AWEA Report Shows Wind Industry on a Path of Continued Growth

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released its 2010 U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report which discovered growth in the country's wind sector.

According to the AWEA, the U.S. wind power sector was up 15% from 2009. The U.S. added 5,116 MW of wind power generation which represents 26% of all new electric generating capacity in 2010. Since 2007 new wind generation has accounted for 35% of all new generating capacity.

The reason for the growth is simple according to Elizabeth Salerno, Director of Data and Analysis and Chief Economist for AWEA: “It’s costing less than ever, and competing with other sources thanks to improved turbines built for better performance without a big price tag.” With companies like Vestas, which recently unvieled a 7 MW wind turbine, manufacturers are continuing to improve both the efficiency and generating capability of their turbines.

Despite unclear and volatile federal and state policy which recently led Invenergy to pull the plug on a 150 MW wind project in Wisconsin, AWEA predicts continued growth in 2011. The wind industry began 2011 by doubling the amount of wind capacity under construction for 2010.

“We remain on track to produce 20% of America’s electricity by 2030 with wind, as laid out by the Department of Energy during the Bush Administration,” said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

Image Credit: Robert S. Donovan via Flickr