Achieving a benchmark that could lead to more efficient permitting for wind turbine equipment, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) signed a joint agreement establishing a framework for the two organizations to administer recommended permitting practices and still-to-be-developed standards for wind turbine structures including towers and foundations.
With the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed, AWEA and ASCE plan to jointly issue recommended procedures for issuing permits for large wind turbine structures in the U.S., an initiative of the AWEA Standards Development Board. The agreement will also govern the management and release of new wind turbine structural standards that may be developed under the voluntary consensus standards process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The consensus standards process would follow the ASCE standards development procedures and tap both wind energy and structural expert volunteers in the development of any new wind turbine structural standards. Both the recommended practices and any new standards are expected to increase efficiencies in the permitting of large, land-based wind turbines, reducing time and costs associated with the process.
With the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed, AWEA and ASCE plan to jointly issue recommended procedures for issuing permits for large wind turbine structures in the U.S., an initiative of the AWEA Standards Development Board. The agreement will also govern the management and release of new wind turbine structural standards that may be developed under the voluntary consensus standards process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The consensus standards process would follow the ASCE standards development procedures and tap both wind energy and structural expert volunteers in the development of any new wind turbine structural standards. Both the recommended practices and any new standards are expected to increase efficiencies in the permitting of large, land-based wind turbines, reducing time and costs associated with the process.
