U.S. wind power in 2007 blows away expectations

According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), America's total wind power generating capacity increased by 45 percent in 2007, nearly double what it predicted it would (see U.S. wind power grew 27% in 2006, 26% expected in 2007).

A new AWEA report finds that wind power generating installations set up in the final quarter of 2007 alone (2,930 MW) surpassed the power generating capacity installed during the entire previous year (2,454 MW).

AWEA predicts that 2008 could equal 2007 in terms of new wind capacity installed.

The U.S. wind energy industry installed 5,244 megawatts (MW) in 2007, investing over $9 billion into the economy. The new installations account for a third of the total power capacity added and could power approximately 1.5 million American households annually.

"This is the third consecutive year of record-setting growth, establishing wind power as one of the largest sources of new electricity supply for the country," said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher.

Wind power-producing capacity in 34 states now stands at 16,818 MW. The top five states with the most cumulative wind power capacity installed are Texas (4,356 MW),California (2,439 MW), Minnesota (1,299 MW), Iowa (1,273 MW) and Washington (1,163 MW).

AWEA estimates that American wind farms will generate about 48 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind energy in 2008. That translates to providing just over 1% of U.S. electricity supply, which could power over 4.5 million homes.

Swisher also called for another extension of the federal production tax credit, which he calls "the only existing U.S. incentive for wind power."

Congress had previously extended the PTC for renewable energy sources until Dec. 31, 2008.

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