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23 January 2007 -- Wind power generating capacity increased by 27 percent in 2006 and is expected to increase an additional 26 percent in 2007, according to a market forecast released today by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). AWEA attributed the boom in growth to a higher demand for clean, domestic energy, and touted its ability to attract both private and public sources of capital.
"Wind is a proven, cost-effective source of energy that also alleviates global warming and enhances our nation's energy security," said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher.
The U.S. wind energy industry installed 2,454 MW of new generating capacity in 2006, an investment of approximately $4 billion. Wind is has been one of the largest sources of new power generation in the country for two year and has been surpassed only by natural gas capacity additions.
Wind power has benefited greatly from the support of state and federal government legislatures. The U.S. Congress recently extended the federal production tax credit (PTC) through December 2008 to further expand the number of wind farms throughout the U.S.
"The industry has demonstrated a generous return on the investment of both private and public investment in wind," said Swisher. "Extending the PTC five years will significantly increase the progress America is making in expanding its use of new forms of energy when they've never been needed more."
The industry outlook also finds: - Texas accounted for nearly a third of the new wind power installed in 2006, taking over the lead from California in cumulative installed capacity. Texas hosts the world's single largest operating wind farm, the 735-MW Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, located in Nolan and Taylor counties.
- Much of the new wind equipment in 2006 was produced in new manufacturing facilities in Iowa, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Additional announcements are expected in 2007. Investment in manufacturing capability signals confidence in the market and lays the groundwork for expanded growth.
- New utility-scale turbines were installed in a total of 20 states across the country, from Maine to New Mexico to Alaska.
- The top five states in new installations were Texas (774 MW), Washington (428 MW), California (212 MW), New York (185 MW) and Minnesota (150 MW).
AWEA gathers the data for its analysis each January by contacting wind farm developers and turbine manufacturers around the country.
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