Gateway to a Renewable Energy Future 

Wind energy is one of the many gateways to a more sustainable future. Today, the world is developing more advanced ways to harness the energy supplied by this renewable natural resource. With state, federal and public pressure to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, reliance on the nearly free power of wind is becoming more and more of a reality. From large wind farms to individual turbines that can help decrease bills at your home or business, the world is very interested in wind power… so much so that the electricity generated by wind turbines increased by 50% in 2008.

The general public might think of wind as a relatively new form of mass energy, but research, funding, and development projects have existed for quite some time. Wind power has been used for more than 5,000 years to move ships, grind grains and even pump water for irrigation. The large, white wind turbines that have come to symbolize the modern era of wind energy began to appear in the 1980’s, and today, design improvements are helping to make them even more efficient. Large electricity suppliers are looking to make wind power a more reliable form of energy, encouraged by new federal incentive programs such as tax credits and grants. President Obama’s 2009 Stimulus Package includes a 30% tax credit for homeowners and businesses utilizing small wind turbines. The federal government also grants a credit of 2.1 cents per kilowatt-hour to wind project developers through the Production Tax Credit. Additionally, those same large wind project developers can also choose to receive the 30% Investment Tax Credit, which can then be converted to a grant from the Department of the Treasury. Even with such strong history and federal backing, wind cannot stand alone as our sole power resource until we find a consistent means of storing the energy it can produce. However, wind, which is a dependable and viable solution, will help transition our nation to a cleaner, more promising energy future.

Wind energy has come a long way from helping us produce flour to the more modern uses of lighting our homes and powering our computers. And with today’s regulations and building standards, it helps to have a knowledgeable, skilled team working on your wind energy projects. At GAI, our extensive experience in power generation and transmission enables us to address the needs of our wind energy clients. Our team of environmental, geotechnical, structural, electrical, mechanical and civil engineers can help identify electric transmission placement and structural solutions and assist with turbine foundation testing, design and construction. Drawing upon our deep understanding of the wind energy sector, GAI’s engineering, environmental and cultural resources professionals also address siting, zoning and permitting compliance issues. And with a team of GIS and survey specialists, we can find the right location for a wind farm or a cost-effective, environmentally sensitive power line routing solution.

Backed by over 50 years of experience in power generation and transmission engineering, GAI is providing clients with comprehensive services that are transforming this once non-traditional form of power generation into a reality. For additional information, please contact Bob Houston or Stephen Gould at 412.476.2000.