Golden Gate [X]press Article on Urban Wind Power

October 21st article on San Francisco's urban wind potential. Quotes from our very own Robin Wilson!

http://xpress.sfsu.edu/archives/arts/013781.html

San Francisco Urban Wind Power Directive

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Directive 09-07 outlines the city’s plan to reach 50 MW of in-city renewable energy generation. Released on October 23, 2009, the directive includes the following:

Goals:

• Maximize renewable energy technologies in areas of the City where they make the most sense

• Reduce polluting fossil fuel power generation

• Reduce CO2, NOx and particulate emissions and smog generation

Challenges:

• Overall, San Francisco has only a moderate medium- to large-scale wind resource, and small-scale wind potential has not been fully realized yet

The Department of the Environment Actions:

• Develop an SF Wind Map that maps the city’s wind resource at the finest possible resolution

• Explore the feasibility of implementing an anemometer loan program to help potential wind customers better understand their wind resource

• Work with the Department of Building Inspection and Planning Department to explore permitting cost refunds
  

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission directives:

• Make data from its 20 wind monitoring stations publicly available

• Install more anemometers in particularly windy parts of the City

• Work with City departments (like the SF Zoo, Port Authority, Parks and Recreation, and others) to develop a site plan for installing small municipal wind demonstrations

Planning Department and Department of Building Inspection tasks:

• Convene a small wind permitting subcommittee comprised of representatives from the small wind industry, bird advocates, and permitting authorities, to review permitting requirements

• Make permitting requirements and application procedures publicly accessible

• Consider revising city-wide height limits to exceed what is currently allowed, thereby allowing for greater wind power generation

New F.I.T. info....

Schwarzenegger Signs New Feed-In Tariff Subsidy and Interior Department Agreement:

The modification of the feed-in tariff (FIT) in S.B. 32 revises and expands the program from 1.5 MW to 3 MW. This "new" FIT guarantees that utility owners will pay producers an estimated 15 to 17 cents per kilowatt hour. This FIT will help drive new renewable energy projects moving forward.

Schwarzenegger entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior to speed up the environmental, permitting and transmission issues associated with renewable energy projects.

Urban Wind Task Force Releases Report

Mayor Newsom today announced recommendations from San Franciscos Urban Wind Power Task Force, charged with finding ways to encourage the expansion of local wind power generation in San Francisco.

Check out the video for the full press release.

More than 40,000 Wind Turbines to be Installed in North America in the Next Five Years, According to Pike Research

More than 40,000 Wind Turbines to be Installed in North America in the Next Five Years, According to Pike Research

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Whirligig Inc.
http://www.trustinthewind.com