The price of wind turbines is rapidly rising, defying global warming alarmists who justify renewable power subsidies and mandates by claiming prices for the economically uncompetitive renewable power will fall as more industrial wind farms are built.
“It’s almost the worst possible world,” Northwest Power and Conservation Council chairman Tom Karier told the Portland Oregonian on August 22, with turbine prices increasing due to demand spikes related to government subsidies and mandates.
“The shortage is affecting developers nationwide,” the Oregonian added. Wind project costs “have gone up as much as 50% over the last two years,” noted Renewable Energy Access on July 26.
According to a 2006 U.S. Department of Energy study, wind turbine prices rose 17 percent in 2006, and are expected to rise another 14 percent this year. Prices are likely to keep rising in future years, as well.
James M. Taylor ([email protected]) is senior fellow for environment policy at The Heartland Institute.
