Energy futureWind boom in the United States
New wind project in ten states brings U.S. wind power capacity to more than 18,000 MW, or enough to serve the equivalent of five million homes
The U.S. wind energy industry continued new installations at a breakneck pace in the first quarter of 2008, putting 1,400 MW or approximately $3 billion worth of new generating capacity in place, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said in its quarterly market report. The new wind power facilities installed span ten states and bring total U.S. wind power capacity to more than 18,000 MW, or enough to serve the equivalent of five million homes. Texas added more than half this new capacity and now has well over 5,000 MW installed. More than 4,000 MW of projects are now also under construction in the United States.
Additionally, AWEA reports an increase in the share of U.S.-made wind turbine components — from less than 30 percent to approximately 50 percent in three years. Before 2005, AWEA estimates that less than a third of components were manufactured in the United States. AWEA believes that by the end of 2008, approximately half of turbine components for turbines installed in the United States will be produced in the country. In 2007 and early 2008, at least seventeen manufacturing facilities were either brought online or expanded, creating more than 4,000 jobs and $500 million in manufacturing investment.
