New England Wind Energy Education Project
The New England Wind Energy Education Project (NEWEEP) consists of an eight-part webinar series and an in-person conference. NEWEEP also conducted a follow-up workshop.
The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Wind Powering America Initiative under a 2-year grant. NEWEEP is designed to complement the New England Wind Forum website and newsletter as a comprehensive source of objective information on wind energy issues in the New England region.
The goal of the NEWEEP webinar series is to provide the public with objective information to allow informed decisions about proposed wind energy projects throughout the New England region.
NEWEEP is directed by DOE and a steering committee consisting of New England state agencies, regional and national research organizations, and New England's regional grid operator, who have committed to participate in the project. NEWEEP is neither industry-funded nor industry-driven.
Background
In May 2008, DOE published the report, "20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply." It explored the feasibility of reaching the 20% goal. The report concluded that the United States has affordable wind energy resources in excess of the 20% target but must overcome several challenges to reach a 20% scenario.
In December 2008, DOE issued a Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity Announcement: 20% Wind by 2030: Overcoming the Challenges. DOE awarded grant funding to NEWEEP in 2009 as part of its Wind Powering America "market acceptance" project to provide outreach and awareness.
Objectives and Perspective
NEWEEP is intended to provide siting decision-makers and the public with objective information to allow informed decisions about proposed wind energy projects throughout New England by:
- Collecting and disseminating accurate, objective, up-to-date information on critical wind energy issues impacting market acceptance of the hundreds of land-based and off-shore wind development projects proposed in the region
- Enhancing the region's public acceptance of appropriately sited wind energy generation
NEWEEP's perspective is that wind energy has many benefits, but some places are not suited for wind generation. NEWEEP's framing principle is that the impacts of wind power projects are rarely as dire as opponents would suggest and are often not as innocuous as proponents would hope (and represent).
Roles and Approach
NEWEEP is coordinated by the grantees Sustainable Energy Advantage and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and directed by DOE and a steering committee consisting of New England state agencies, regional and national research organizations, and New England's regional grid operator, who have committed to participate in the project.
The directors will:
- provide guidance regarding topics to address, public image, tone, and general execution of NEWEEP;
- offer speakers, input, conference planning support or venue, research, and speaker recruiting
The grantees will:
- convene to plan and implement execution of NEWEEP deliverables
- recommend topics and speakers
- seek out credible, knowledgeable speakers with various points of view who can convey objectivity
- schedule webinars and in-person conference
- emphasize scientific, peer-reviewed research and studies;
- review literature and develop annotated bibliography of references;
- discuss mitigation and identify research needs.
All NEWEEP presentations and reference materials will be free and available to the public on the New England Wind Forum website.
Wind Powering America Initiative
- Dwight Bailey, U.S. Department of Energy
Steering Committee Partners
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
- Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (CEC)
- University of Massachusetts — Wind Energy Center (WEC)
- ISO-New England (ISO-NE)
- Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
- Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER)
- Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA)
- New Hampshire Office of Energy & Planning (OEP)
- Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (RIOER)
- Renewable Energy New England (RENEW)
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