The U.S. wind energy industry installed 1,389 MW this quarter, bringing to 4,204 MW the total of wind power projects completed in what is expected to be another record year, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced in its third quarter market report.
With even more projects under construction, the industry is on track to surpass the banner year of 2007, when 5,249 MW were installed, with a total of about 7,500 MW this year.
The industry is also aggressively expanding its manufacturing base in the U.S., creating jobs and fostering investment and growth, even in a difficult financial climate. AWEA's report tallies the opening of eight new wind turbine component manufacturing facilities this year, the expansion of nine facilities and the announcement of an additional 19 facilities.
‘The convenient truth here is that wind power provides a stimulus for our economy, as well as a climate change and energy security solution,’ says AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. ‘The market, in spite of all its turmoil, clearly points to wind power as one of the most attractive energy options available today.’
The report includes the following highlights:
– Texas, reaping the benefits of its excellent wind resource and a proactive transmission expansion policy, added 693 MW, moving the state into the 6 GW category;
– The state with the fastest wind power capacity growth was West Virginia, which more than tripled its existing capacity with the addition of a 164 MW project, and another 100 MW project is scheduled to come online in the state by the end of the year;
– Utah added its first multi-turbine project, the nine turbine Spanish Fork project; and
– Acciona Energy, a wind turbine manufacturer, brought its first U.S. turbines online at a 120-turbine project straddling the North Dakota/South Dakota border.
To read the report, visit awea.org
SOURCE: American Wind Energy Association
