In November 2008, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted that by 2015, renewable energy—like wind and solar power—would overtake gas as the second largest source of electricity, behind coal. Offshore wind will be one of the fastest-growing sectors, according to the IEA; under current trends, offshore wind-generation is expected to grow more than a hundred-fold by 2030. By that time, the U.S. Department of Energy expects wind-generated power to account for 20 percent of the country's electricity.
If this prediction comes true, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would be the equivalent of taking 140 million vehicles off the road. Perhaps more important, the wind-generation industry would support more than half a million jobs—including jobs for thousands of construction professionals to build the wind farms.
IS WIND POWER HERE TO STAY?
Humans have been harnessing the power of wind long before tapping into petroleum—since 3000 B.C., when Egyptians developed the first sailboats. The first windmills appeared around 200 B.C., used in China to pump water and in Persia to grind grain.
The windmill found its way to American farms and ranches in the 19th century, employed at first to pump water and later used to generate electricity. In the 1930s, the REA (Rural Electrification Administration) brought inexpensive electric power to most rural areas in the United States, rendering the windmill a symbol of a primitive time—or so it was thought.
The demand for wind-generated power has historically fluctuated with the price of fossil fuels. Its popularity returned briefly during the oil-embargo days of the 1970s, when America was forced to look seriously into alternative fuel sources.
Is the current popularity of wind-generated power just a fad, another knee-jerk reaction to the unpredictable price of oil? Even if oil prices drop to record lows, wind power is probably here to stay because of its minimal environmental impact, Americans' growing concern about dependence on foreign oil, great advancements in wind turbine technology, and low long-term cost.
Did we mention that there's a never-ending supply of the stuff?
CAPITALIZING ON OPPORTUNITY.
The components of a typical wind farm include the massive turbines that capture the wind, a collection system to route the turbine-generated power, a substation to receive and manage the power, transmission lines to move the power to the grid, and an operation and maintenance building to monitor and regulate the wind farm. Wind farms also need access roads to enter the turbine sites.
And to make all of these things possible, they need equipment. Lots of it.
"These wind farms require a great deal of infrastructure," says Kevin Smith, trencher product manager of the Ditch Witch organization. "Around the windmills themselves there's not overhead transfer of power; everything is underground. The optimum location for a windmill is a windy area with a solid-rock foundation, so the infrastructure has to be placed in tough conditions."
The new Ditch Witch HT300 heavy-duty trencher is ideal for burying power cable in the rocky soil typical of a wind farm site. Capable of trenching up to ten feet (3.1 m) deep and 36 inches (914 mm) wide in the most extreme jobsite conditions, the HT300 features a sturdy undercarriage designed to withstand the rigors of rock-laden jobsites, and trencher stabilizers that effectively isolate vibration in rock and other harsh conditions.
Wind farm projects need not only trenchers to bury cable, but also backhoes and excavators to dig footings and foundations, and horizontal directional drilling equipment for road and stream crossings. Knowing that not everyone can run out and invest tens of thousands of dollars on new equipment, the Ditch Witch organization has lease and rental programs for companies or individuals who want to take advantage of these new opportunities.
WIND'S POTENTIAL FOR YOU.
Every year the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) conducts a wind power project-siting workshop, where attendees can learn all about wind farm project planning, construction and operation. The AWEA also hosts numerous trade shows and conferences throughout the year all around the country. For more information about becoming a member of the AWEA and events where you can explore wind farm opportunities for your company, visit www.awea.org.
Sources: "Big Trenchers Still Have Big Equipment Market Opportunities," by Mike Anderson, Construction Equipment, Sept. 1, 2008; Thomson Financial News, Nov. 17, 2008; American Wind Energy Association press release, Nov. 10, 2008; www.windpoweringamerica.gov; www.awea.org.
