SINGLE BLOG

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, dealers, and project developers of small and medium wind systems the most impactful piece of the bill is arguably the upgrades to the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The IRA put a lot more money into REAP ($2.02 billion), but the creation of the separate Underserved Technologies (UT) pool, with $304 million in funding, was the key to distributed wind applications being funded. Previously it was extremely difficult for wind to compete with lower cost technologies such as solar and efficiency retrofits (e.g., grain dryers). Read more

Legislative Roundup

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 key swing states. That said, former President Trump and Sen. JD Vance are still leading in some battleground states, as well. The control of both the House and Senate hangs in the balance and could tilt in either direction based on the national results. Read more

Regulatory Updates

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 p.m. PT is definitely for you! This collaborative event is designed for participants of all backgrounds to learn, discuss, and take action based on their goals, interests, and experiences. Read more

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, representing $37 million in investment. Ohio, Illinois, and Alaska led the U.S. in new distributed wind capacity additions, while Oklahoma and Alaska added the majority of small wind capacity in 2023. Distributed wind projects for commercial customers accounted for 42% of the number of all projects installed in 2023, followed by agricultural customers at 34%. Read more

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 benefits for Justice40 and agricultural markets aims to empower these communities by reducing up-front barriers and streamlining project financing. Upcoming efforts will further expand AgWind’s reach and impact.

With funding through a HeroX Phase 1 prize, AgWind hosted a successful community workshop in June at the San Patricio Fairgrounds in Sinton, Texas. This event, in collaboration with USDA’s Rural Development Office and Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI), provided vital information on USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and introduced the innovative AgWind Feasibility Assessment Tool.

Read more

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 energy industry with better tools to model, validate, and certify improved wind turbine designs. Read more

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 reviews. The review staff has been prioritizing applications for grant requests under $20,000. DWEA has been urging USDA to clear the wind projects bottleneck for several months now and we were recently told that USDA is now prioritizing the UT applications. HQ has reportedly asked state RD offices to also prioritize UT applications. No timeframe for clearing the pipeline of applications was provided. Read more

Member News

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 industry. These reports – “Industry Assessment of Next Steps Deliverable 6.6” (Aug. 13) and “DW Opportunities with the International Building Code Deliverable 6.5” (Aug. 30) as part of the Technical Support for Small and Medium Wind Turbine Standards and Requirements (NREL Subcontract No. SUB-2020-10116) – show how DWEA and a number of its members are active in assessing and addressing soft cost barriers, both domestically and internationally.

On the issue of pursuing a distributed wind section in the 2027 International Building Code, as proposed in Deliverable 6.5, DWEA is pleased to report that NREL has expressed a possible interest in supporting such an effort. Contact DWEA Executive Director Heather Rhoads at heather@distributedwind.org for copies of the reports and to submit your comments.

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 Interconnection Agreement (GIA) that contains a tariff applying to both large and small generators. Red Lake is a wind/solar/battery project led by DWEA member Hybrid Renewables. “DWEA is deeply concerned that the terms of MISO’s pro forma GIA will make it uneconomical for small generators to interconnect and be placed in service in the MISO territory, thereby harming several DWEA members who operate in MISO’s territory,” DWEA wrote in its motion. DWEA said it is essential that MISO’s pro forma GIA “differentiates between the interconnection requirements for small and large generators to remove undue disincentives to small generator development.” DWEA’s motion requests FERC use its authority under the Federal Power Act to require MISO’s pro forma GIA to differentiate between large and small generators. For a copy of the motion, contact DWEA President Mike Bergey at mbergey@bergey.com.

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 (AEP), from wind farms on the Campo Kumeyaay Reservation and on lands owned privately and by the U.S. Government. Read more

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 agencies, universities, education specialists, and other pertinent organizations. These strategies are designed to engage and enlighten students at the K-12 and collegiate levels, inspiring hope for a sustainable future. REpS presents a series of opportunities tailored for colleges and universities and prospects for industry engagement. The program’s aim is to help cultivate and support the future of the renewable energy workforce by facilitating conference experiences and student symposia. Through this work, REpS is excited to return to RE+ 2024 with a group of students for its 20th anniversary in Anaheim, California! If DWEA members are attending the conference, find REpS on the show floor in booth number MP523. Read more

DWEA Members are encouraged to submit news about new wind turbines, products and services, and projects, including photos, to the DWEA newsletter editor atdweacomm@gmail.com. Also, if you have employees that you would like added to the DWEA monthly newsletter distribution, please send their names and contact information, including emails, to DWEA President Michael Bergey at mbergey@bergey.com.

