Some good news from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): wind power in the US is growing rapidly. Below is the full article copied from their news article. Very glad to see wind taking off in the US. Of course we need to put this a little in perspective: in terms of percentage of total electricity generation, wind is still a small player in the US. But there is definitely progress being made.

The US is not a small player in wind energy, but, to date, offshore wind farms have not been built. This is soon to end however with plans for offshore sites in Delaware, Massachuchets and Texas. And California? It may soon follow.

We talk with Mike Dvorak, an aspiring wind engineer and scientist at Stanford University. Mike carefully researched available wind along the California coasts, and conducted feasibility studies for various potential sites. Cape Mendicino may well become California's Cape Wind.

Alternatives can help create a sustainable energy future. The most promising long-term alternative energy sources are wind and solar: there is plenty of it, greenhouse gas emissions are low, and the required surface area is relatively small — especially when compared to biomass. In this talk, SmartEnergy’s Margot Gerritsen says we also can’t afford to dismiss nuclear energy if we want to lower harmful emissions.

This talk was part of the “End of Oil” debate, at Stanford University in March 2006.