Distributed Wind Energy News
Legislative Roundup October 2024
By Lloyd Ritter, DWEA Policy Director We are hard at work on policy and advocacy as always, but happy to have a long Congressional recess that began last week and runs till after the November elections. Staff have extra time to chat during the break, which is a plus....
Accelerating Distributed Wind Converter Interconnection Rates By Automating UL 1741 SB Certification Testing
The Windurance 90 kW Inverter at Sandia National Laboratories undergoing UL 1741 SB experimentation. Photo Credit: Jay Johnson. By Jay Johnson, DER Security Corp; Rachid Darbali-Zamora, Sandia National Laboratories; and Paul Rowan, Windurance A large and growing...
President’s Message October
By Michael Bergey, DWEA President The way I see it, the outcome of the elections on Nov. 5th will be hugely impactful for the U.S. distributed wind energy market and our industry. While the races for the White House and control of the House and Senate are too close to...
REpowering Schools Introduces College Students to Wind Energy Careers
REpowering Schools (REpS), a non-profit 501c3, is dedicated to fortifying the clean energy industry by nurturing a proficient and prepared workforce. The program's mission encompasses distinctive public-private alliances that unite the federal government, state...
Wind Harvest Study Shows Energy Output in East San Diego Wind Resource
DWEA member Wind Harvest, based in Sacramento, California, released a new study on Aug. 6 revealing that the installation of utility-scale vertical-axis wind turbines in areas in East San Diego could double the capacity of annual energy production...
USDA REAP Program Updates
Updated info on USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): Underutilized Technology (UT) applications, including wind projects, have been backlogged for most of the states due to the overwhelming increase in REAP applications and USDA's limited staff for...
dWAM Webinar on New Tools and Capabilities in Distributed Wind Aeroelastic Modeling
Through the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office-funded Distributed Wind Aeroelastic Modeling (dWAM) project, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia National Labs researchers have been working to provide the distributed wind...
AgWind Energizing Rural Communities: Tool Demo & REAP-DWEA Office Hours
By David Dunaway, eFormative Options DWEA’s AgWind initiative, jointly funded by DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) and USDA, is making strides in highlighting distributed wind (DW) for rural and disadvantaged communities. AgWind’s focus on economic...
PNNL 2024 Distributed Wind Market Report Now Available
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) recently announced the publication of its Distributed Wind Market Report: 2024 Edition. According to the report, sixteen U.S. states in 2023 added 10.5 MW of new distributed wind capacity from 1,999 turbine units,...
DWEA Files Motion to FERC Supporting Hybrid Renewables
DWEA on Aug. 22 filed a motion to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in support of a protest by Red Lake County Community Hybrid, LLC of Minnesota regarding the use by Midcontinent Independent System Operation, Inc. (MISO) of one pro forma Generator...
Don’t Miss the 2024 Distributed Wind Energy Summit on Sept. 17!
Whether you are an established member of the wind industry, a student interested in clean energy technologies, or a member of a community-based organization that supports energy transitions, then the virtual 2024 Distributed Wind Energy Summit on Sept. 17 at 8 a.m.-1...
DWEA Reports on Standards Work for Distributed Wind
DWEA leadership recently completed two deliverables (reports) to NREL that close out a small standards support contract to DWEA that began with the launch of the revision of AWEA 9.1-2009 in 2020. Standards are quite impactful to the distributed wind...
Legislative Roundup September
By Lloyd Ritter, DWEA Policy Director Happy Labor Day weekend! Lots of news to share. First, the Presidential election is heating up big time. The latest polls show the campaign is now a tossup. The Harris-Walz ticket has been gaining ground nationally and in several...
Energy Tax Extenders Included in Budget Deal
ENERGY WHITEBOARD BY NICK JULIANO The massive budget deal Senate leaders unveiled overnight would reinstate a variety of energy tax extenders for last year and modify credits for nuclear energy and carbon capture projects. The bill includes a variety of “orphaned” tax...
President’s Message
By Michael Bergey, DWEA President Two weeks ago, we celebrated the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the transformative legislation that significantly increased business opportunities for the distributed wind industry. For manufacturers,...
NPS Expands Turbine Installations in Alaska and Across Continental U.S.
