Monday Report
More Wind Power February 16th, 2009


SCORECARD
 

ECONOMIC NOTES:

The Eagles Have Arrived!

Farmington Bay, Davis County, Utah

The Glover Lane Bridge is now open!

Don't miss it!

Take your kids and grandkids.

Don't forget your field glasses!

ECONOMIC NOTES:

  • Global Business Confidence
  • There is no letup in the dark pessimism that engulfs nearly all businesses across the globe. Global business sentiment weakened again in early February, back close to the record low set in mid- December. Businesses remain very negative on everything from sales and pricing to hiring and investment. Those that work in government are the most worried, but sentiment in manufacturing slumped to a new all-time low last week. Confidence is poor across the globe; if there is a distinction, it is that Asian businesses are a bit more upbeat than businesses everywhere else.
  • US Consumer Sentiment
  • The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index dropped more than expected in February, falling 5 points according to preliminary data to 56.2. This puts the index at its lowest level since November. The decline came from worsened expectations as assessments of current conditions rose fractionally. Inflation expectations were mixed, falling in the short term but inching up in the longer run.
  • Treasury Budget
  • The unified budget deficit for January was $84 billion, larger than the CBO's estimate of $78 billion. Through the first four months of fiscal 2009, the budget deficit was $569 billion, more than six times greater than at the same point in fiscal 2008. The recession and the response to the financial crisis, including purchases of stock as part of the TARP, have greatly added to the deficit this fiscal year.
  • International Trade (FT900)
  • The U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $39.9 billion in December. Moody's Economy.com expected a greater narrowing to $37 billion. This marks the fifth straight month of declining gross exports and gross imports and the fifth straight month of narrowing trade deficits.
  • Jobless Claims
  • Initial claims for jobless benefits dropped back 8,000 to 623,000 for the week ending February 7, in line with expectations for a small decline. Continuing claims rose by 11,000 to 4.81 million for the week ending January 31 and are at previously unseen highs. Both continue to point to a rapidly weakening labor market.
  • Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
  • Retail sales unexpectedly rose in January, up 1% in total and 0.9% excluding autos. However, December's data were revised downward: Total sales fell 3% (originally down 2.7%) and sales excluding autos fell 3.2% (originally down 3.1%). Gains in January were widespread, led by nonstore retailers, electronics and appliance retailers, and gas stations. Building supply stores, furniture stores, and sporting goods stores were among the smaller set to post declines. Core sales rose 0.8% and were revised from a decline of 1.8% to a decline of 1.5% in December.
  • NAR Metro Prices
  • House price declines are spreading farther afield and are also deepening, according to median price data from the National Association of Realtors. Nationally, the median existing house price declined an annualized 27% in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared with the third quarter of 2008, easily the worst decline on record. The number of metro areas where prices are depreciating continues to increase. The declines are the worst in California and Florida. Texas metro areas are holding up the best. On the positive side, home sales are rising in six states, although most of these are distress sales.
  • MBA Mortgage Applications Survey
  • In the week ending February 6, the MBA market index fell 24.5% to 600.6. Both parts of the composite index also declined this week. The purchase index fell 9.8% this week to close at 235.9. Meanwhile, the refinance index finished at 2,722.7, a 30.3% decline over the previous week. Despite a moderate decline in contract rates, applications still fell.
  • Chain Store Sales
  • Chain store sales were essentially unchanged in the week ending February 7, continuing the erratic weekly pattern in place since late December. Despite the flat reading, the year-ago decline shrank to 1.8%, the smallest decline in three weeks but still a sign of very restrained spending.
  • Retail Sales (MARTS)
  • Total business inventories fell 1.3% in December, a larger decline than expected. Retail inventories were the only new data in this report, falling 1%. Despite the large decline in inventories, the sales decline was even greater, which sent the inventory-to-sales ratio higher to 1.44, a multiyear high.
  • Oil and Gas Inventories
  • Crude oil inventories rose by 4.7 million barrels during the week ending February 6, according to the Energy Information Administration, surpassing expectations. Gasoline inventories fell by 2.6 million barrels. Distillate inventories fell by 1 million barrels. Refinery operating capacity fell sharply to 81.6% from 83.5%. Total domestic petroleum demand fell. This report points to lower oil prices.
  • Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report
  • Working gas in underground storage decreased by 159 billion cubic feet during the week ending February 6. The consensus estimate was for a decline of 166 billion cubic feet.

