Tempered optimism

A bird's-eye-view of wind energy in 1996 concludes that without governments counter balancing the combined weight of the nuclear, coal, gas and oil lobbies, which already tilt the electricity market firmly against renewable energy, all wind can do is cling to the opposite edge. The European Commission objection to premium rates paid by Germany for renewable energy, Latin America's wind potential versus economic and political uncertainty, and Quebec's announcement of a protected market for 250 MW of wind power are discussed.