WDC22: Wind Energy - Opportunities and Challenges in the Rural West
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WDC22: Wind Energy - Opportunities and Challenges in the Rural West
Duration: 10/01/2010 to 09/30/2012
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Wind energy's emergence on the Western landscape is one of the most exciting, yet divisive, events of the previous decade. According to the Department of Energy, wind energy has increased 482% over the past 10 years in the Western US.
This rapid growth is expected to continue due to decreasing industry costs for installation and power delivery and external incentives for renewable energy adoption, such as state Renewable Portfolio Standards and the prospect of federal climate change legislation.
Wind energy can be segmented into four general sectors: small wind, distributed generation, community wind, and large wind. Although the definitions are fluid, small wind is generally considered to be installations that serve local energy loads, often behind the meter. Distributed generation systems range in size from approximately 70 kilowatts to over 20 megawatts and are sometimes established as qualified facilities or QFs. Community wind projects can encompass projects of any size, but their ownership structure is more complex and works to provide local ownership of the facilities. In contrast, large wind systems, generally 800 kW or greater nameplate capacity, usually provide power to the grid to serve wholesale markets or dedicated utilities.
Small-scale wind generation provides opportunities to reduce utility expenses in rural areas, but concerns exist regarding economic viability. Distributed generation projects are often explored by those who want smaller systems for which they are paid for production (as opposed to small wind, where the objective is typically to off-set utilization). These projects are extremely sensitive to wind resources, purchased price of power, and cost of equipment. Many landowners explore these projects as an alternative source of revenue to agricultural productions. Community wind projects are most complicated by the ownership structures and access to capital. Large wind development raises correspondingly larger issues, including potential for significant economic benefits, increased agricultural profitability, and importance to mitigating climate change. In addition to the long-term economic viability of large wind, concerns regarding transmission and maintenance infrastructure, environmental and community impact are also present.
Objectives
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Build partnerships among energy focused Extension and research professionals
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Offer joint publications and educational sessions on wind energy related topics, such as locating wind generation facilities, negotiating contracts, economic viability and transmission and maintenance infrastructure
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Create joint curriculum to train Extension personnel and other partners
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Encourage evaluation research to identify best practices
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Form an energy educator association to foster professional development
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Pursue additional sources of funding to support multi-state collaboration on wind education issues
Procedures and Activities
Types of Activities:
Recognizing the diverse wind-related activities at western land-grant institutions, the most important goal of this project will be to coordinate Extension and applied research activities and information distribution. Potential activities include sharing publications and tools, offering joint trainings and public seminars, and collaborating on applied research. The information sharing functions would augment and centralize existing efforts, such as eXtension renewable energy related communities of practice. The multistate group could also forge stronger partnerships with other informational resources, such as the National Renewable Energy Lab and the Department of Energy's, Wind Powering America Program. In addition it would make available research based knowledge that is needed by the Western Governors Association in their renewable energy initiatives.
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- Participants share expertise and are better educated on issues related to wind energy
- Participants provide more effective service to stakeholders
- Unbiased information will effectively delivered via joint publications, seminars, and enhanced websites.
- Unbiased, factual information will result in better decision making.