INSTALLED U.S. WIND POWER CAPACITY SURGED 45% (5GW) IN 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 17, 2008
Contact: Christine Real de Azua (202) 383-2508

INSTALLED U.S. WIND POWER CAPACITY SURGED 45% IN 2007:
AMERICAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION MARKET REPORT

Industry calls prompt extension of federal renewable energy
incentive ‘vital’ to sustain momentum, strengthen economy

Shattering all its previous records, the U.S. wind energy industry installed 5,244 megawatts (MW) in 2007, expanding the nation’s total wind power generating capacity by 45% in a single calendar year and injecting an investment of over $9 billion into the economy, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced today. The new wind projects account for about 30% of the entire new power-producing capacity added nationally in 2007 and will power the equivalent of 1.5 million American households annually while strengthening U.S. energy supply with clean, homegrown electric power.

“This is the third consecutive year of record-setting growth, establishing wind power as one of the largest sources of new electricity supply for the country,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “This remarkable and accelerating growth is driven by strong demand, favorable economics, and a period of welcome relief from the on-again, off-again, boom-and-bust, cycle of the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind power.”

“But the PTC and tax incentives for other renewable energy sources are now in danger of lapsing at the end of this year—and at the worst moment for the U.S economy,” added Swisher. “The U.S. wind industry calls on Congress and the President to quickly extend the PTC—the only existing U.S. incentive for wind power—in order to sustain this remarkable growth along with the manufacturing jobs, fresh economic opportunities, and reduction of global warming pollution that it provides.”

The U.S. wind power fleet now numbers 16,818 MW and spans 34 states. American wind farms will generate an estimated 48 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind energy in 2008, just over 1% of U.S. electricity supply, powering the equivalent of over 4.5 million homes. This wind power also:

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Although wind power should continue to increase sharply in coming years, growth could be somewhat constrained in the near term. Manufacturers are sold out for this year as torrid worldwide wind power growth has created a wind turbine shortage, Swisher and Walker say. The crunch, though, will likely be short-lived: Developers opened or announced at least 14 new turbine plants in the USA last year.

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