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MAPPING
RENEWABLE ENERGY
ATLAS OF THE WEST (link)
The Atlas is an 80-page, full-color
presentation of the renewable energy resources in
the West, including newly-released high-resolution
wind maps of the Pacific Northwest. The Atlas profiles
wind, solar, geothermal and biomass power. The Atlas,
available at www.energyatlas.org, is for anyone interested
in renewable energy in the West, including advocates,
developers, landowners, and policy makers.
Sponsored by the Hewlett Foundation and The Energy
Foundation, the Atlas was created by the Land and
Water Fund of the Rockies, Northwest Sustainable Energy
for Economic Development (SEED), Green Info Network
and Integral GIS. Learn more about these organizations
and others who contributed to the Atlas.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
MAPS (link)
Northwest SEED and
its partners pioneered the use of publically available
interactive resource maps for renewable resource assessment.
These maps allowed individuals and communities all
over the Northwest to explore their potential for
renewable development. Many of the wind maps made
with this system are still available at www.windmaps.org.
 Recently,
the National Renewable Energy Laboratory created an
updated interactive mapping system covering the entire
United States. Through a zoom-in web interface allowing
quick site look-ups the maps will greatly aid rural
landowners and communities in exploring economic opportunities
to harness wind energy. The zoom-in web interface
is available here.
Although these maps do not eliminate
the need for on-site resource measurement, they can
help utilities and developers gain a better understanding
of where the best resource areas are and screen out
less promising areas, significantly minimizing the
cost and timing of prospecting. They are also intended
to aid landowners in making a first-cut feasibility
analysis for installing distributed wind turbines
to supply power for homes, farms and ranches.
NWSEED hopes that these new maps ultimately drive
down the costs of wind power and ensure that public
interests are protected as the Northwest's wind resources
are developed.
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