From Wal-Mart to Obama, Wind Energy Interest Rising Fast

Wind energy continues to be in the news as moreNovember it had entered into a long-term agreement
corporations, governments, and private citizens arewith Hatchet Ridge Wind, LLC, a subsidiary of
exploring using wind power to generate electricity.Babcock & Brown, to purchase up to 103
According to the Dallas Business Journal, Bentonville,megawatts (MW) of renewable wind energy. The
Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently purchasedproject will generate up to 303 gigawatt-hours of
wind energy to power approximately 360 stores andrenewable energy annually. This would be equivalent
other facilities across Texas. According to informationto the amount of energy needed to serve nearly
from Wal-Mart, the project will provide about 22644,000 residential homes on an annual basis.
million kilowatt-hours of renewable power each year.In the state of Washington, a six year court battle
That is enough electricity to power 20,000 averageover a proposed wind farm project ended with the
homes in America.state Supreme Court ruling in favor of the project.
The state of Oklahoma is getting into the act as well.The Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project, developed
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission authorizedby Horizon Wind Energy, and owned by EDP
Oklahoma Gas & Electric in September to build aRenovaveis, will supply enough power for 30,000
115-mile transmission line from Oklahoma City tohomes.
Woodward to help harness the state's wind energy.Interest in alternative energy sources is at an all time
Barack Obama plans to make more use of alternativehigh. The United States is not the only country
energy sources, especially the wind.seeking to increase energy production from natural
His proposed economic plans will put increasedsources. Countries all across the globe are actively
emphasis on developing alternative energy supplies,seeking to utilize wind and solar power to produce
as well as increased fuel efficiency in automobiles.clean, renewable energy.
Greg Wetstone, director of government and publicHomeowners are also exploring the possibility of
affairs for the American Wind Energy Association,producing their own energy using wind and solar
applauded Obama's plans to expand alternativepower. Never before has it been easier to produce
energy resources and called it a "concept very muchelectricity to power your home. More people each
branded in reality."day are learning how easy it is to begin powering
In California, Pacific Gas & Electric announced intheir home with natural, renewable energy.