In late 2023, two NPS100C-24 Arctic turbines on 29-meter-tall towers were installed at the Doyon Drilling site in Alaska. Courtesy of Northern Power Systems (NPS). DWEA member Northern Power Systems (NPS), established in 1974 in Vermont, has specialized in the...
Bats, Distributed Wind and USDA REAP
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is currently developing new tools and guidance documents for the endangered northern long-eared bat (NLEB) and the proposed endangered tricolored bat (TCB). Occurring in more than half the country, the predominant threat to...
DWEA Seeks ‘Safe Harbor’ for Towers in Treasury Domestic Content Bonus Credit Guidance
DWEA on July 1 submitted comments regarding the U.S. Treasury Department’s Domestic Content Bonus Credit Guidance and urged the department to include certified distributed wind towers of less than 1 MW in the “safe harbor” list as “manufactured products,” similarly to...
DWEA Members Receive Majority of 2024 CIP Awards
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has awarded $3.15 million to 12 American component suppliers and manufacturers of small- and medium-sized wind turbines—most of whom are DWEA members—as a part of the 2024 Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP)....
July Legislative Roundup
By Lloyd Ritter, DWEA Policy DirectorIt’s August, the Hill is about to shut down for the month as members leave for summer recess and intensive campaigning. Here’s the latest on where our major priorities stand.Farm Bill negotiations are still at a standstill. I don’t...
July’s President’s Message
By Michael Bergey, DWEA President I hope everyone is having a good summer and is able to take some time off. This month I feel compelled to wade in to the importance of the Presidential election in November, because the stakes for our industry couldn’t be higher. On...
Energizing Rural Communities through AgWind
By Lloyd Ritter, DWEA Policy Director Together with Texas USDA specialists and others, AgWind, DWEA’s Justice40-focused outreach to agricultural markets designed to boost DW installations across rural America, is hosting a community workshop unveiling the "AgWind...
Ryse Energy Expands Micro Wind Turbine Portfolio with Primus Wind Power Acquisition
Ryse Energy on July 12 announced the acquisition of Primus Wind Power, a large and long-time manufacturer of micro wind turbines. Both companies are DWEA members. “This acquisition will enable us to offer our clients in international markets a wider, more diverse...
Windurance Develops Pioneering Servo-Electric Blade Pitch Actuator Tech
Founded in 2000, Windurance is recognized as the pioneer of servo-electric blade pitch actuator technology for utility-scale wind turbines in widespread use throughout the industry today. Turbines using full span pitch regulation deliver higher annual energy...
USDA Announces $21 Million in REAP Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal on July 13 announced that USDA is making $21 million in technical assistance grants available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to help...
Empowering Communities: Exploring the Potential of Wind and Solar Hybrid Microgrids
During a 2022 visit to Puerto Rico, Dr. Rachid Darbali-Zamora, a researcher at Sandia National Laboratories met with community members and discussed some of the challenges associated to deploying different renewable energy technologies in remote rural regions of the...
DWEA Among DOE’s Energizing Rural Communities Prize Awards
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) on July 14 announced that DWEA was among 67 winners in the first phase of the $6.7 millionEnergizing Rural Communities Prize. This prize challenges individuals and organizations to develop...
Wind Energy Legislative Roundup
By Lloyd Ritter, DWEA Representative Welcome to the August (and part of September) Congressional recess, I guess. Congress left town last week with a load of work still to do, ranging from appropriations to the Farm Bill re-authorization. It’s going to get very...
President’s Message August 2023
By Michael Bergey, DWEA President Dangerous, record-breaking heat across the globe is bringing home the real impact of our continued use of fossil fuels. But also in the news is the impressive surge of domestic investments in clean energy and storage manufacturing, as...
Guide DWEA’s 2022 Policy Priorities
Support Distributed Wind for Community Empowerment & Energy Resilience Please take 5 minutes to complete a short survey about policies you'd like to see DWEA prioritize this year. If you represent an organization or business that supports local clean energy – let...
Distributed Wind 2022
Distributed Wind 2022, Feb 28 - Mar 3 in Washington DC DWEA's annual business conference and lobby day is your best opportunity to learn what's new in behind-the-meter distributed wind, including DOE's exciting new programs to advance distributed wind's contribution...
Distributed Wind Energy Association’s Support of Energy Justice: Black Lives Matter
July 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has exposed major weaknesses in our economy and deep-seated inequalities in our society, hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest. In advancing distributed clean energy, DWEA is working to recognize and address systemic energy...
Distributed Generation: Eastern Colorado’s Clean Energy Future
DWEA Hosts Distributed Generation Workshop in Yuma, CO Yuma, CO – On December 4th the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) will host a full-day Distributed Generation (DG) Workshop at the Community Center in Yuma, CO. The workshop is the second in DWEA’s “State...
All Eyes on Kansas to Reinvigorate America’s Heartland
CEBC and DWEA co-host Distributed Generation Workshop in Wichita, KS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 19, 2017 Wichita, KS – On September 27th the Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) and Kansas Department of Commerce in partnership with the Distributed Wind Energy...
Agriculture Energy Coalition Members Applaud Senators’ Support of Farm Bill Energy Programs
For Immediate Release Washington, DC September 7, 2017 Contact: Lloyd Ritter (202) 215-5512 The Agriculture Energy Coalition today issued the following statement thanking Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for introducing the...
DWEA Confirms Continued Distributed Wind Industry Growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 9, 2017 Durango, CO, August 9, 2017 – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) released the 2016 Distributed Wind Market Report showing growth in the domestic residential, commercial, and...
DWEA Lauds ITC Legislation Supporting Distributed Wind Power and Economic Opportunity for Small Business and Rural America
For more information Jennifer Jenkins, DWEA Executive Director jjenkins@distributedwind.org, 928-380-6012 February 16, 2017 – Last night Representatives Tom Reed (R-NY) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), re-introduced legislation to provide a multi-year extension of the...
Renewable Energy Revolution in Small-Town America
This video was sourced from The Atlantic's American Futures project.
DOE study Confirms Vast Untapped Energy and Jobs Potential for Distributed Wind Energy Systems
DOE study Confirms Vast Untapped Energy and Jobs Potential for Distributed Wind Energy Systems November 22, 2016 Durango, CO – Today the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), under the direction and funding of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), released a first-ever...
U.S. Department of Energy and DWEA Partner to Support Wind for Schools Program
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Partnership with DWEA to Support Wind for Schools Program May 23, 2016 The Wind Program announced that the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) has been selected as a partner to support the long-term sustainability of the Wind...
SMART Wind Roadmap Unveiling May 18
SMART Wind Roadmap pinpoints top actions to innovate and boost U.S.-led distributed wind manufacturing May 11, 2016 DWEA and Sustainable Manufacturing, Advanced Research & Technology (SMART) Wind Consortium publish shared-vision Roadmap of key strategies to reduce...
DWEA is looking forward to success in 2016: New Membership Levels
Dear DWEA Members, With 2016 rapidly approaching, we are focused on implementing a strategy that is necessary to have a powerful and lasting impact on the distributed wind market. Part of this process has been re-evaluating our membership levels to enhance value and...
Big News for DWEA Member United Wind
United Wind Secures $13.5M Financing for Major Expansion of its WindLease Program Leading renewable energy investors, U.S. Bank and New York Green Bank partner with United Wind to expand its market leading distributed wind energy financing program Contact Colin...
It’s here! 2014 Distributed Wind Market Report
According to the 2014 Distributed Wind Market Report, distributed wind reached a cumulative capacity of almost 1 GW (906 MW) in the United States in 2014, reflecting nearly 74,000 wind turbines deployed across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands....
The Clean Coalition at All-States
DWEA is proud to announce that The Clean Coalition has partnered up with us for our Distributed Wind All-States Summit 2015: “Building Markets in the States,” which will take place from September 30 to October 1, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento in...
FERC Removes Obstacles that Limit Distributed Renewable Energy in Colorado
July 10, 2015 By Andrew Burger, Contributor Contributor In a July 1 ruling FERC (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) cleared the way for Colorado’s Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA), along with other electric co-ops, to step outside the bounds of a...
IRS Update on Certification
Modification of Notice 2015-4 Notice 2015-51 SECTION 1: PURPOSE On February 2, 2015, the Treasury Department and IRS published Notice 2015- 4, which provides guidance on the energy credit under section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code). Specifically, that notice...
World’s Leading Manufacturer of Small Wind Turbines Enters the Japanese Market
Contact: Ben Finzel RENEWPR Phone: 202-277-6286 ben@renewpr.com Press Release World’s Leading Manufacturer of Small Wind Turbines Enters the Japanese Market Three-Year Effort to Gain First-Ever Complete Certifications of Small Wind Turbines Yields First...
