Precast Solutions - July/August 2008 - (Page 27)

uncertain. • Federal and state governments mandate as much as 20 percent wind-generated power. • Local economic wind farm development and employment can be revitalized. • Renewable energy is getting strong public support and sentiment. • National energy security is strengthened. • It eliminates greenhouse gas emissions and provides other environmental benefits (no pollution typical of fossil-fuel energy generation: SOx, NOx or CO2; no airborne particulates; no mercury emissions; no use of fresh water). • Wind power represents about 50 percent of all investments in renewable energy today. • The United States increased its wind capacity by 45 percent in 2007 with more than 5,000 megawatts in new installations, representing 30 percent of all new U.S. energy capacity last year. • Wind power capacity has exceeded all projections in recent years. • Europe leads the way in wind power technology and engineering, demonstrating the great economic and environmental advantages of building wind-generated energy sources as rapidly as possible. The ATS hybrid tower combines a high-quality precast concrete segmental tower with tubular steel sections at the top. The precast cylindrical tower sections can be transported on flatbed trucks then quickly assembled –typically in less than seven days. Illustration courtesy of ATS Precast concrete systems are poised to play a greater role in the wind energy industry. Unlike projects using imported steel, precast concrete production takes advantage of local resources and labor in fabrication and construction. Precast concrete wind tower foundation piles are less disruptive to the environment than deep cast-in-place concrete mats. Precast concrete production systems take advantage of numerous green initiatives from the use of supplementary cementitious materials to recycling gray water and cement and concrete materials. For more information on concrete applications for wind power, visit www.concretecentre.com and search for “wind power.” Sue McCraven, NPCA senior technical consultant, is a civil engineer, technical writer and editor, and environmental scientist who has contributed numerous articles and studies to prominent scientific journals. Sue McCraven, NPCA senior technical consultant, is a civil engineer, technical writer and editor, and environmental scientist who has contributed numerous articles and studies to prominent scientific journals. JULY/AUGUST 2008 | PRECAST SOLUTIONS 27 www.concretecentre.com

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Precast Solutions - July/August 2008 Contents What You Should Know About UHPC A Winning Hand Fresno Federal Expanding U.S. Wind Power Precast Concrete Pipe

Precast Solutions - July/August 2008

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