Back in 2006 when Texas overtook California to lead the nation in wind power few would have predicted the break-neck pace of development that would follow. Today, just three years later, wind turbines generating 8005-megawatts, more than all the turbines spinning in California, Iowa and Minnesota, have outstripped the capacity of the high-voltage grid to move the power from windy west Texas to major cities where it's needed.

But, after a year of laying the groundwork to plan for as much as 18,500-megawatts of wind power, the Texas Public Utility Commission handed out rights last Thursday to a total of nine companies to construct $5 billion in new transmission lines.

The Coca-Cola Company's iconic red billboard in New York City's Times Square is going "green" in time for New York's famous New Year's celebration. Coca-Cola is leading a unanimous eco-friendly shift to wind power among 30 billboards that tower over the world's most recognizable intersection.

Coca-Cola was the first company to select clean, renewable wind power to light up their billboard located at 47th and Broadway. After Coca-Cola made their commitment, all of the neighboring billboards on three buildings around Times Square joined the movement through an electric supply agreement with ConEdison Solutions and the building management company.

Wal-Mart announces its first substantial purchase of wind energy in the U.S. The wind power will supply up to 15 percent of the retailer's total energy load in approximately 360 Texas stores and other facilities.

The renewable energy will come from a Duke Energy wind farm under construction in Notrees, Texas, and is expected to begin producing electricity for Wal-Mart by April of 2009

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Wind Power: Opportunities in Emerging Markets" report to their offering. Power is the backbone of any economy in today's world. But the high price of fossil fuel is forcing countries to focus on renewable energy sources. So the technologically-developed countries have replaced a considerable portion of their fossil fuel power with renewable sources to sustain their concrete growth. But, according to "Wind Power: Opportunities in Emerging Markets", emerging countries, who have just started their journeys, too need to maintain a robust power supply because

Ricoh will erect a sign in New York City's Times Square that will be 100 percent powered by solar and wind power. The electronic billboard, the first ever to be totally powered by natural resources in Times Square, will be located at 3 Times Square at the corner of 7th Avenue and 42nd Street.

The sign, which is 47 feet high by 126 feet long, will be illuminated by floodlights and powered by 45 solar panels and 4 turbines for wind generation. By using all natural energy sources, Ricoh will reduce the amount of CO2 usage by 18 tons per year. If there is not enough solar or wind power, the Times Square sign will not be illuminated. Ricoh also currently has a similar eco-powered sign in Osaka, Japan, that uses 100 percent solar and wind power.

Wind power is capable of becoming a major contributor to America’s electricity supply over the next three decades, according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Energy. The groundbreaking report, 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply, looks closely at one scenario for reaching 20% wind energy by 2030 and contrasts it to a scenario of no new U.S. wind power capacity.

Included in the report are an examination of America’s technological and manufacturing capabilities, the future costs of energy sources, U.S. wind energy resources, and the environmental and economic impacts of wind development. Under the 20% wind scenario, installations of new wind power capacity would increase to more than 16,000 megawatts per year by 2018, and continue at that rate through 2030.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of Offshore Wind Power Market Potential to their offering.

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into useful forms, such as electricity, using wind turbines. In windmills, wind energy is directly used to crush grain or to pump water. At the end of 2007, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 94.1 gigawatts. Although wind currently produces just over 1% of worldwide electricity use, it accounts for approximately 19% of electricity production in Denmark, 9% in Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland (2007 data). Globally, wind power generation increased more than fivefold between 2000 and 2007.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of Canada Wind Power Markets and Strategies, 2007-2015 to their offering. After more than doubling in size in 2006, the Canadian wind market will see unprecedented growth over the next decade adding 1,400 MW annually through 2015. Moving up from the seventh largest wind power market in 2006, Canada is in position to break the top five global wind power markets in 2009, according to EER forecasts.

Canada Wind Power Markets and Strategies, 2007–2015 is the most in depth market study available on this fast growing market. EER’s new study provides comprehensive analysis of Canada’s national and provincial wind power market environments and the strategies of key players competing in this growing market.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of US Wind Power Markets and Strategies, 2007-2015 to their offering. The US wind power market, the world’s largest in terms of annual MW additions for the past two years, will see unprecedented growth over the next decade. With installed wind capacity expected to grow from 11,600 MW in 2006 to nearly 49,000 MW by 2015, the US wind market will average over $5 billion per year during the forecast period.

US Wind Power Markets and Strategies, 2007–2015 is EER’s third annual study analyzing US wind markets, and is widely considered the most in-depth and authoritative market study available on this fast growing market.

UPC Wind commemorated the first year of full commercial operations for Mars Hill Wind at a one-year anniversary event. In its first year of operation, the site has generated enough power for more than 19,000 New England homes.

At the an event hosted by UPC Wind and the Maine Department of Conservation at the Big Rock Ski Area in Mars Hill, Maine Governor John E. Baldacci spoke about the project and provided insight into the future development of wind power and other renewable energy in Maine.

Since beginning commercial operations on March 27, 2007, Mars Hill Wind has generated more than 133,500,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean electricity and a corresponding number of Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates. RECs are credits that individuals, institutions or businesses can buy to compensate for the amount of nonrenewable, greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels – such as coal, oil and natural gas – used in their vehicles, homes, offices or other facilities.

Distributed Energy Systems has received an order for its advanced Northwind 100 gearless wind turbines from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, the fourth largest utility company in Canada.

Three Northwind 100 turbines will be installed in Ramea, a small remote island on the south coast of Newfoundland and one of 22 isolated communities served by Hydro. Ramea is the site of a five-year innovative research and development project for an isolated wind-hydrogen-diesel generation system, one of the first of its kind in the world. This project is focused on developing an environmentally-friendly energy solution to be used in small, isolated electrical distribution systems. The project builds on the existing, successful wind-diesel system that has been operating in Ramea since 2004.

NACEL Energy has accepted membership in the American Wind Energy Association, the nation’s foremost wind industry trade and advocacy organization. NACEL Energy is developing a growing portfolio of utility scale community wind power generation infrastructure and will bring 80 megawatts of new wind energy online by 2010 – enough energy to supply the power requirements of 25,000 American homes.

NACEL Energy President Brian Lavery stated: “The American Wind Energy Association has achieved tremendous success promoting the adoption of wind energy in the U.S. and around the world. We are proud to be associated with the AWEA and excited to take our place among the key players in the U.S. wind energy industry.” As a member of the AWEA, NACEL Energy will be able to network, forge relationships and advocate for policies and legislation affecting the wind energy industry’s long-term growth.