Events

• PNNL-NREL 2024 Distributed Wind Energy Summit, Sept. 17, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. PT (Virtual). Register here.
• DWEA Service Provider Committee virtual meeting, Sept. 19, 1 p.m. ET. Contact Trudy Forsyth at trudyforsyth2@gmail.com for information.
• DWEA Federal Policy Update, Sept. 19, 3 p.m. ET. Click here to join Zoom.
• AgWind/REAP DWEA office hours (virtual), Sept. 20, 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
• DOE Distributed Wind Aeroelastic Modeling (dWAM): New Tools and Capabilities in Distributed Wind Aeroelastic Modeling Webinar, Sept. 26, 3 p.m. ET. Register here.
• DWEA Service Provider Committee virtual meeting, Oct. 17, 1 p.m. ET. Contact Trudy Forsyth at trudyforsyth2@gmail.com for information.
• DWEA Federal Policy Update, Oct. 17, 3 p.m. ET. Click here to join Zoom.
• AgWind/REAP DWEA office hours (virtual), Oct. 18, 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
• DWEA Mini Lobby Day (In-Person), Washington, D.C., Nov. 13. Register here.
• AgWind/REAP DWEA office hours (virtual), Nov. 15, 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
• DWEA Service Provider Committee virtual meeting, Nov. 21, 1 p.m. ET. Contact Trudy Forsyth at trudyforsyth2@gmail.com for information.
• DWEA Federal Policy Update, Nov. 21, 3 p.m. ET. Click here to join Zoom.
• DWEA Service Provider Committee virtual meeting, Dec. 19, 1 p.m. ET. Contact Trudy Forsyth at trudyforsyth2@gmail.com for information.
• DWEA Federal Policy Update, Dec. 19, 3 p.m. ET. Click here to join Zoom.
• AgWind/REAP DWEA office hours (virtual), Dec. 20, 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
• Distributed Wind 2025 Conference & Lobby Day, Arlington, Virginia, Feb. 23-27, 2025. Save the Date!
• PNNL-NREL 2024 Distributed Wind Energy Summit, Sept. 17, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. PT (Virtual). Register here.
• DWEA Service Provider Committee virtual meeting, Sept. 19, 1 p.m. ET. Contact Trudy Forsyth at trudyforsyth2@gmail.com for information.
• DWEA Federal Policy Update, Sept. 19, 3 p.m. ET. Click here to join Zoom.
• AgWind/REAP DWEA office hours (virtual), Sept. 20, 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
• DOE Distributed Wind Aeroelastic Modeling (dWAM): New Tools and Capabilities in Distributed Wind Aeroelastic Modeling Webinar, Sept. 26, 3 p.m. ET. Register here.
• DWEA Service Provider Committee virtual meeting, Oct. 17, 1 p.m. ET. Contact Trudy Forsyth at trudyforsyth2@gmail.com for information.
• DWEA Federal Policy Update, Oct. 17, 3 p.m. ET. Click here to join Zoom.
• AgWind/REAP DWEA office hours (virtual), Oct. 18, 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
• DWEA Mini Lobby Day (In-Person), Washington, D.C., Nov. 13. Register here.
• AgWind/REAP DWEA office hours (virtual), Nov. 15, 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
• DWEA Service Provider Committee virtual meeting, Nov. 21, 1 p.m. ET. Contact Trudy Forsyth at trudyforsyth2@gmail.com for information.
• DWEA Federal Policy Update, Nov. 21, 3 p.m. ET. Click here to join Zoom.
• DWEA Service Provider Committee virtual meeting, Dec. 19, 1 p.m. ET. Contact Trudy Forsyth at trudyforsyth2@gmail.com for information.
• DWEA Federal Policy Update, Dec. 19, 3 p.m. ET. Click here to join Zoom.
• AgWind/REAP DWEA office hours (virtual), Dec. 20, 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
• Distributed Wind 2025 Conference & Lobby Day, Arlington, Virginia, Feb. 23-27, 2025. Save the Date!