US Adds 2,800 MW of Wind Energy in 1Q 2009

April 30, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

More than 2,800 megawatts of wind energy industry was installed in the United States over the of the first quarter of 2009. That’s enough to power 816,000 homes, according to a press release from the American Wind Energy Association.

New projects in 15 states now bring total wind power generating capacity in the U.S. to 28,206 MW, or the same amount required to serve 8 million homes and avoid emissions of 52 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, the release stated.

The wind industry should see even more growth now that Steven Chu, Energy Department Secretary, plans to provide $93 million from the American Recovery Act to support wind projects, according to a press release.

Of those funds, $45 million will go towards wind turbine drivetrain R&D and testing. Another $24 million will go to universities and industry to fund wind power research. The private sector will get $14 million to put towards advancing technology. And the National Wind Technology Center in Colorado will get $10 million.

The American Wind Energy Association just released its first quarter of 2009 report. The association also provides a map and list of wind energy projects here.

Kansas and New York now have joined the wind power “gigawatt” state club. The following nine states have surpassed that plateau:

Texas – 7,907 MW
Iowa – 2,883 MW
California – 2,653 MW
Minnesota – 1,804 MW
Washington – 1,479 MW
Oregon – 1,363 MW
New York – 1,261 MW
Colorado – 1,068 MW
Kansas – 1,014 MW

In Texas, the Roscoe wind project eventually will become the nation’s largest operation. Recently, 584.5 MW of wind generating power was installed, and soon another 197 MW will come on line.

A new report states that Kansas could easily become the nation’s largest wind exporter. The state has enough windy areas to generate 19,000 MW of electricity by 2030, if enough projects are put in place, according to this article on Forbes.com.

But for now, Indiana is adding wind power at the fastest percentage rate. Recently, a 400 MW project was completed there. Here are state’s adding wind projects the fastest, as a percentage of existing capacity:

Indiana – 75 percent
Maine – 55 percent
Nebraska – 53 percent
Idaho – 49 percent
New York – 34 percent

Twenty-four states opened, expanded or announced new wind turbine and component manufacturing facilities in 2008, according to an annual study by the association.

Recently, members of the Green Power Market Development Group said they had purchased 1,000 megawatts worth of renewable energy over the past nine years, including wind.

More wind turbines should be available after Aeronautica Windpower LLC, Plymouth, Mass., signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Norwin A/S of Denmark to manufacture new, commercial-size wind turbines in the U.S.

With the first turbines expected to ship later this year, the plant represents the first U.S. owned company that will build ‘sub-megawatt’ class (101 to 1000 kilowatts) wind turbines domestically, according to a press release.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader