Valle, August 28, 2013 (Valley Morning Star)

“Willacy County officials have proposed a $14.2 million budget boosted by a wind farm windfall that would pay for 10 percent employee raises and seven new county employees, all without a tax increase…The county’s first tax revenues from wind turbines pumped about $591,000 into the budget, Auditor Ida Martinez said…County Judge John F. Gonzales Jr. said the money would be used for a $650,000 package that would give 10 percent raises to about 95 employees…Duke Energy, one of two wind farms companies operating in Willacy County, gave the county a $275,000 payment in lieu of taxes…” click here for more

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Texas is the national leader in wind energy - with more installed capacity, more wind turbines and more jobs than any other state. The wind energy industry in Texas has created thousands of jobs and provided billions of dollars in economic benefits. (click through for the AWEA Texas Page)

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ARMY PUTS $7BIL INTO SUN Army awards second technology under $7 billion renewable energy MATOC

August 28, 2013 (Army Corps of Engineers)

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center…working with the Army Energy Initiatives Task Force (EITF), awarded Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC) to a group of 22 qualified solar technology contractors…Solar is the second of four technologies being awarded under $7 billion Renewable and Alternative Energy Power Production for DoD Installations MATOC. The first, geothermal, was awarded May 3. The remaining technologies -- wind and biomass -- will be awarded on a staggered schedule by the end of the calendar year. The contractors that are qualified through this process will be able to compete for future projects within their approved technology area…” click here for more

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DOE BUYS INTO WAVE, TIDAL ENERGY Energy Department Invests $16 Million to Harness Wave and Tidal Energy

August 29, 2013 (Energy.Gov)

“…[The Energy Department] announced $16 million for seventeen projects to help sustainably and efficiently capture energy from waves, tides and currents. Together, these projects will increase the power production and reliability of wave and tidal devices and help gather valuable data on how deployed devices interact with the surrounding environment…Tidal and wave energy…can be harnessed wherever changing tides, waves or currents move a significant volume of water – including off the coasts of many U.S. cities where there is high electricity demand. The Department’s latest nationwide wave and tidal energy resource assessments identify up to 1,400 terawatt hours of potential generation per year…” click here for more

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