Using a new map tool released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), anyone can now easily view the location of every utility-scale wind project and wind-related manufacturing facility in the U.S.
With the very first American Wind Week in full swing, AWEA says it released the map to help people visualize the growth of America’s largest source of renewable energy capacity.
“Wind power has become a vital part of the U.S. economy, drawing billions of dollars in capital investment to rural communities each year and supporting over 100,000 U.S. jobs across all 50 states,” says John Hensley, deputy director of industry data and analysis for AWEA. “I’m pleased this new map tool helps Americans visualize how world-class U.S. wind resources are being put to work in all parts of the country.”
A time-lapse feature built into the map shows the progress of wind power development across the country. Starting from 1981 in the passes of California, where the first modern wind energy projects were completed, users can see the story of American wind power unfold across heartland states such as Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Kansas and eventually to the first U.S. offshore wind project completed off Rhode Island last year.
The map also features markers for the more than 500 wind-related manufacturing facilities in the U.S. today. These factories support 25,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs across 41 states, notes AWEA.
The association says its new map uses only a small percentage of the full wind project and manufacturing data available to AWEA members through Market Database Pro, a comprehensive, interactive database of all online, under construction and advanced development wind projects, as well as all active wind-related manufacturing facilities.
The map tool can be accessed here.
