NuEnergen

2008 a Record Year at 8300 MW of New Wind Power

The U.S. wind energy industry shattered all previous records in 2008 by installing 8,358 MW of new generating capacity (enough to serve over 2 million homes), the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported today.

The massive growth in 2008 swelled the nation’s total wind power generating capacity by 50% and channeled an investment of some $17 billion into the economy, positioning wind power as one of the leading sources of new power generation in the country today.

“The U.S. wind energy industry’s performance in 2008 confirms that wind is an economic and job creation dynamo, ready to deliver on the President’s call to double renewable energy production in three years. At the same time, it is clear that the economic and financial downturn have begun to take a serious toll on new wind development” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. 

The new wind projects completed in 2008 account for about 42% of the entire new power-producing capacity added nationally last year and will avoid nearly 44 million tons of carbon emissions, the equivalent of taking over 7 million cars off of the road.

The top five states in terms of capacity installed are now:

• Texas, with 7,116 MW

• Iowa, with 2,790 MW

• California, with 2,517 MW

• Minnesota, with 1,752 MW

• Washington, with 1,375 MW

Wind turbine and turbine component manufacturers announced, added or expanded 70 new facilities in the past two years, including over 55 in 2008 alone. Those new manufacturing facilities created 13,000 new direct jobs in 2008.

Gore Pushes for Investment to Fight Climate Change

Former Vice President Al Gore urged U.S. lawmakers to pass President Obama’s proposed $816 billion economic stimulus package, saying it will boost the economy while “beginning to solve the climate crisis.”

“The plan’s unprecedented investments in four key areas -- energy efficiency, renewables, a unified national energy grid and the move to clean cars -- represent an important down payment and are long overdue,” Gore told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington today in prepared testimony.

The U.S. House is set to vote on the stimulus plan today.

Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress have made passing legislation to fight global warming and promote clean energy a top priority. Gore’s testimony will lend clout to their efforts to reach consensus, environmental advocates said.

Gore, who has lectured worldwide about the dangers of global warming and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his efforts, has called for a 90 percent reduction in heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and for the U.S. to produce all its electricity from renewable energy by 2018.

NuEnergen Speaks at Westchester County Association

NuEnergen CEO Kevin Hamilton was asked to address a large group assembled by the Westchester County Association regarding the topic of "Lower Energy Costs" this past Tuesday at The Graduate Center at Pace University.

From the Jan 13, 2009 Press Release: Taking a leadership role in addressing the economic crisis, The Westchester County Association (WCA) - the area's premier business membership and advocacy group - today proposed an economic stimulus initiative for Westchester by Westchester.

The unprecedented private sector initiative will focus on three key areas to help provide economic stability and growth for businesses and residents in the county.
The recommendations are the result of the WCA's December 12 "Economic Summit" that was attended by more than 40 top business leaders from across Westchester that focused on the concerns facing business and possible solutions.

Included in the WCA proposal;

Lower Energy Costs - Create an energy purchasing program to provide lower energy costs for specific sectors that are critical to the county's economic vitality such as hospitals, colleges, commercial office buildings and other business sectors.

William M. Mooney Jr., WCA President, said; "A clear outcome of our Economic Summit was the need to provide leadership in addressing the economic crisis faced by Westchester. Although we cannot solve the massive economic problem, we can find creative ways to address specific segments of the Westchester economy. While many details of the program remain to be worked out, we are confident that the economic stimulus initiative for Westchester by Westchester is practical and will complement and work in tandem with the anticipated federal economic stimulus program. I am confident that the Westchester business community will come together to meet this challenge as they have so often in the past".

NuEnergen will continue to offer their support to the WCA and its members in addressing energy costs.