News Blaze is reporting that the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China wants to invite wind energy companies to take advantage of that area’s abundant wind resources. The region intends to be China’s largest supplier of wind-based energy by 2010. The short time line illustrates how committed the Chinese government is to creating alternative energy sources to reduce that country’s CO2 production.

Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn announces a $16.5 million fund to the Kettles Hill Wind Energy Project, near Pincher Creek in southern Alberta. This is the first company to receive funding under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power Initiative.

Boulder-based Renewable Choice Energy is offering a “wind-power card” available at Whole Foods. A $15 card represents 750 kWh – the “average amount of electricity sucked off the grid by an American family each month.”

The children of Rudd Mayer, an influential wind-power activist in Boulder, Colorado are dedicating a windmill at the Thorne Ecological Institute to provide power and environmental education for local school kids.

Last year the Alberta Electric System Operator placed a cap on the amount of wind power supplied to the grid. This cap will be lifted as a move to encourage planned wind projects worth $6.6 billion.

“New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton says he would shift the province toward a “greener” energy supply that would fulfill Ontario’s power needs.”

EU leaders signed a mandatory target to devote a fifth of their energy supply from renewables by 2020, but the details are yet to be determined. Some industry players “fear a lack of ambition” from British leaders.

Google announced that it will invest “hundreds of millions” in developing alternative energy sources, including solar thermal, wind and geothermal in an effort to replace fossil fuels and fight climate change.

Source: Inhabitat

A new innovation in wind energy has been introduced – the MagLev wind turbine – using magnetic levitation. “Magnetic levitation is an extremely efficient system for wind energy. Here’s how it works: the vertically oriented blades of the wind turbine are suspended in the air above the base of the machine, replacing the need for ball bearings. The turbine uses “full-permanent” magnets, not electromagnets — therefore, it does not require electricity to run.”

A new sail technology utilizing a giant kite can save 10-15% of the heavy fuel oil that cargo ships normally burn.