– La Compañía tiene un total de 547,7 MW en construcción en el país
– Ha comenzado la construcción de Star Point, que se suma a los parques Cayuga Ridge y Rugby, iniciados en los últimos meses
– IBERDROLA RENOVABLES está presente en 20 estados y cuenta con 34 parques eólicos en operación en el país
– A finales del primer trimestre, contaba con una capacidad instalada de 3.031 MW en Estados Unidos
IBERDROLA RENOVABLES, el líder mundial en energía eólica*, continúa reforzando su presencia en Estados Unidos con la construcción de nuevos parques.
La Empresa ha iniciado la construcción de Star Point, en el estado de Oregón, que tendrá un total de 98,7 MW. Este parque se suma a los dos que la Compañía ha empezado a construir en los últimos meses: Rugby (North Dakota), de 149 MW, y Cayuga Ridge (Illinois), de 300 MW.
Esto supone que IBERDROLA RENOVABLES tiene 547,7 MW en construcción en Estados Unidos. Una vez en operación, estos parques podrían evitar la emisión de 170.000 toneladas de C02 a la atmósfera y abastecer a más de 230.000 hogares medios estadounidenses al año.
Además, IBERDROLA RENOVABLES inauguró la semana pasada el parque Lempster, en New Hampshire, una instalación que cuenta con una potencia de 24 MW y tiene capacidad para abastecer a unos 10.000 hogares medios estadounidenses al año.
La Compañía, que está presente en 20 estados de Estados Unidos, cuenta con 34 parques en operación en el país. A finales del primer trimestre, la capacidad instalada en Estados Unidos ascendía a 3.031 MW, lo que representa el 31,4% de la potencia del grupo. A 31 de marzo, la capacidad instalada total de la Compañía era de 9.624 MW.
Estados Unidos es uno de los mercados principales para IBERDROLA RENOVABLES y donde se concentra una parte importante de su crecimiento. El 42% de la cartera de proyectos de la Compañía -que es la mayor del mundo, con cerca de 56.000 MW**-, se encuentra en el país. La plantilla en Estados Unidos es de más de 800 empleados.
El apoyo del Gobierno de Barack Obama a las energías renovables es una de las claves del crecimiento futuro del sector en Estados Unidos. Además del paquete de medidas aprobadas dentro de la Ley de Estímulo de la Economía (que facilitan, entre otras cosas, la financiación de los proyectos), se está tramitando en el Congreso una nueva Ley de la Energía, que podría incluir cuotas obligatorias de producción renovable (Renewable Portfolio Standards) a nivel nacional.
* Fuente: New Energy Finance.
** Incluye 10.000 MW de la aportación estimada de Gamesa en virtud del acuerdo estratégico entre Iberdrola Renovables y Gamesa Energía.
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IBERDROLA RENOVABLES bolsters its presence in the US with the installation of new wind farms
– The company has 547.7 MW under construction in the country
– Work has just began on the Star Point facility which will join the Cayuga Ridge and Rugby farms, where construction started a few months ago
– IBERDROLA RENOVABLES is present in 20 states and owns 34 wind farms in operation in the country
– At 31 March, installed capacity in the US was 3,031 MW
IBERDROLA RENOVABLES, the world’s leading wind energy company*, continues to bolster its presence in the US with the construction of new wind farms.
Work has just began on the Star Point facility in Oregon which will have installed capacity of 98.7 MW. This farm is in addition to others the company has begun building in recent months: Rugby (North Dakota), with 149 MW; and Cayuga Ridge (Illinois), with 300 MW.
This will give IBERDROLA RENOVABLES a total of 547.7 MW under construction in the US. Once operational, these wind farms could avoid the emission of 180.000 tonnes of C02 and supply electricity to some 250,000 average US households a year.
Last week IBERDROLA RENOVABLES dedicated the Lempster facility in New Hampshire with installed capacity of 24 MW and which will be able to supply electricity to some 10,000 US households a year.
The company, which is present in 20 states, has 34 wind farms in operation in the country. At 31 March, installed capacity in the US totalled 3,031 MW, 31.4% of the group’s total (9,624 MW).
The US represents one of the main markets for IBERDROLA RENOVABLES and is where a large part of its growth is concentrated. Forty-two percent of the company’s project pipeline –the largest in the world with close to 56,000 MW**-, is located there. The company employs more than 800 people in the US.
The Obama administration’s support for renewable energies is one of keys to the sector’s future growth in the country. In addition to the new measures approved as part of the economic stimulus package (which will help financing for projects, among other issues), Congress is expected to pass a new energy act which could include obligatory nationwide renewable portfolio standards.
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Oregon wind power
BETC: a critical tool for Oregon economic future
When Oregon finally starts to recover from the current economic downturn, it will be because the state has done everything it can to support and nurture existing and developing businesses. The renewable energy sector is one example.
Over the past couple of years, Oregon has seen a dramatic increase in renewable energy projects, including wind, biomass, geothermal, solar and combined heat and power. These projects have meant major investments ($2 billion just for the 13 wind projects already completed), thousands of jobs and critical support for private land owners and the local tax base.
The state is now home to a cluster of renewable energy businesses that are helping to chart the green-energy future nationally and internationally. Iberdrola Renewables, Vestas and REPower, world leaders in renewable energy, have established their North American headquarters in Portland. Horizon Wind Energy, RES Americas and enXco also have U.S. regional offices based in Portland. Solarworld and Solaicx have established manufacturing plants in Hillsboro and Portland.
In fact, according to a recently released report by the Pew Charitable Trusts, Oregon now leads the nation in the percentage of jobs related to green energy. Oregon is really on track to become a national leader in this critically important emerging industry.
This hasn’t happened by accident. It has been the result of a concerted set of state policies enacted to help foster the industry’s development. Chief among these has been the Business Energy Tax Credit. The BETC has been an incredibly effective tool in attracting capital for renewable energy project development. According to an Oregon Department of Energy-commissioned ECONorthwest report, the BETC has earned a 3 to 1 return on the state’s investment and has increased Oregon’s economic output by $576 million.
But now the Legislature has taken aim at this tool with a bill that would dramatically reduce the tax credit available to companies that are creating jobs and making investments in Oregon. Such a reduction would put Oregon’s leadership in the renewable energy industry at risk and send a stark message to business in that industry: Go elsewhere.
Putting a damper on current and future economic development would seem to be the last thing that anyone would want to do given Oregon’s deteriorating economic situation. Oregon already is ranked second, behind only Michigan, in unemployment nationally, and the prospects for a quick turnaround are remote.
A brighter future lies ahead, but it will take the commitment, resources and backing from the state to ensure that brighter future.
Rolling back the Business Energy Tax Credit at this critical juncture is bad for business, bad for Oregon and bad for our future.
www.iberdrolarenovables.es/wcren/corporativa/iberdrola
