On May 12, Andrew Karsner, the Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced the release of a DOE report indicating that it was technically feasibility to get 20 percent of the nation's electricity by wind generation by 2030.
Karsner began by discussing the Bush Administration's plan to help make renewable energy, including wind, a more significant part of the U.S. energy portfolio. He said that Bush first mentioned wind energy in the 2006 State of the Union Address and his desire to increase its prominence in the U.S. electricity grid. Since then, he said, the U.S. has installed new wind turbines at a very rapid pace. According to Karsner, the U.S. will surpass Germany in renewable energy generation in two years. Karsner noted that increased wind production will decrease greenhouse gas emissions by up to 7.6 Gigatons by 2030, if this plan is implemented.
At the press conference releasing the report, Karsner said that the two biggest criticisms of wind energy, is that "it is unreliable and that it only works in niche applications." He disagreed with these assertions and said they are not supported by scientific data. He noted that in order for a wind farm to be successful, a long-term study of its wind patterns is required, in excess of a year, but that if those studies are done correctly, there is no reason why a wind farm cannot provide a long-term reliable source of generation. Karsner also discussed the need to build a "clean energy superhighway" so wind farms, which are developed in remote locations, can connect to the grid.
Other experts, such as Suedeen Kelly, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Randall Swisher, Executive Director, American Wind Energy Association;
Dan Arvizu, Director, DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Bob Lukefahr, President, Power Americas; BP Alternative Energy North America; and Tony Kavanagh, Vice President, Government Relations, American Electric Power where present at the press conference and also commented on the report.
All of the other experts agreed that the DOE plan was both doable and desirable. Several of the panelists stated that the idea of providing 20% of the U.S. electricity needs by 2030 from wind will be a benefit to the economy and the environment. Many highlighted the need for more transmission construction and that by building an interstate super highway transmission system will ultimately benefit the economy and electricity consumers who will now have access to wind energy that would not have existed prior to the new transmission lines. To view the report, go to http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/41869.pdf