Rushing to wind in Wyoming

In spite of recent plans to erect more turbines in Wyoming, wind power development here is lagging behind other states and is well below potential.

By RENA DELBRIDGE
Star-Tribune correspondent

Full Story: http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/01/20/news/wyoming/8d33e175563031b8872573d500027f09.txt

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Wind energy hits highest output ever
By MICHAEL JAMISON of the Missoulian

KALISPELL – Not too long ago, a milestone in the Northwest’s energy policy slipped by with nary a notice by folks at home flipping the switches.

The wind howled, the turbines turned and, for the first time ever, the wind power blowing through the region’s electric grid surpassed the 1,000-megawatt mark. That’s enough energy to power nearly 700,000 homes.

“When the wind’s really kicking, we’re getting 1,180 megawatts,” said Doug Johnson, “which is pretty darned good for a clean energy alternative.”

Of course, when the wind’s not blowing, “we get nothing. It’s an intermittent resource. We only get it when it blows.”

Full Story: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/01/21/news/local/news05.txt