THIS WEEKS LEAD:

  • Trader Joe's
  • Trader Joe's operates 300 locations nationwide.
  • The specialty supermarkets, offering organic produce, pizza, imported cheeses, as well as general grocery items, occupy spaces of 10,000 sq.ft. to 14,000 sq.ft. in inline spaces of mixed-use, specialty and strip centers in addition to freestanding locations.
  • Growth opportunities are sought throughout the existing market during the coming 18 months, with representation by IDS Real Estate Group.
  • A land area of 1.75 acres is required for freestanding locations.
  • Preferred demographics include a population of 100,000 within a four-mile radius.
  • For more information, contact
    • Silva Zeneian,
    • IDS Real Estate Group,
    • 515 South Figueroa Street, 16th Floor,
    • Los Angeles, CA 90071;
    • Web site: www.idsrealestate.com

Public Policy Initiatives

  • IA - Culver Promotes Rebuild Iowa Program.Gov. Chet Culver presented area residents with information on his proposed Rebuild Iowa, Iowa Infrastructure Investment Bonds program. Culver told the more than 100 area residents and civic leaders that met with him at Muscatine's City Hall that the $700 million Rebuild Iowa program could create jobs and address the state's unmet infrastructure needs. The plan would be funded with existing state gaming revenue and require no increase in taxes, he said. Culver said infrastructure includes bridges, roads, railroads, trails, public buildings, water and sewer treatment facilities, the utility grid and telecommunications. http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2009/02/05/3117.txt
  • WI - Doyle Works to Extend SeniorCare.Gov. Jim Doyle has asked the federal government to extend SeniorCare, the state's popular prescription drug program, to 2012. SeniorCare is scheduled to end Dec. 31. It is an alternative to Medicare Part D and the only program of its kind in the country. "Governor Doyle is committed to working with President Obama's administration to make sure that SeniorCare remains a viable alternative for more than 86,000 Wisconsin seniors," Karen Timberlake, secretary of the Department of Health Services, said in a statement. "SeniorCare not only gives our seniors the drugs they need at a price they can afford, but it also saves Wisconsin taxpayers and the federal government millions of dollars." http://www.jsonline.com/business/39368802.html
  • CO - Ritter Announces Bill to Help Homeowners.Gov. Bill Ritter and two state lawmakers announced plans to introduce a bill that would create a three-month time-out on the foreclosure process. The delay would give borrowers and lenders time to work out a payment agreement with the help of a third-party, HUD-approved counselor that would allow homeowners to stay in their homes. "The bill focuses our limited resources on homeowners and lenders most likely to benefit from this limited time in which they can negotiate," Ritter said. "It represents a carefully shaped program that will save homes, protect the American dream for thousands of families and reduce the loss to the lenders." http://www.chieftain.com/articles/96709364984829.txt
  • DE - Markell Works to Create New Jobs, Improve Infrastructure.A $43 million project to add four high-speed E-ZPass lanes at the I-95 toll plaza near Newark is on a list of transportation jobs that Delaware leaders hope could benefit from the federal economic stimulus package being hammered out in Congress. Officials used the toll plaza as their backdrop to announce the start of a 30-day public comment period to prioritize the list, which covers about $200 million in road, bridge and public transit projects. Gov. Jack Markell said the projects could create 1,200 jobs while the work is under way. "These projects will improve our transportation system, put Delawareans to work and make Delaware more attractive for economic development," Markell said. http://www.delmarvanow.com/20090210//900009/1002
  • MD - O'Malley Continues Push for Climate Change Legislation.Gov. Martin O'Malley has made the legislation to mandate controls on the carbon dioxide emissions believed to contribute to global warming his top environmental initiative of the session. He announced his support for the bill, which would require statewide emissions to be reduced 25 percent by 2020. O'Malley called the reduction "an ambitious goal that is within reach," in part because half the targets could be met through existing environmental laws. http://voices.washingtonpost.com_reduction.html
  • MA - Patrick Names Stimulus Czar, Promises Spending Scrutiny.Gov. Deval Patrick announced the appointment of an official to oversee the spending that officials hope will help revitalize the state's economy. The governor announced that the new spending czar would be Jeffrey A. Simon of Ipswich, president of Simon Properties, a real estate development services firm in Boston. Gov. Deval Patrick said that the decisions on what to fund with the federal stimulus money would be made consistent with rules and after broad consultation, and spending would be targeted on projects that create jobs and long-term economic value. He said regional equity would be considered "because frankly there are needs across the state." http://www.boston.com/news/local/spendi.html
  • MT - Schweitzer Working on Carbon Sequestration.Gov. Brian Schweitzer told a crowd at the Three Forks Chamber of Commerce dinner that Montana is working on the first large-scale carbon sequestration project on the planet. Schweitzer talked about carbon sequestration and alternative energy. Montana is trying to store pure carbon dioxide underneath what he called the "poplar dome," and use it as a pressure tank to enhance oil recovery and increase oil production, Schweitzer said. http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/me227_6
  • MO - Nixon Works to Reduce Education Cuts.Gov. Jay Nixon declared that he's found an additional $10.1 million to fund Extension programs at the University of Missouri and Lincoln University. The money cut from Missouri Extension is earmarked for Caring for Missourians, Nixon's proposed program to increase the number of graduates in health-care fields. Nixon said he could reduce the cuts by channeling cost-savings from a prison construction project to the universities. "The university extension programs provide important services for Missourians, and I'm pleased that we have the opportunity to allocate additional resources to fund their work," Nixon said. http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/17115
  • MO, KS - Nixon, Sebelius Meet to Discuss Economy.The governors of Missouri and Kansas are meeting with Kansas City business leaders to discuss President Barack Obama's proposed economic stimulus package. Gov. Jay Nixon and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius are attending the annual governor's summit, sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. The two will discuss how the stimulus package could create jobs for Missouri and Kansas, as well as benefits for private businesses and infrastructure projects for local government. http://www.news-20090210/BREAKING01/90210008
  • OR - Kulongoski Announces Environmental, Economic Advisory Council.Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced the creation of an advisory group that he hopes will shape both the economy and the environment. "It is a smarter way to do business," Kulongoski said. The nascent advisory group will not only help state agencies win competitive grants dealing specifically with sustainability, but also find ways to incorporate green principles into all stimulus- funded projects, the governor said. "We cannot only look at the short-term picture," Kulongoski said. "This was a tremendous opportunity for Oregon to drive a public policy that will be this new leg of our economy." http://www.djcoregon.com/Oregon-Way-use-green-ed

