Earth Equity News

Study Identifies Solar and Wind Sites in the West. By Matt Joyce, AP, February 8, 2009. "The Western Governor's Association is working to identify the windiest and sunniest areas of the West -- in other words, those areas best suited for major renewable energy projects. Working with the Department of Energy, the Governors' Association this week released a draft study naming areas that contain the most potential for development of renewable energy sources, also including geothermal and hydropower. The study says renewable energy projects could generate more than 235,000 megawatts of energy in the 12 western states, Mexico's Baja California and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Association officials say the Western Renewable Energy Zones project is intended to bring more renewable energy online by facilitating the construction of transmission lines between resource areas and population centers. The project is soliciting public comment on its early findings... The ongoing study finds Wyoming to have the most wind power potential -- nearly 25,000 megawatts -- and Arizona to have the most solar power potential -- more than 22,000 megawatts. For reference, an average coal-fired power plant produces about 500 megawatts... Groups working on the study will continue to refine the renewable energy zones and will present them at the Western Governors' Association annual meeting this summer in Utah."