Blowing Away Electricity Bills
Link to article in the Columbus Telegram
USDA Renewable Energy Project Applications due June 30th
DENVER, June 2, 2015 – Trudy Kareus, Colorado USDA Rural Development State Director, announced that applications for the second round of Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) are due June 30, 2015. Agricultural producers and rural small business owners can now...
DWEA Board President Addresses Congressional Subcommittee
DWEA Board President Addresses Congressional Subcommittee Proposed Legislation Contained Positive Suggestions for Distributed Wind DURANGO, CO – May 28, 2015 --- Michael Bergey, the president of the Distributed Wind Energy Association Board, addressed the...
Pika Instals a T701 turbine in North Carolina
Pika recently worked with winemaker Tom Mincarelli , who is located at 3,200 feet above sea level in Black Mountain, North Carolina. He is off-grid with Pika's T701 wind turbine and B801 Battery Charge Controller. Tom is an installer and has a great site for wind,...
Distributed Wind Industry has the potential to create 150,000 jobs and generate 30 GW of energy by 2030
New white paper from Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) lays road map for growth of “behind the meter” distributed wind in America. WASHINGTON DC – On the eve of their annual Business Conference and Lobby day, the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA)...
Distributed Wind Energy Association Applauds USDA Final REAP Program Rule on Eve of USDA REAP Forum
Washington DC --- Today the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) lauded USDA’s recent announcement of a final rule for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This rule-making process has been years in the making, and DWEA has been an active participant...
IRS will require small wind turbines be certified
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2015 IRS will require small wind turbines be certified Distributed wind industry views performance and quality assurances at the Federal level as a positive step for successful deployment of...
Hog farms and wind power have the potential to save local farmers thousands in Iowa
The top state in the country for producing pork, Iowa produces billions of dollars a year from over 6,000 hog farms. With costs only rising, some farmers are looking for ways to cut down on bills. Combining two of Iowa’s strengths, hog farms and wind power, has the...
Congress has opportunity to restore stability to distributed wind markets
Distributed wind industry urges Congress to pass a multi-year extension of the Investment Tax Credit and restore stability to the distributed wind market place. WASHINGTON DC – As Congress considers extensions of tax policies used by a variety of businesses, it is...
A 64-year-old farm owned by three brothers has recently added a new crop: wind
Kevin, Ed and Rich Doody grew up on the dairy farm their parents established in 1949 with 35 cows and fewer than 80 acres. The farm, now home to 350 cows, is 12 miles south of Syracuse, NY, in a small town called Otisco. The brothers’ parents also grew up in the area,...
DWEA Executive Director Jennifer Jenkins, applauds introduction of Bridge to a Clean Energy Future Act of 2014 by Rep Blumenauer
New legislation extends expired all important clean energy tax provisions including the distributed wind Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Congress continued to move forward on extending vital clean energy tax provisions that expired earlier this year, which includes the...
Statement from DWEA Executive Director, Jennifer Jenkins on 2013 Distributed Wind Market Report
Department of Energy’s 2013 Distributed Wind Market report highlights American manufacturing success story “The Distributed Wind Market Report issued today by the Department of Energy underscores what a true American small business success story this industry is and...
Maine company a force for local jobs and sustainable future
Pika Energy operated out of Ben Polito’s basement until one year ago. The company’s roots stretch even further back, with its true beginning in 2010, when Polito, company president, and Joshua Kaufman cofounded the company with support from local Maine investors. Now,...
Colorado Based Ethos Distributed Energy Acquires Rev1 Renewables
With Acquisition, Renewable Energy and Wireless Services Leader Becomes Ethos Distributed Solutions, Expands Operations to Nearly All 50 States Ethos Distributed Energy and Rev1 Renewables have now joined forces to become Ethos Distributed Solutions. With the...
Welcome PNE Corp to DWEA!
PNE Corp. was founded in 1989 with a vision to lead in construction, commercial electrical, industrial services and environmental solutions. PNE Corp. National headquarters is located in Longview, Washington and operates in national and international markets with...
Representatives Blumenauer (OR-03) and Cole (OK-04) applauded for introducing Rural Wind Energy Development Act
New legislation expands limits on small wind ITC to include broader distributed wind industry Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Tom Cole (OK-04) introduced the Rural Wind Energy Development Act to provide an investment tax...