Greetings!

  • Wind Power - International Rankings
    • Regional Rankings
    • Installed Capacity
    • % of Total
    • Top 10 New Capacity Top 10 Installed Capacity
  • Public Policy Initiatives
  • Economic Notes
  • This Weeks Leads
  • SCORECARD
    		•

    GLOBAL INSTALLED WIND POWER CAPACITY (MW) - Regional Distribution

    Africa & Middle East

    CountryEnd of 2007New 2008Total End of 2008
    Egypt31055 365
    Morocco124 10134
    Iran6717 85
    Tunisia2034 54
    Other ( 1 ) 171431
    Total539 130669

    Asia

    CountryEnd of 2007New 2008Total End of 2008
    China5,910 6,30012,210
    India7,845 1,8009,645
    Japan1,528 3561,880
    Taiwan28181 358
    South Korea19343 236
    Philippines25 833
    Other (2) 516
    Total15,787 8,58924,368

    EUROPE

    CountryEnd of 2007New 2008Total End of 2008
    Germany22,247 1,66523,903
    Spain15,145 1,60916,754
    Italy2,726 1,0103,736
    France2,454 9503,404
    UK2,406836 3,241
    Denmark3,125 773,180
    Portugal2,150 7122,862
    Netherlands1,747 5002,225
    Sweden788 2361,021
    Ireland795208 1,002
    Austria98214 995
    Greece871 114985
    Poland276 196472
    Norway326 102428
    Turkey147286 433
    Rest of Europe (3) 9553621,305
    Total Europe57,1398,877 65,946
    of which EU-27 (4) 56,5318,484 64,948

    Latin America & Caribbean

    CountryEnd of 2007New 2008Total End of 2008
    Brazil24794 341
    Mexico850 85
    Costa Rica70070
    Caribbean550 55
    Argentina290 29
    Others (5) 45045
    Total531 94625

    North America

    CountryEnd of 2007New 2008Total End of 2008
    USA16,824 8,35825,170
    Canada1,846 5232,369
    Total18,670 8,88127,539

    Pacific Region

    CountryEnd of 2007New 2008Total End of 2008
    Australia824 4821,306
    New Zealand3224 326
    Pacific Islands12012
    Total1,158 4861,644

    Top 10 Total Installed Capacity

    Country% of Total
    US25,17020.8
    Germany23,903 19.8
    Spain16,754 13.9
    China12,210 10.1
    India9,6458.0
    Italy3,7363.1
    France3,404 2.8
    UK3,2412.7
    Denmark3,180 2.6
    Portugal2,862 2.4
    Rest of the world16,68613.8
    Total top 10104,10486.2
    World total120,791100

    Top 10 New Capacity

    Country% of Total
    US835831
    China6,30023
    India1,8007
    Germany1,665 6
    Spain1,609 6
    Italy10104
    France950 4
    UK8363
    Portugal7123
    Canada5232
    Rest of the world3,29312
    Total top 1023,76388
    World total27,056100
  • Source: AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION, 12/31/2008
    • AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION
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