U.S. Wind Energy Industry Installs Nearly 10,000 MW in 2009
The U.S. wind industry installed nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity in 2009, but still lags in manufacturing, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) says.
The U.S. wind industry installed nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity in 2009, but still lags in manufacturing, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) says.
According to the
AWEA’s fourth quarter report, these new projects place wind power neck and neck with natural gas as the leading source of new electricity generation for the country. Together, the two sources account for about 80 percent of the new capacity added in the country last year.
The 9,922 MW installed last year expand the nation’s wind plant fleet by 39 percent and bring total wind power generating capacity in the United States to over 35,000 MW, enough to power the equivalent of 9.7 million homes.
Early last year, before the Recovery Act (ARRA), the industry anticipated that in 2009 wind power development might drop by as much as 50 percent from 2008 levels, with equivalent job losses. However, ARRA incentives spurred the growth of construction, operations and maintenance, and management jobs, says AWEA.
At the same time, a lack of a long-term policy and market signal contributed to a drop in investment in the manufacturing sector, compared to 2008, with one-third fewer wind power manufacturing facilities online, announced and expanded in 2009. The result was net job losses in the manufacturing sector, which were compounded by low orders and high inventory.
The top five states by wind power installed (in MW) are:
Texas — 9,410
Iowa — 3,670
California — 2,794
Washington — 1,980
Minnesota — 1,809
Related Topics:
