Wind industry adding more turbines in 2011 Construction activity more than doubles to 5,600 megawatt

[Fledermaus]

The U.S. wind market moved into 2011 with 5,600 megawatts of generation under construction, more than twice the figure from one year earlier, according to the American Wind Energy Association.

Elizabeth Salerno, the chief economist for the American Wind Energy Association, said the trade group doesn’t offer a 2011 projection for turbine construction, but the greater number of projects now under way could serve as an indicator of robust activity in the future.

Looking back at 2010, the U.S. wind industry added 5,116 megawatts of wind power, up 15%, from the year before. In 2010, wind energy accounted for 26% of all electric-power generation added in the United States.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wind-industry-adding-more-turbines-in-2011-2011-04-07

[kristopher]

1. I'd love to see what would happen if we set a firm 10 year policy for renewables.

We've been getting record growth in spite of a policy framework sabotaged by Republicans. How often have you heard them say how much businesses need regulatory stability? And then they turn around and do everything they can to keep renewable developers off balance.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. Hot shit, that's a little more than Chernobyl used to produce.

This sucks, why isn't there more deployments?

Is there any study that quantifies the roadblocks to this technology? Is it really money, or is it NIMBYism, or permits, or environmental studies, or what?

Edit: Whoops, that was supposed to be directed at the OP.

[kristopher]

3. As I implied, the biggest obstacle is regulatory uncertainty.

If they would provide firm long term policy direction that sets an unalterable course AWAY from carbon then no matter the amount of subsidies the forces behind renewables would be maximized.

Nimby isn't a real problem - it is much more an astroturf phenom created by the likes of the Kochs.
Money isn't a problem - if regulatory direction is in place.
Offshore development was set back nearly 10 years by the Kochs' effort centered on Cape Cod; but in the meantime an excellent regulatory regime for leasing and development of offshore wind was put in place (it took about 7 years).

What we need is an energy policy pointing away from carbon.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. I can think of at least some notable examples of NIMBYism.

Senator Kennedy vs. the Cape Cod wind project. He was the public face of the opposition, or the media at least portrayed him that way. Pretty sure he didn't work for the Kochs or anyone like them.

Energy policy at the various states, or at the federal level? What agency, precisely, is the problem?