In 2011, 6.816 GW of wind power capacity was installed in the U.S., representing a 31% increase over 2010, according to the American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA) 2011 Market Report.
With these additions, the U.S. now has a total installed wind energy capacity of 46.916 GW, with more than 8.3 GW currently under construction.
California led in new capacity added in 2011, with 921 MW, followed by Illinois (693 MW), Iowa (647 MW), Minnesota (542 MW) and Oklahoma (525 MW). The five states with the highest percentage increases in added capacity in 2011 over 2010 were Ohio (+929 %), Vermont (+625%), Massachusetts (+152%), Michigan (+130%) and Idaho (+75%).
The top 10 states for U.S. wind jobs were as follows:
1. Iowa: 6,000-7,000
2. Texas: 6,000-7,000
3. Illinois: 6,000-7,000
4. Ohio: 5,000-6,000
5. Colorado: 4,000-5,000
6. California: 4,000-5,000
7. Michigan: 4,000-5,000
8. Pennsylvania: 3,000-4,000
9. Florida: 2,000-3,000
10. Oregon: 2,000-3,000
The top states for wind generation as a percentage of their portfolio were as follows:
1. South Dakota: 22.3%
2. Iowa: 18.8%
3. North Dakota: 14.7%
4. Minnesota: 12.7%
5. Wyoming: 10.1%
6. Colorado: 9.2%
7. Kansas: 8.3%
8. Oregon: 8.2%
9. Idaho: 8.2%
10. Oklahoma: 7.1%
11. Texas: 6.9% (8.5% on ERCOT)
12. New Mexico: 5.4%
13. Washington: 5.3%
AWEA CEO Denise Bode stresses, however, that future wind industry growth is dependent on favorable policy.
"In hard economic times, we're creating jobs and delivering clean, affordable electricity," Bode says. "But we will lose all these consumer benefits and a brand new, growing manufacturing sector if Congress allows the production tax credit (PTC) to expire. Businesses need certainty. That is why it is urgent that Congress extend the PTC now, or risk losing a bright new manufacturing sector.’
AWEA's full annual market report can be found here.
