Wyo needs to fulfill wind power potential

President Barack Obama traveled to Denver on Tuesday to emphasize Colorado’s "green" energy projects as he signed the $787 billion stimulus bill. He hopes the historic measure will give a boost to the nation’s renewable energy efforts, including wind and solar power, which are both succeeding in Colorado.

Wyoming, with its huge potential for wind power, should take note. Several major wind farm projects are located in Wyoming, with hundreds of turbines being built or planned. Unlike some other areas of the country, the recession hasn’t stopped developers in the state from moving forward.

Wind now provides only about 1 percent of the nation’s electricity, but the Obama administration’s emphasis on green energy should ramp up wind generation to levels that are even higher than previously projected. The U.S. Department of Energy’s stated goal last year was for wind to provide up to 20 percent of the nation’s electricity by 2030.

Star-Tribune Editorial Board

Full Story: http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/02/18/editorial/editorial/591e18ab73e097bd87257560007ee77d.txt