In recent news it was announced that China would be exporting wind turbines to create a 600-megawatt wind farm in Texas plains. According to the NYTimes the details of the deal known so far: "Contingent on financing from Chinese commercial banks — and no small measure of funding from the U.S. economic stimulus package — A-Power Energy Generation Systems, a Nasdaq-listed company based in the Chinese industrial city of Shenyang, would provide 240 of its 2.5-megawatt wind turbines for a 36,000-acre, or 14,600-hectare, utility-scale wind farm in west Texas to be operated by Cielo Wind Power, a developer based in Austin." It is estimated to provide electricity to 180,000 homes in America. According to the financing company the $1.5 billion dollar endeavor will spur tremendous growth in the renewable energy sector and create high paying jobs in the U.S. The project is estimated to create up to 2,800 jobs, but the catch is only about 240--or 15%--of the these 'high paying' jobs will be located in the United States. Even then most of the jobs created by this project in the U.S. are temporary construction jobs. The rest of the 2,250 or so jobs will be located in China. The Obama administration initially hoped to shift to renewable energy into the U.S. manufacturing base and provide high-paying jobs, making up for losses in other sectors. But in light of this project it seems that most European and Chinese companies will reap the benefits of energy shifts. Less than a quarter of wind turbine components installed in the U.S. came from domestic production, and Europe currently holds the lion's share of turbine manufacturing.
Some U.S. officials and domestic suppliers have been concerned that the U.S. wouldn't reap the full benefit of the country's rapid expansion in renewable energy. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D., N.M.) has voiced concern that the U.S. has outsourced much of its clean-energy manufacturing capacity. As part of the stimulus bill earlier this year, he earmarked a $2.3 billion tax credit for domestic producers of clean-energy equipment. In light of this project it seems that the domestic wind turbine is going to start off shaky in this recession. But it would be helped through government grants and financing helping to ensure jobs. I think that is is vital for the US to start the transition from dirty energies to renewable energy in an efficient manner, which includes domestic production of clean energy technologies.
I agree with the fact that the US needs to start the transition from dirty energies to renewable energies in an efficient manner. I think first, strong significant change in public policy and an end of US government subsidies that support non-renewable energy systems needs to be done to start this difficult undertaking.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that we need to move to cleaner, renewable energies. With wind energy, you have to take into account not only the cost, but the environmental impacts as well. These wind turbines may need land to be cleared and may disrupt the habitat of some species of birds. It has been researched that wind turbines kill thousands of bats and birds annually. This may add some species to the endangered species list.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that now is the time to shift towards renewable energies. However, I feel that any effort we make toward that goal would be made null if the wind turbines and solar panels that we need are made in Chinese factories. The whole point of President Obama's green energy initiative is to promote the creation of green jobs in the United States, to put Americans back to work. Yet this project is doing just the opposite: following the same old trend of outsourcing the jobs overseas. Also, think about the environmental implications; the wind turbines have to be shipped several thousands by ship and by truck in order to reach the project site. The amount of Greenhouse Gasses released by transporting something that big that is significantly higher than anything produced domestically. This is issue that needs to be addressed if the United States can ever hope to have a truly "green" economy.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is necessary that we start to move on to cleaner alternatives for energy production. Given the fact that we use so much energy here in the United States, we need to start using the alternatives that are available. Wind turbines seem to me one of the best alternatives. Even though as Kristen stated above they do take up space, the fact is that they are taller than wider so the land that is below them is still available to be used in a different manner. Also, the wind is free and can be captured efficiently and once the wind turbine is built the energy does not cause green house gases or other pollutants.
ReplyDeleteAnother great thing about wind turbines is that they can be built in a variety of sizes for households and major businesses.
One of the issues brought up against wind turbines is that they are unsightly and loud; however, it is necessary to see that the pollution emitted from coal is a lot worse than just unsightly and loud structures. There is no way to make everyone happy, and what we need to start focusing on is a way to improve the environment as a whole.