SAN DIEGO, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Wind Power
industry appears to be poised for new period of growth after very
nearly becoming a victim of its own success. In the boom years of
the early 2000s thousands of new wind turbines were installed. But,
by 2008, the nation's aging electric grid became so overwhelmed
many wind projects were cancelled – notably T. Boone Pickens' ambitious $10 billion project near Pampa, TX.
Fast forward to 2011 and the critical transmission upgrades to
the electric grid are beginning to have an impact. Southern
California Edison's (NYSE: EIX) high voltage line connecting the
Tehachapi Pass to Los Angeles has
breathed new life into what was the nation's oldest area of wind
turbines. The increased capacity to LA has enabled construction on
California's largest wind park
located in Kern County.
ITC Holdings' (NYSE: ITC) Green Power Express is a network of
transmission upgrades across the Midwest. President Obama recently
highlighted one key part of the new system – a high voltage line
connecting windy North Dakota with
Chicago. Like the Tehachapi line to Los Angeles, the Green Power Express is
expected to spur construction of hundreds of megawatts of new wind
power from developers with pending projects in the Dakotas, such as
Crownbutte Wind Power (OTC Bulletin Board: CBWP) of Mandan, North Dakota and Next Era (NYSE:
NEE).
As important as the transmission upgrades in California and the Midwest are for the wind
industry, the worst bottleneck is in Texas – long number one in wind power. In
2008, the Texas Public Utility Commission responded by approving a
package of transmission upgrades totaling $5
billion. The first new transmission route is along
Interstate 10 and another route was chosen last December to the
Texas Panhandle – considered to be
the nation's best wind region.
Wind developers with shovel ready projects pending near the new
Panhandle high voltage line include Nacel Energy (OTC Bulletin
Board: NCEN) as well as privately held RES America and Cielo Wind Power.
For disclosures and further information follow this link
www.rwtowt-btb.com/windpower
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Contact:
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RW Towt &
Associates
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info@rwtowt-btb.com
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SOURCE RW Towt & Associates