Commerce Department awards DWEA a grant to develop SMART Wind Consortium-led Roadmap
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2014 DWEA to launch Strategies for Manufacturers Advancing Research and Technology (SMART) Wind Consortium, craft technology Roadmap The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that...
Statement from DWEA Executive Director on the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act
Distributed wind industry urges Senate to pass the EXPIRE Act and restore stability to the distributed wind market place. May 13, 2014, WASHINGTON DC – “The U.S. Senate has a huge opportunity to support American business and innovation this week. Distributed wind...
DWEA and AWEA enter formal partnership to collaborate on distributed and community wind market initiatives
The Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) today announced that it has entered into a formal partnership with the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) that will enable the organizations to strengthen their representation of the small and community wind industry...
Dispatches from the Distributed Wind Movement
This is cross-posted from the Community Power Network blog. Read the whole article here. Two weeks ago the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) hosted their 2014 Distributed Wind Annual Lobby Day and Conference. Emily Stiever from Community Power Network...
Statement from DWEA Executive Director on Oklahoma Senate Bill 1456
April 3rd – Distributed Wind Energy Association Executive Director Jennifer Jenkins issued the following statement today as Senate Bill 1456, a bill that would add a new surcharge for distributed generation moved through a House subcommittee: “It’s disappointing to...
Distributed wind community remains optimistic as wind Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is adopted in Senate Tax Extenders
FOR MORE INFO: Lauren Glickman Email: Lglickman@distributedwind.org Tel: 504-258-7955 Grassley/Cantwell Amendment adds 2-year extension of ITC to Senate Tax Extenders Washington, D.C., April 3rd – Further Congressional action was taken today to address many of the...
Statement from DWEA Executive Director on bipartisan and bicameral support of Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for distributed wind
Over 100 representatives and nearly 30 senators deliver unified message to Congress asking for immediate extension of investment tax credit Washington, D.C., March 21st – Distributed Wind Energy Association Executive Director Jennifer Jenkins issued the following...
The millions that a wind farm gives to its community
Industry advocates often talk about wind farms contributing revenue to local communities, so it’s nice to hear specific and tangible examples of wind power at work on the ground (that is, as opposed to 80-plus meters in the air, working to generate clean electrons). ...
Blumenauer Receives Legislator of the Year Award from the Distributed Wind Energy Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb 28, 2014 FOR MORE INFO: Lauren Glickman Email: Lglickman@distributedwind.org Tel: 504-258-7955 Blumenauer Receives Legislator of the Year Award from the Distributed Wind Energy Association ...
Leaders in distributed wind power deliver their stories to Congress
**Media Availability** Leaders in distributed wind power deliver their stories to Congress “Wind Week” continues as Distributed wind industry heads to the hill February 27, 2014 What: The Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) kicked off its third annual Lobby...
New Book: SMALL WIND, Planning and Building Successful Installations
SMALL WIND, Planning and Building Successful Installations is a new book written by R. Nolan Clark to provide a cohesive guide to achieving successful installations of wind systems that are less than 100 kW in size. The wind industry has grown to the point that there...
WoWE accepting fellowships for 2014 Rudd Mayer Fellowships
Women of Wind Energy (WoWE) is accepting applications for fellowships to women college students, recent graduates, or women changing careers into the wind energy field to attend the annual American Wind Energy Association WINDPOWER conference where there will be tens...
New Report from ACORE: Renewable Energy in 50 states
ACORE also released its Southeastern Region portion of Renewable Energy in the 50 States this week. Lesley Hunter, ACORE's Research and Program Manager and lead author of the report notes "the Southeastern states have often been reluctant to create market signals...
U.S. Senate Votes to Move Forward on 2014 Farm Bill, Vote on Final Passage Tomorrow
The Agricultural Act of 2014 is Rare Bipartisan Jobs Bill, Reforms Programs, Reduces Deficit by $23 Billion Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate cleared a procedural hurdle today and voted to proceed to consideration of the 2014 Farm...
DWEA Teams with Canadian Wind Energy Association to promote benefits of small-scale wind energy
Flagstaff, Ariz., July 8, 2013 – The Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) today announced that it has entered into a formal partnership with the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) that will enable the organizations to strengthen their representation of...