Leave it to larger-than-life Texas to lead the U.S. into a new energy future. While the state is most closely associated with oil, it has also been an early pioneer of wind power, and is beginning to embrace solar energy along with armloads of new green jobs. Now the San Antonio Water System has set the national bar high in the sewage-to-biogas field, by becoming the first water district to hook a biogas facility up to a commercial gas pipeline.

The ‘Global Wind Energy Outlook 2010’ (GWEO 2010) finds that wind power could play a key role in satisfying the world’s increasing power demand, while at the same time achieving major greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The 1,000 GW of wind power capacity projected to be installed by 2020 would save as much as 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 every year.

A British business offering turnkey solutions for micro wind power is aiming to become one of the top five producers in the world by 2016. Its innovative new design will provide a fully installed wind turbine for as little as $7000, according to the company’s CEO.

Vietnam ’s first wind power turbine production factory was inaugurated at the Nomura industrial zone in the northern port city of Hai Phong on October 15. The 61 million USD project, invested by the US-based GE group, rolled out over 200 turbines for export in the past five months of test run.

The project on construction of a wind power electricity plant on Phu Quy Island has been implemented by the PetroVietnam Power Corporation. The project costs VND335 billion. The plant has capacity of 6MW and includes three 2MW turbines. The plant produces about 25.4 million of kWh annually. It will connect with the 22kV network and work smoothly with the diesel power plant located on the island. The project occupies permanent and temporary areas of 0.74ha and 0.87ha respectively.

The Ca Mau Province-based Cong Ly Construction, Trading and Tourism Co., Ltd. began work on construction of a wind power plant on September 9. The plant will have a capacity of 99MW including 66 turbines to be built on 500ha, which spans from the coastal part of Vinh Trach Dong Commune in Bac Lieu Town, Bac Lieu Province, to Vinh Chau District in Soc Trang Province.

There have not been many domestic businesses such as these two to recognize the wind power potential in Vietnam. Cavico spent 60% of their investment fund for renewable energy on wind power, among other energy sources such as solar power, wave power (power generated by the combination of ocean waves and wind turbines).

While South Africa introduced a generous feed-in tariff of ZAR1.25/kWh (EUR0.134/kWh) for wind power last year (Windpower Monthly, May 2009), the system is not yet in place for independent power producers to sign power purchase agreements with state utility Eskom.

They have been toting a 131-foot-long wind-turbine blade serving as a mobile petition to be signed by all supporters. This is to create awareness that promoting wind power industry will generate new jobs and make US self-sufficient in energy production. Their goal is the Wind-Power 2010 Convention at Dallas where the blade will be on display.

India has expanded its grid-interactive renewable energy by about 2.3 gigawatts (GW) in the year ending 31 March 2010, with the biggest contribution coming from wind power. The total installed capacity for the financial year 2009/10 reached 16.8GW, according to a statement from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

China's ambitious plan to increase wind power capacity could attract up to $150 billion in investment, but Beijing will have to get serious about revamping regulations and building much needed infrastructure.