Colorado wind energy system reaches major milestone

November 7, 2013 0 By Stephen Vagus

Wind energy system attains another victoryWind Energy Systems

Xcel Energy, a leading wind energy company, has announced that its wind energy system in Colorado has reached a new milestone. Colorado has become something of an ideal home for wind energy projects, largely due to the support that the state government has shown for clean forms of energy. A great deal of effort has been made by Xcel Energy and similar companies to prove the merits of renewable energy. The new milestone may help add further momentum to the growing popularity of wind energy.

System reaches 60.5% generation record

According to Xcel Energy, on October 3 of this year, its generation at its wind energy system in Colorado reached 60.5%, beating its old generation record of 56.7%. The previous record was established in May of this year. The system itself was able to supply approximately 1,874 megawatts of electrical power, with the state’s total demand at the time hovering at 3,100 megawatts. The wind energy system was able to attain this milestone during the early hours of the morning, when demand for electricity is typically at its lowest levels.

Wind energy has yet to become mainstream

Wind energy has managed to establish a strong foothold throughout the U.S., but has yet to become a mainstream form of energy. The country is still quite solidly reliant on fossil-fuels and will remain so for the foreseeable future. While fossil-fuels may play a major role in the country, the U.S. has been investing heavily in renewable energy as well, with solar and wind energy receiving the vast majority of this support. The country has also been devoting its support to nuclear power and hydrogen fuel cells, with the latter being valued for its capabilities in the transportation sector.

Future of wind energy may depend on tax credit

While Xcel Energy’s wind energy system has accomplished a major feat, the future of wind energy in the U.S. may rely on the longevity of the so called Production Tax Credit. This policy is meant to provide tax incentives for energy developers to build new wind projects throughout the country. The Production Tax Credit is one of the primary reasons wind energy projects exist in the U.S., but it has become a financial burden on the federal government and has begun losing popularity with lawmakers. If the tax credit is put to rest, much of the financial support helping power the development of new wind energy projects may evaporate.

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