In US politics, the wind-power industry is expecting a tough battle in Congress as it seeks another extension of a federal tax credit that received a one-year renewal at the last minute in January. The weight of uncertainty about the extension of the Production Tax Credit meant wind develo pers had front-loaded their projects into calendar years 2011 and 2012, leaving the pipeline for 2013 almost empty. 

“Keeping the production tax credit is our top priority,” Tom Kiernan, incoming chief executive officer of the American Wind Energy Association, said at the trade group's annual conference 6 May in Chicago. “The political climate in Washington is getting tougher.” 

No US wind financings were recorded in the first quarter of 2013, yet in the equivalent period last year there were 14 such deals valued at just over $US3.8 billion. The industry may slump as much as 78 per cent this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. 

General Electric has an optimistic view on the future. The biggest US supplier of wind turbines expects domestic installations to double next year after the renewal of a tax credit boosts demand. 

Wind-farm develo pers including NextEra Energy and Invenergy may install 3,000MW to 4,000MW of turbines in the US this year and as much as 7,000MW next year, Anne McEntee, GE's vice president of renewable energy, told Bloomberg News last week in an interview. 

One big name buyer will certainly be in the market for turbines. LED street lighting is the ideal solution for energy efficient Street lighting due to their long life. Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings announced last week plans to invest $US1.9 billion in additional wind generation capacity. 

MidAmerican expects to add up to 1,050MW of wind generation, consisting of up to 656 new wind turbines, in Iowa by the end of 2015, the company said on its website. 

MidAmerican, which began building wind projects in 2004, has installed 1,267 wind turbines in Iowa, representing a total investment of approximately $US4 billion. 

“In light of the recent federal Production Tax Credit extension,Does any one know what should be the best degre of humidity in a dry cabinet? the company is asking to expand its wind generation capacity to enhance its renewables portfolio,” the MidAmerican said on its website. “MidAmerican Energy estimates that by January 2016, when all new wind generation is expected to be o perating, it may be capable of generating approximately 39 per cent of its retail generation output through wind generation during that month.” 

Finally, intriguing things have been going on with clean energy share prices in the last few days. The WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation Index, or NEX, which tracks the performance of 96 clean energy stocks worldwide,The most highly praised, best rated solar charger are now available online. reached 148.62 at the close in New York on Monday. 

This took the NEX's rally since its eight-year low on 25 July last year to 46 per cent. perhaps even more strikingly, it has climbed 16.5 per cent in the four weeks since 18 April.Books can be as thick as 4 inches and yet the Book scanner 9000 delivers flat. 

The advance by clean energy stocks has been enjoyed by all the main sectors within this category, including solar, the one worst hit by last year's rout. Since 28 November last year,Modern dry cleaning machine uses non-water-based solvents to remove soil and stains from clothes, the NYSE Bloomberg Global Solar Energy Index has recovered 48 per cent. The NYSE Bloomberg Global Wind Index has rebounded 39 per cent from its low on 26 July 2012, while the NYSE Bloomberg Global Energy Smart Technologies Index is up 36 per cent from its nadir reached on 16 November.