US Wind Industry Continues to Grow

S Wind Industry Goes Against Expectations, Installs 1.2 GW in Q2

Washington, D.C., United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]

The U.S. wind energy industry installed 1,210 megawatts (MW) of new power generating capacity in the second quarter, bringing the total added this year to just over 4,000 MW – an amount larger than the 2,900 MW added in the first six months of 2008, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) found in its second quarter (Q2) market report.

"Even in an economic meltdown, the installation of over a gigawatt of wind shows that the technology is mature and destined for long term growth no matter what economic conditions happen to be."

-- Scott Sklar, President, The Stella Group Ltd.

During the second quarter, the U.S. wind energy industry completed a total of 1,210 MW in 10 states. These new installations nudge total U.S. wind power generating capacity to 29,440 MW, according to the report.

The state posting the fastest growth in the 2nd quarter was Missouri, where wind power installations expanded by 90%. Pennsylvania and South Dakota ranked second and third in terms of growth rate in the second quarter, expanding by 28% and 21% respectively.

The states that added new wind power generating capacity are:

Texas	454 MW
Iowa	160 MW
Missouri	146 MW
Washington	129 MW
California	120 MW
Pennsylvania	102 MW
South Dakota	50 MW
Oregon	45 MW
Minnesota	2 MW
Wyoming	2 MW