Wind Energy Links and Other Resources
Links
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)
Since 1974, AWEA has advocated the development of wind energy as a reliable, environmentally superior energy alternative in the United States and around the world. AWEA's Green Power Factsheets provide answers to basic questions about Green Power, including what it is, the rationale for purchasing it, and procedures for buying it.
Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)
A comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. Searchable by state, keyword, and topic area.
Guided Tour on Wind Energy
Want to know where wind energy comes from? Want to learn about the Coriolis Force, global winds, geostrophic wind, wind speed measurement, the wind rose, wind shear, and wind shade? Need to find a wind shade calculator, information about wind turbine components, rotor blades, and wind energy economics? Answers to all your questions about wind energy can be found at the Danish Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association’s Guided Tour on Wind Energy. The website includes wind resource calculators and features more than 100 animated pages on wind resources, wind turbine technology, and economics. Each of the nine tours is a self-contained unit, so you may take the tours in any order.
Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ME3)
Provides many pages of wind energy information, including a wealth of links research and other organizations, wind industry companies, federal government resources and wind energy publications and miscellaneous information.
National Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC)
A U.S. consensus-based collaborative formed in 1994, NWCC identifies issues that affect the use of wind power, establishes dialogue among key stakeholders, and catalyzes appropriate activities to support the development of an environmentally, economically, and politically sustainable commercial market for wind power. NWCC members include representatives from electric utilities and support organizations, state legislatures, state utility commissions, consumer advocacy offices, wind equipment suppliers and developers, green power marketers, environmental organizations, and state and federal agencies.
Renewable Resource Data Center (RReDC)
Provides information on several types of renewable energy resources in the United States, in the form of publications, data, and maps. An extensive dictionary of renewable energy related terms is also provided. The News section announces new products on the RReDC, which is supported by the U. S. Department of Energy's Resource Assessment Program and managed by the Photovoltaics Technology Division of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Wind Energy Basics
Provides information about wind, including how wind turbines work, advantages and disadvantages of its use, wind energy use throughout history, U.S. wind energy resource potential, and current research and development.
Wind Energy Finance Website
Operated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, this website allows users to calculate online the cost of electricity generated by a wind system. The website lets users create a new project on screen (or modify an existing project) by entering values for numerous assumptions step-by-step until enough information has been entered to calculate the project cost. Projects added or modified are stored convenience and are available the next time a user logs in.
Wind Powering America
The U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America site provides state-by-state wind project information, including validated wind maps, anemometer loan programs, small wind guides, legislative briefings, wind working groups, and state-specific news.
Windustry
A non-profit organization"working to create an understanding of wind energy opportunities for
rural economic benefit. Windustry promotes wind energy through
outreach, educational materials, and technical assistance to rural
landowners, local communities and utilities, and state, regional, and
nonprofit collaborations." Website provides a host of useful information on wind energy, including tecchnology information, examples of community wind energy projects, wind energy curriculum, wind energy calculator, resource library, and more.
Publications
Consumer's Guide to Renewable Energy in Arkansas
Provides an introduction to solar, wind, and renewable fuels, and their applications in Arkansas. Produced by the Arkansas Energy Office, October 2005.
Choosing a Home-Sized Wind Generator
The August/September 2002 issue of Home Power Magazine is a must-read for anyone contemplating installing a wind generator. Home Power leads the reader through all the steps necessary to arrive at the answer to this key question about wind systems: which one should you choose. The entire 17-page article can be downloaded from Home Power’s website.
Permitting Small Wind Turbines: A Handbook was produced by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The handbook addresses wind energy installations, permitting, best practices, and ordinances. It is available for download at the above link (pdf format).
Small Wind Electric Systems – A U.S. Consumer’s Guide (PDF)
This guide provides basic information you need to answer those questions and to address the many factors you need to consider to successfully install a small wind energy system and get maximum production.
Small Wind System Installation—Legal and Safety Issues
Explains legal and safety issues you'll need to consider when installing a wind turbine or generator on your property.
Wind Energy Applications Guide (PDF)
An introduction to various wind power applications for locations with underdeveloped transmission systems, from remote water pumping to village electrification.
Wind Energy Teachers Guide (PDF)
Produced by the American Wind Energy Association, this guide provides teacher information, ideas for sparking children's and students' interest, suggestions for activities to undertake in and outside the classroom, and research tools for both teachers and students.
Wind Energy Myths (PDF)
A brief, two-page brochure from Wind Powering America that discusses 10 myths about wind energy.