A record amount of wind energy capacity is now under construction across the U.S., according to a second-quarter report released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
AWEA’s U.S. Wind Industry Second Quarter 2018 Market Report reveals wind farms totaling 5,322 MW started construction during the second quarter of 2018, bringing total construction activity to 18,987 MW. One new wind turbine in the U.S. represents 2.32 MW of capacity on average – roughly enough to power 750 typical homes, the report says.
“Wind power’s job-creating engine just kicked into a higher gear,” says Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA. “And all Americans will benefit as the record number of wind farms under construction begin delivering new revenue to rural communities and affordable homegrown energy to consumers.”
Beyond projects currently under construction, another 3,901 MW of new wind power capacity entered advanced development in the second quarter. Projects in advanced development are likely to enter construction in the near term because they have achieved a major milestone, such as placing a turbine order or finding a buyer for their power. The entire near-term U.S. wind farm development pipeline grew 13% over the previous quarter to a grand total of 37,794 MW under construction or in advanced development.
Further, the U.S. wind industry installed 626 MW during the quarter, bringing year-to-date installations to 1,032 MW. Total installed capacity cracked 90 GW nationally, extending wind’s lead as the largest source of U.S. renewable energy capacity, according to AWEA. The country’s 90,004 MW of total installed wind capacity is capable of generating enough clean electricity to power over 27 million average homes.
In addition, wind farm developers signed 1,524 MW of power purchase agreements (PPAs) during the second quarter, and the overall volume of wind capacity contracted through PPAs was up 44% compared to the first half of 2017. Corporate customers, such as AT&T, Grupo Bimbo, Walmart and Merck & Co., accounted for 56% of contracted capacity in the quarter, with utilities contracting the remainder.
Utilities also announced plans to add 1,491 MW of wind capacity under direct ownership, including MidAmerican’s 591 MW Wind XII project in Iowa and Ameren Missouri’s 400 MW High Prairie project in Missouri.
AWEA adds that offshore wind power’s growing momentum reached new heights in three New England states in the quarter: In May and June, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut selected competitive bids representing 1,400 MW of offshore wind capacity for development. The project developers are now working out PPA terms with utilities. Bringing these projects online is a major step toward scaling up U.S. offshore wind, which will create American jobs, infrastructure investment and economic opportunity throughout coastal communities, the report notes.
