In a new study released by the American Wind Energy Association, it was revealed that the small wind turbine market grew substantially in 2008. In the United States, the small wind turbine market grew 78 percent in 2008.

17.3 megawatts of new capacity was installed in 2008 using small wind turbines. Across the globe, 38.7 megawatts of new capacity was installed. In good news for 2009, 2,800 WM of wind energy was installed across the United States in only the first quarter of ...

Wind energy is in vogue if the crowds at the Windpower 2009 convention at Chicago can be believed. The appeal lies in savings as well as in being charge of one’s own energy needs.

Darrin Russell of Southwest Windpower says,

“It's nice watching the (electricity) meter go backward. Sometimes it gets going pretty fast when the wind blows hard."

His company’s product, a 2.4 kilowatt Skystream turbine was one of the prime exhibits at the convention. Going ...

On a usual lazy bus ride through the winding roads of west Ireland last week I encountered before me the increasingly common sight of the monoliths of alternative power, in this case, windmills. I’ve always loved windmills, their size and stature, the grandeur of their scale and attempt to harness a bit of the world’s natural rhythm. Even more so because they also for me symbolize the continuing conversion to green energy and a way to support growing infrastructure without using limited materials. 

So you can imagine why I wanted to find out more about these particular windmills, which are in fact part of ...

Google is teaming with the National Audubon Society and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to create a mapping tool. The mapping tool, which can be used by anyone, depicts the places that renewable power developers can and cannot build. The project is being called The Path To Green Energy.

The two groups and Google collaborated to include maps of endangered species habitats and protected lands including national parks, all included on one interactive map. Currently the map ...

Ski resorts are facing a fragile future: rising temperatures are decreasing snowfalls, causing later snowfalls and earlier springs. Ski resorts are also facing large electrical bills due to the costs of running the lifts, lights, and snow making machines, amongst many other things.

To offset their energy usage, many resorts have turned to buying renewable energy credits. In 2006, Vail Resorts purchased 152,000 megawatt hours of wind energy credits to offset their annual power consumption. Other resorts have ...

What would a carbon free city look like to you? Well, if you see no cars and a large amount of wind turbines and solar panels, you’re starting to get warm. Creating a carbon free city requires sacrifice and innovative development, which is why one doesn’t exist yet. However, efforts are currently being made to build the first carbon neutral city.

This historical city will be built in Abu Dhabi, and this location has one of the most abundant oil supplies in the world. The walled city will be called Masdar and will use wind and solar energy to sustain residents' lifestyle. Since cars will be ...

A $26 million research base run by the International Polar Foundation based in Belgium was recently opened in Antarctica. What makes this research station special is the fact that the base is carbon-free. Scientists at the station hope to be an example of  the capabilities our society has to reduce global emissions, even in places with extreme weather like the poles.

"If we can build such a station in Antarctica we can do that elsewhere in our society. We have ...

A study that is set to be conducted in Britain will shed light on micro-turbines and their impact on birds and bats. Since micro-turbines are becoming more popular across the world, this study will be important to understanding how to protect species potentially in danger.

The study is going to be conducted by the Stirling University in Britain. There are approximately 1,000 micro-turbines in Britain, but a potential governmental proposal may make it easier for the units to be installed. ...

The possibility of alternative energy even in the remotest corner of the globe was amply demonstrated by the carbon free polar station which opened in Antarctica on Sunday. The Belgian station ‘Princess Elisabeth’ underscored the fact that green power today is reliant enough. Scientists are saluting the development as a first step, hopefully with time skeptics will do the same.

At the inauguration Alain Hubert, the station's project director, told Reuters –

“If we can build ...

Alternative energy in the United States was considered unlikely to decline under financial strain due to the overall demand for clean energy. However, due to the economic issues in the United States, the alternative energy sector is being hard hit as well.

Factories which build solar panels, wind turbines etc. for alternative energy have been announcing numerous layoffs. Worse yet it is projected that there will be upwards of a 50 percent decline in installations of wind turbines, solar ...