AWEA: U.S. Is A Leader In Wind Power Production

The U.S. now leads the world in the amount of electricity it generates from wind energy, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).  The trade group’s second-quarter market report finds that the wind industry installed a total of 1,194 megawatts (MW) in the second quarter, bringing the total installed U.S. wind capacity to 19,549 MW.

While that still lags behind the roughly 23,000 MW installed in Germany, the stronger winds in the U.S. are yielding greater power production despite the smaller generating capacity, the association said.

AWEA said U.S. wind power capacity is on track to increase by more than 45% this year, but the upcoming expiration of the federal production tax credit at the end of this year is threatening to slow this progress.  At least 41 manufacturing facilities that support the wind industry have been announced, opened, or expanded in the U.S., and those new and expanded facilities will create more than 9,000 jobs when they reach their full capacity. 

Large utility-scale wind turbines capture most of the attention in the U.S., but small wind turbines for homes and businesses are becoming more popular, AWAE said.