Stepping up the shift away from oil

From television commercials to the campaign trail, wind power has become a hot topic. With growing concerns about global warming and rising energy prices pinching pocketbooks, wind power is seen as a viable alternative to help lessen the country's dependence on foreign oil.

But not every state is ripe for wind energy. Minnesota, with long-standing renewable energy mandates, has done a better job than most of making use of its resources.

With nearly 1,300 megawatts of generating capacity, Minnesota is the third-largest producer of wind energy, behind Texas and California, according to the American Wind Energy Association, a national trade group.

Already the world's largest wind-energy producer, the United States is expected to add 7,500 megawatts of wind power this year, a 45 percent increase. Four projects were brought online in Minnesota during the second quarter, more than any other state. Three more are under construction statewide; two have the capacity for 100 megawatts each.

But hurdles remain. Getting wind farms connected to the power grid is a years-long process that is backlogged for decades. Other states are also expanding renewable fuel mandates, causing equipment shortages.

The most pressing issue remains extending the renewable fuel tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Rejected eight times by the U.S. Senate, the credits look increasingly unlikely to be renewed -- at least until the new Congress, people in the energy industry said. The wind energy group claims that 2009 investments have been on hold for months. But some investors say they are going forward because they have contracts for scarce materials that every project needs.