Wind power for the electric-utility industry: policy incentives for fuel conservation

Book · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6505443

March, F; Dlott, E H; Korn, D H; Madio, F R; McArthur, R C; Vachon, W A

To illustrate an earlier finding that the financial regulatory environment of investor-owned electric utilities provided little or no incentive to invest in fuel-conserving technologies, the authors selected wind power as a near-term fuel-conservation technology that could reduce utility fuel consumption during the 1980s. They document the capabilities of wind-energy electric systems (WECS) for utility-grid applications, identify six major American manufacturers of wind turbines, and describe the major existing and planned WECS installations. Computer models of the financial impact on utilities show that the utility's financial condition and an uncertain regulatory environment are the major barriers to investment. Policymakers can use this kind of computer analysis to develop new policies that will stimulate higher productivity at lower fuel consumption. 91 references, 16 figures, 31 tables.

• OSTI ID: 6505443
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170000* -- Wind Energy
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
MACHINERY
POWER
PUBLIC UTILITIES
REGULATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WIND POWER
WIND TURBINES