Wind Energy
Wind energy is currently one of the fastest growing sources of electricity. In 2007 alone, wind power increased by 45%..As of the end of 2007, the US wind power fleet is 16,818 megawatts over 34 states. In 2008, enough wind power will be generated in the US to power 4.5 million homes (source: American Wind Energy Association).
With fossil fuel prices reaching record levels, and air quality becoming a serious concern, utilities, regulators, and electricity users are looking more and more to clean, renewable wind energy to provide increasing percentages of system power. In addition, wind projects can bring needed economic activity to rural communities.
As of 2007, 25 states and the District of Columbia have passed some form of renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requiring that a certain percentage of electricity be supplied by qualifying renewable energy sources.
In 2006, the Ontario Power Authority created the Standard Offer Program wherein wind farms of less than 10 MW can sell power to the OPA at a fixed rate. In accordance with this program, Ameresco is currently developing a 10MW wind energy project in Southern Ontario. This wind development project will connect to the Hydro One network and it is expected to be commissioned in 2009. Ameresco also has lease options with several land parcels in the area which allow for project expansion in the near future.
In recognition of this growing demand, Ameresco’s renewable energy group is expanding its renewable energy focus to include development of new wind resources in promising markets. If you are interested in a wind power project, please contact one of the following:
Canada: John Silverio - JSilverio@ameresco.com and Kleo Taliadouros - KTaliadouros@ameresco.com
USA: Peter Wallis - PWallis@ameresco.com
Midwest: Steve Taggart - STaggart@ameresco.com
Wind Project Developer: Jeff Stander - JStander@ameresco.com and Kleo Taliadouros - KTaliadouros@ameresco.com
Additional information on wind power:
- American Wind Energy Association: www.awea.org
- Canadian Wind Energy Association: www.canwea.ca
- Danish Wind Energy Association: www.windpower.org
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory: www.nrel.gov/wind
- Ontario Standard Offer Program: www.ontarioelectricityrfp.ca
