U.S. Is Now the World’s Wind Power Leader
The U.S. has continued to have high growth rates in its wind industry for the third year in a row at an estimated $18 billion in revenues. With the record growth rates, America’s wind industry is now the largest in the world with a capacity of more than 21,000 Megawatts of energy, passing the prior leader Germany. This was all in the American Wind Energy Association, AWEA, annual report detailing the huge growth numbers and project growth for next year.
That 21,000 megawatts of capacity are expected to generate over 60 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2009, enough to serve over 5.5 million American homes.
Even though this is not a race to who can have the most renewable energy, I like the fact that America has boosted it’s research and development in these areas. Hopefully other countries strive for this recognition and continue to grow their renewable energy industries. One contributing factor to the high growth amid our current economic hardships are the renewable energy tax credits in the $700 billion bailout bill passed a few months ago. I was not fully in support of the bailout bill, but I am really glad these tax credits made their way in. They are already make a huge difference and hopefully continue to help grow our wind, solar and geothermal industries.
Comments
I think it is pretty cool that we have the largest wind industry in the world. That is definitly a step in the right direction and it is nice to hear that some green tax credits made it in.
I was listening to NPR last week and they had a story about wind power. Apparently, a lot of farmers out west have been leasing their land for wind power. I guess for many, it is providing them more/better income than if they were farming.
it is great to see wind becoming more popular and to see initiatives like tax credits being introduced.
here in ireland, there is little support currently for domestic wind turbines. once there is smart metering introduced and wind can be utilised for a small district scheme, you will see much better utilisation and realisation of its potential