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         Wind Power and Energy Policy

 

One of the best ways to start a change in society is to change the rules. The rules governing the proliferation of wind energy are found in the United States energy policy. It contains how much can be produced, who has to produce it, how they have to produce it, and how energy companies recieve in return for their compliance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where do We want To Be?

Where We Are Now

My group and I contemplate what is necessary for a much higher precentage of wind energy supporting Texans. We are advocating for wind energy being more towards 30-40 % of Texas energy. We will outline what types of policies and to what effects should be implemented for such a capacity.

 

 

Backed by an almost 4oo million dollar federal subsidy and 29 million megawatts of wind generated so far, Texas is producing the most wind energy in the United states. However, they are doing so without policies like the Section 1603 Grant Program, which incetivises production of renewable energy. Another policy that promotes wind energy is the Renewable Energy Standard. This standard sets goals for state energy policy to help diversify states energy mix. The production Tax Credit is helping put Texas wind on an almost level playing field with conventional sources of energy. But, Texas is still getting a mere 8% of it's energy from wind.

 

                         This is a list of utility companies in Texas that use wind energy

 

What Needs To Be Done?

To bring about the mass proliferation required for such an increase in energy output, the following is needed:

 

  • More lenient land use policies

    • Land use laws need to prevent the building of structures that reduce the power generative capabilities

    • Land use laws that allow unrestricted access for wind developers to high wind area

  • Improvement in the transmission grid

    • Becasue wind generation is located in primarily rural areas, there needs to be a more efficient transmission grid. In this situation, what is needed is to change out the low voltage power lines for lines with higher capacities.

  • Improved Production Tax Credit (PTC) Guidelines  geared towards creating a more stable investment environment.

    • The methods of incentivizing investors is too complicated because investors have three seperate options for incentives

      • Production Tax Credit

      • Investment Tax Credits

      • 1603 Program

    • Each of these motivates different types of wind energy investors

  • Continued maintenence of Texas' RPS Model

    • Texas has one of the best preformances when it comes to dealing with the RPS. The state of Texas has acheived and surpassed a number of the goals Set for it by ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council Of Texas).

Sources

 

American Wind Energy Association. "State Wind Energy Policy." State Wind Energy Policy. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

 

"Can I Buy Green Power in My State?" Green Power Network:. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

 

Connor, Austin. "Recent Developments." University Of Houston Law 46.1 (2002): 103-23. Web.

 

Institute for Energy Research. "Estimating State-Level Impact of Federal Wind Energy Subsidies." (n.d.): n. pag. Http://instituteforenergyresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/State-Level-Impact-of-Federal-Wind-Subsidies.pdf. Web.

 

Leon, Warren. "The State of State Renewable Portfolio Standard." (2013): n. pag. Web.

 

"Recovery Act." 1603 Program: Payments for Specified Energy Property in Lieu of Tax Credits. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

 

"Understanding Texas Wind Power: A Policy Guide." Texas Wind Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

 

U.S. Energy Information Administration. "U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis." Texas. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

 

"Wind Energy." Chapter 11. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

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