Where Now, for the Wind?

June 1 - NY Times - There is little quixotic about wind power anymore: the FPL Group is now building a second giant wind farm right next door. And just as the cows shelter in the shadows of the turbines to escape the hot sun, a growing number of copycat companies are lining up to imitate the big bet by this company, based in Juno Beach, Fla., that wind power can work as well for shareholders as it does for environmentalists.

The nation’s wind energy capacity grew last year by 27 percent, with the industry investing $4 billion to install more than 2,400 megawatts of power — enough to provide electricity equal to the needs of more than 500,000 homes. This year, wind power could increase 26 percent, according to the American Wind Energy Association, and Wall Street is increasingly eager to finance the investment. Read More.