• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Project of the Week
  • About Us
    SEARCH
Facility, News

Wind Power Prices Fall Below Natural Gas – Opportunity for Organizations?

The US Department of Energy released a report showing that wind farms are cheaper to build and operate than natural gas plants.

August 27, 2019 Jonathan Blackwood Leave a Comment

When wind farms become cheaper to own and operate than natural gas plants, it should excite technology managers.

The US Department of Energy released a report that looks back on wind power in the US in 2018, and analysis shows that the cost of owning and operating a wind farm has fallen below the cost of buying fuel for an equivalent natural gas plant.

One of the main reasons for these findings is the technology behind wind turbines. In 2008 there were no turbines in the US with 100m rotors, whereas 99 percent of rotors in 2018 were over 100m. The turbine’s generator grew at the same rate, up 5 percent even from 2017 to 2018.

While the prices for wind power were rising up through 2009, there have declined ever since. According to Ars Technica:

The report uses an estimate of future natural gas prices that show an extremely gradual rise of about $10/MW-hr out to 2050. But natural gas—on its own, without considering the cost of a plant to burn it for electricity—is already over $20/MW-hr. That means wind sited in the center of the US is already cheaper than fueling a natural gas plant, and wind sited elsewhere is roughly equal.

What’s all of this mean for technology managers? Simply put, it’s time to consider a strategy of moving to alternative energy sources. While it’s a big change, it can also have big benefits for the business.

The ROI alone should be a good enough reason. It’s clear that the trends show natural gas is rising in cost while wind power is falling. Making the switch now, with tax credits in place for renewable energy, could set the organization up to save thousands over the coming years. There is a ways to go, of course, but switching some operations over will give the organization the infrastructure and experience to continue moving to renewable energy sources down the line.

There’s also the PR impact – organizations that commit to going green often see great receptions from customers and potential customers. In a world where eco-friendliness is akin to benevolence, switching to operations that rely on wind power could provide a huge boost to the company’s reputation. Couple that with the fact that you might be saving money overall and it’s a win-win.

Reports like this are something technology managers should keep an eye on. The renewable energy industry is only growing, and you don’t want to be the organization left behind.

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!

Jonathan Blackwood
Jonathan Blackwood

Jonathan Blackwood is the Editor-in-Chief of TechDecisions. Jonathan joined TechDecisions in 2014 and writes about technologies that help to innovate and improve practices for companies of all sizes, K-12 and higher education, government, healthcare, hospitality, retail and large venue spaces. He is especially interested in the future of work and education and the Internet of Things. Follow him @BlackwoodTweets.

Tagged With: Energy Management, Green Technology

Related Content:

  • Cloud, SASE, Aryaka How the Cloud is Redefining Media Production and…
  • Singlewire Software mass notification interview Singlewire Software on Mass Notification Solutions
  • URI catchbox 1 Catchbox Plus: The Mic Solution That Finally Gave…
  • Engaging virtual meeting with diverse participants discussing creative ideas in a bright office space during daylight hours Diversified Survey: Workplace AV Tech is Falling Short,…

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • Workplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate SpacesWorkplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate Spaces

    From lobbies and shared spaces to conference rooms and multipurpose facilities, you need high-performing AV technology to effectively share information. From the initial design and evaluation process through installation, you need the most reliable and high-quality display and image processing products possible. This new download, “Workplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate Spaces,” provides examples of successful […]

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Downloads

Practical Design Guide for Office Spaces
Practical Design Guide for Office Spaces

Recent Gartner research shows that workers prefer to return to the office for in-person meetings for relevant milestones, as well as for face-to-fa...

New Camera Can Transform Your Live Production Workflow
New Camera System Can Transform Your Live Production Workflow

Sony's HXC-FZ90 studio camera system combines flexibility and exceptional image quality with entry-level pricing.

Creating Great User Experience and Ultimate Flexibility with Clickshare

Working and collaborating in any office environment today should be meaningful, as workers today go to office for very specific reasons. When desig...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Contact Us
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!
Emerald Logo
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSYour Privacy ChoicesTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

© 2025 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.