Wind energy will probably be the fastest-moving renewable energy story in 2005. In October 2004, President Bush extended the production tax credits (PTC) for renewable energy sources through December 31, 2005. This ushered in a fresh gust of ambitious wind farms around the US. Many projects are planned, but due to uncertain subsidies past 2005 many may never actually be built.

• The American Wind Energy Assn. lists existing and planned US wind projects by state. This list was last updated August 2004; call AWEA for more recent information. AWEA press: Christine Real de Azua, 202-383-2508.
• The Canadian Wind Energy Assn. lists existing wind projects by province. CanWEA press: 800-922-6932.
• US DOE wind energy info. Wind & Hydropower Program.

Meanwhile, the siting, aesthetics, economics, transmission line logistics, and potential climate effects of wind energy are increasingly controversial.

For instance, Audubon of KS is fighting a project planned for the state's Flint Hills region, which may threaten one of the few remaining stands of native tallgrass prairie in North America. Ron Klataske, 785-537-4385, <aok@audubonofkansas.org>. The Governor of KS has put this project on hold: release. DOE release.

In MA, several major wind projects are planned. These have been controversial for many reasons — esp. aesthetics. Local residents are concerned that windmills would interfere with wilderness and wildlife, or simply degrade the scenic beauty of the view from high-priced real estate. This is especially true of the first major US offshore wind project, Cape Wind, currently planned for Nantucket Sound, 617-904-3100. Construction is expected to begin in 2005.

• The Army COE has extended the public comment period on this project through Feb. 24, 2005. COE press: Tim Dugan, 978-318-8264. AWEA statement on the Cape Wind project. A Dec. 14, 2004, Boston Globe Op-ed recounts some of MA's current major wind project battles.

In NJ, on Dec. 23, 2004, Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey imposed a 15-month freeze on offshore windmill projects, while appointing a panel to study the issue: release. Gov.'s Office Press: Kelley Heck, 609-777-2600. NJ DEP press: Elaine Makatura, 609-984-1795.

• Moratorium opponents include the NJ chapter of the Sierra Club (Jeff Tittel, 609-656-7612), and NJ PIRG (Emily Rusch, 609-394-8155, release).

In Sept. 2004, the National Academy of Sciences published a study by US and Canadian scientists which found, through computer simulations, that large-scale use of wind farms to generate electricity results in temperature increases over land masses. However, researchers add that these changes would be relatively small compared to the climate effects of the utility CO2 emissions which wind power would offset. Still, the potential for local climate change has become a leading concern to wind project opponents. Report. Lead author: Dr. David Keith, Univ. of Calgary: 403-220-6154.

On Dec. 16, 2004, Vermont banned large wind farms on state lands. Only small wind projects will be considered. Mike Fraysier, VT Dept. of Forests, Parks, and Recreation: 802-241-3682.

Recently, AP reported that US wind energy companies may increasingly turn to US mfrs. for equipment, in an effort to reduce costs. A Sept. 2004 report from the Renewable Energy Policy Project said that there are 16,163 firms in 50 states that mae tems imilar to those used in the wind industry, 202-293-2898.

For a wider view of the current US renewables scene, see this Dec. 27, 2004, overview by BusinessWeek.

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