Georgia Wind and Solar Energy

I highlighted solar energy in Georgia recently and made a comment that I believe solar needs other energy sources like wind, biodiesel, small hydroelectric, geothermal, and methane from waste (like pig waste, etc.) to supplement it to make a real impact.

I got a comment that wind is only useful in the Great Plains and Mountain States and us useless in the South. I should note that wind is already having an impact not just in energy production but in helping farmers in places like NY State, Pennsylvania and Iowa. But it also has potential in Georgia. So this week I want to highlight the Georgia Wind Working Group, and re-iterate (at the bottom) the Solar Energy potential I highlighted last week.

First wind, to dispel the myth that wind has no role in the South:

This is from a Georgia Wind Working Group Fact Sheet: (PDF)

Why Choose Wind?

Wind is a clean, renewable and locally available energy resource. Wind
energy has been proven to benefit communities through the creation of local
jobs during construction and operations, increased tax revenues annually
throughout a project’s life, and land lease payments. By broadening the tax
base and providing significant new revenues, wind projects can provide
communities the ability to maintain a solid economic base, stable tax rates
and an open, rural landscape.

What is Georgia’s Wind Potential?

Wind energy is the fastest growing energy source in the world, with
thousands of new megawatts (MW) of wind energy being produced every
year in Europe and the United States. Currently there are more than
64,000 MW of wind energy installed worldwide, with 10,000 MW in the
United States. Some developers and landowners are starting to explore
wind energy in Georgia and are finding options both off shore and in
northern Georgia. Please visit the website, www.gawwg.org to review
Georgia’s wind resource maps that identify areas in the State with the most
promising wind energy potential.

How Much Does it Cost?

Wind energy is becoming increasingly competitive with other new sources of electricity, including coal and natural gas. According to the Department of
Energy “the cost of energy from the wind has dropped by 85% during the last 20 years.” All electricity generation sources receive federal subsidies. Congress has attempted to level the playing field by adopting a tax incentive for wind energy called the Production Tax Credit. Currently there are no incentives in Georgia for utility scale wind energy development. A state metering law exists to encourage buy back of small-scale wind power up to 10 kilowatts for residential and up to 100 kilowatts for commercial applications.

Where Can I Find Information for Developing Wind Energy?

The Georgia Wind Working Group has developed a Georgia Wind Guidebook intended to provide individuals, community leaders, and utilities interested in developing wind with the tools and information needed to begin their project. The guidebook may be viewed at the website www.gawwg.org.

Next, let's return to Solar for Georgia:

This comes from last month from Georgia Forum:

If Sun Rises, State Can Meet Renewable Energy Goals
By: James Marlow

At a recent congressional hearing, Public Service Commissioner Stan Wise was told Congress that Georgia cannot meet a proposed mandate to obtain at least 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025. He went on to say that other states would be able to meet the requirement, but Georgia cannot, due to a lack of sunlight.

"This assertion, is just plain wrong," says James B. Marlow Jr., CEO of Radiance Solar, an Atlanta solar energy company. "Georgia averages over five solar sun hours each day, which is more than enough sun for solar to make a significant contribution to Georgia's energy needs."

"In fact, solar energy has worked well everywhere it has been deployed, including places far less sunny than Georgia," says Marlow in an article for the Georgia Forum. "Germany is the world's leading solar market and averages only two solar sun hours each day. Solar energy is also working in Canada and in the Northeastern U.S."

"Some claim that solar is too expensive, but when they compare solar to traditional energy sources such as nuclear or coal, they do not fully include federal subsidies and the environmental costs of those sources," he adds. "More importantly, the cost of solar is rapidly coming down, while the cost of building traditional power plants is going up."

"Solar is also 'shovel ready,' meaning it is a technology that can be put right to work today," Marlow states. "In addition to providing clean electricity, solar can quickly provide thousands of high quality, high paying new jobs for Georgians. New solar construction can start in a few weeks, and large systems can be operational in 90 to 180 days. Plant Vogtle's proposed reactors, by contrast, will not be operational until 2017 or beyond..."

"Hopefully, Georgia will soon join North Carolina, Florida and 30 other states in making the development of solar energy a priority."