STUFF

Wind tower industry in US likely to shrink to ~1,100 towers next year from ~5K this year. Depends, of course, on tax credit extension or expiration by yearend. BWEN going for exporting to Canada and other countries.

SPCG, Thailand's largest solar farm operator, expects 2Q income to double yoy with revs from 20 projects. They plan to have 34 farms by '14.

Pattern Energy turned on Nevada's 1st wind power farm - 151.8MW - near Ely on public land. 66 Siemens 2.3MW turbines. NV Energy to buy power.

Invenergy planning 502MW wind farm in NE Oregon, slated for '14 construction start. Tax credit expiration would probably stall or scuttle the project, though. Senate Finance Committee did vote 19-5 in favor of 1-year, $900M extension. The credit was initiated in Energy Policy Act of '92. It's been allowed to sunset thrice. Oregon energy tax credit (up to $10M/project) ended last Oct.

Other Oregon proposed wind projects: 550MW farm by Rock Creek Wind Power, 564MW farm by Saddle Butte Wind and a 900MW farm - the intent notice expected soon from Diversified Wind and Games.

Paper trail of demise of Great Lakes Offshore Wind project shows Gov Cuomo's admin apparently turned its back when asked for help. And New York Power Authority near-doubled the price tag for their subsidies to justify pulling the plug. Gotta wonder.

US Export-Import Bank authorized $32.1M loan guarantee (BoA loan) to Brazil comp for purchase of wind turbine blades from Arkansas comp for 2 wind farms totalling 391MW. LM Wind Power Blades a subsid of LM Wind Power, largest maker of blades in world. Brazil accounted for $2.7B of Ex-Im's worldwide credit exposure in '11. In FY12 to date, Bank's authorized ~$415M for clean/renewable energy exports worldwide.

3 large N Carolina wind projects have stalled, reasons ranging from lack of power purchasers to migrating swans, geese and eagles and bats.

Total govt incentives for wind energy (in US) grew to $5B in '10 from $476M in '07.

Siemens got order for 90 direct-drive turbines - 270MW - for Australia wind farm. Construction start in '13, online in '14. Global Wind Energy Council estimates Australia wind power capac to triple by '16 from 2.2GW now.

Rochester, MN Public Utilities shutting state's oldest coal plant in '15. Went online in '48. 3 larger coal units added from '53 to '69. City can purchase el on open market at "lot less cost". Plant would have needed $90M in enviro upgrades. In past year, each unit generated power equivalent to only 2-4 days anyway. They feel it's good idea to keep the local air as healthy as possible with the Mayo Clinic in town.

Arizona Public Service announced request for proposal for 32MW solar farm in Gila Bend. APS to finance, own and operate. They're investing in 200MW of solar projects across state.